On February 20th, 2025, at 5:14 PM, I received a text that my dog Olive Oyl was ready to be picked up from the groomers. When I arrived I was told she needed more time that she was finishing up. The owner of Go Doggy, informing me that my dog, Olive Oyl, had been attacked by another dog . He stated that it was a minor bite, the bleeding had been stopped, and he recommended I use Neosporin on the injury. However, he refused to provide any information about the dog owner or the groomer involved in the incident. When I picked up Olive, the employee who handed her to me displayed body language that suggested something more serious had occurred. The business owner informed me that he would be covering the grooming fee.
Upon closer inspection, I noticed multiple bite marks on Olive and became concerned that the owner was downplaying the severity of the attack. I told him I would be taking Olive to the vet. He responded by stating that all dogs at the facility were vaccinated and that Olive would be fine, but I should do what I needed to do. I immediately took Olive to a nearby veterinary clinic.
The vet confirmed that the bite on Olive's neck had punctured the skin, and the tear in her ear was causing her significant pain and distress. The vet recommended that I ask the business to cover the vet bill for the injury.
As I was walking back to the groomer's business to discuss the vet bill, I encountered an employee who informed me that Olive had been attacked by an aggressive dog and that the groomer had been visibly shaken and in shock from the incident. The employee also told me that the business owner was difficult to work with and that she felt he had been dishonest with me regarding the severity of the attack.
When I returned to the business, I handed the owner the vet bill and expressed my concerns. I raised my voice because I felt he was being dismissive and untruthful. In response, the business owner acted condescendingly and gave me a corporate-style answer. When I first arrived at the groomers, I was in the same room as the other dog's owner, and the business owner allowed the other dog's owner to leave without addressing the attack directly. He told me that the situation wasn't the other dog owner's fault, and that "dogs are just dogs." I expressed to him that I felt this response was unprofessional, and that he should have informed me about the situation with more transparency. The business owner also assured me that he would call me at 7:00 PM to discuss the vet bill, but he failed to do so. At 7:20 PM, I called the business myself, and a woman answered. After I mentioned that the owner had promised to call me, she seemed aware of the situation but did not provide me with any resolution. Despite my attempt to follow up, I was not called back, further demonstrating the lack of professionalism and accountability on their part.
I WOULD NOT TRUST THIS PLACE WITH YOUR DOG!
Olive Oyl had also been attending daycare at this same business, but I had to stop bringing her after she frequently got sick. Despite that, I continued to support the groomer because she's very skilled at giving schnauzer cuts and Olive seemed to enjoy her grooming sessions. In hindsight, I should have trusted my instincts, and it's incredibly unfortunate that the business chose to represent themselves in such an unprofessional and dismissive manner.
As a resident of Williamsburg, we pay a premium for services, trusting businesses with the care of our beloved animals. The fact that the owner of the business refused to provide me with any relevant information and acted in such a dismissive and dishonest way is absolutely unacceptable. It is a clear reflection of the lack of respect for the trust and responsibility we place in them when we hand over our pets for care. read more