I recently brought my dog, Fred, to FurgetMeNot for an evaluation and a half-day of daycare, and I…read morewant to share my experience to help other pet parents make informed decisions.
The evaluation fee was $25 (nonrefundable after online registration), and while the staff member who conducted it was polite, I left with the impression that she didn't particularly enjoy working with dogs. Fred is a very social, playful, and well-adjusted dog--he has attended daycare regularly since 4 months, plays comfortably with dogs of all sizes and ages, and has never been described as anxious. Despite that, I was told during the evaluation that he seemed nervous, though he was ultimately "cleared" for daycare.
For his first half-day (about $36), I was told again that he was nervous and might only be suited for weekends. This didn't match the written "report card," which described him as social, well-behaved, and playing well with others. When I asked for clarification, the explanation shifted back to him being "anxious." Given Fred's long history of thriving in daycare environments, this inconsistency raised red flags.
What concerns me most is not the evaluation itself, but the communication and transparency. Before the evaluation, I called to confirm whether there was weekday availability (since that's when I need care). I made it clear that if there wasn't space, I didn't want to waste time or money. Unfortunately, no one followed up, and after investing both time and nearly $60, I was told that Fred should only come on weekends. I was being "encouraged" to bring Fred only on weekends--something that doesn't meet my needs, but still generates revenue for the business. The manager would not speak to me when I came to pick up my dog and did not follow up with a phone call (I shouldn't be surprised no one ever returned a live call or voicemail before my visit....I should have stayed away).
The facility itself is small, with play areas that appeared quite limited (approximately 10-15 feet across, divided into small sections with several dogs in each). While that setup may work well for some pets, it isn't what I would call spacious or enriching. It was very clean. That is the one bright spot.
In short, I wish FurgetMeNot had simply been upfront about their capacity constraints. I can respect a business being full; what I can't respect is unclear communication and the suggestion that my dog's behavior was the issue when the real problem seemed to be limited weekday availability.
Pet parents: if you are looking for consistent weekday daycare, I would recommend asking very directly about space before investing in their evaluation process. I personally won't be returning, as I value honesty and clear communication in any service that involves my dog. I wasted 2 days and $60 dollars on this place. Don't get scammed like me.