WARNING ! DO NOT LEAVE YOUR DOG HERE.
Our beloved dog, Cowboy, was dropped off healthy, energetic, and able to run, jump, and play. We paid for the Paw Springs Experience with Luxury Lodging. When we picked him up three days later, he was severely dehydrated, extremely weak, barely able to support his weight, unable to walk normally, and had bleeding injuries to both front paws. He could no longer get into our vehicle on his own, and his bleeding paws left blood on the car.
Our veterinarian subsequently diagnosed Cowboy with a spinal injury, in addition to the paw injuries and dehydration. His recovery has lasted approximately a month and is ongoing.
Most concerning, no one at the facility notified us that Cowboy appeared injured or unwell. Staff told us they did not know what had happened to him and had not noticed anything wrong. During our discussions with management, we were also told that the facility was not responsible for what happened to a dog after pickup.
We asked management to review the security footage and speak with staff. There are cameras in the outdoor yards, but there are no cameras inside the facility where the dogs are housed. As a result, the available footage allegedly could not establish what happened to Cowboy or identify the cause of his injuries. Thankfully we had parked directly in front of the outdoor cameras, however, which documented Cowboy arriving healthy and energetic and leaving visibly weak and injured. We also had staff come out to our vehicle and see his condition, including his bleeding paws and weakness.
There were additional concerns during his stay. Before boarding, we specifically instructed the facility to keep Cowboy indoors during the extreme, triple-digit heat and to bring him inside immediately if he developed excessive salivation or foaming. We also requested no soft blankets or chew toys because of the risk of ingestion and intestinal obstruction.
During his stay, we received photos showing Cowboy foaming/excessively salivating and with soft bedding and chew toys, despite our instructions. Staff assured us they would address our concerns.
Timeline:
* 7/28/2026: Cowboy received a wellness exam and Rabies and Bordetella vaccinations. No health concerns were noted.
* 7/31/2026: Dropped off at Happy Dog Resort healthy, energetic, and able to run and jump. We provided specific instructions regarding extreme heat and prohibited bedding/toys.
* 7/31-8/2: We called to check on him and were told he was doing well. We raised concerns over report card photos showing excessive salivation/foaming and items we had specifically asked them not to provide. (soft toys and blankets) We were reassured our concerns would be addressed.
* 8/2/2026: At pickup, Cowboy was severely dehydrated, extremely weak, barely able to support himself, unable to get into our vehicle, and had bleeding injuries to both front paws. Our veterinarian subsequently diagnosed a spinal injury.
I also asked to see the area where Cowboy had been kept. Although the exterior kennel panels appeared secure, there was exposed metal inside the door area that could potentially injure a dog's paws, particularly if a dog is jumping or anxious. The kennel shown to me did not contain visible blood, so I cannot say that it was the kennel Cowboy occupied.
Following the incident, Happy Dog reimbursed our stay, paid veterinary bills, and provided written confirmation that they would cover future veterinary expenses. We appreciate those payments, but they have never provided us with an explanation for how Cowboy sustained his injuries or why his condition was not recognized while he was in their care.
For us, the central issue is that our dog entered healthy and left with a veterinarian-diagnosed spinal injury, bleeding paw injuries, severe dehydration, and significant weakness, and we were not alerted to his condition during his stay or given an explanation.
Our experience with Happy Dog has left us heartbroken for Cowboy. We have spent sleepless nights caring for him through his recovery, worrying about his pain and his ability to heal. Most of all, we are left with deep guilt and regret for having trusted Happy Dog with his care. We will never entrust our dog to this facility again. read more