DO NOT TAKE YOUR PETS TO K9 RESORTS IN BLUFFTON.
Today, I took my dog Zeus to K9 Resorts Bluffton for his 4th birthday. He was supposed to stay until 7PM. Part of their service includes birthday photos, and they sent me a live photo. When I played the audio, I heard something disgusting: an employee calling my dog the N-word.
Yes. A racial slur. In a live photo. From a business I trusted to care for him.
I immediately left and went to pick him up. When I walked in, I asked, "Who was in the room when this photo was taken?" Two employees raised their hands.
I then asked to speak to the manager in private. His first reaction? He assumed I was going to show him a video of someone mishandling my dog. That alone raised a red flag. If that's what he expected, what else goes on behind closed doors?
When I played the audio, he didn't deny it. But instead of apologizing right away, he tried justifying it. Said they're "always looking for ways to get dogs' attention." I cut that off real quick. There is absolutely no excuse to use a racial slur in any professional setting, especially not around animals, and definitely not while filming content for a customer.
He also claimed he had been in the room during the video, until I played the live photo. Then suddenly, he wasn't there and said "they would never say that in front of me." Right.
Eventually, he did apologize..it just took way too long.
The employee who said it? Shelby English. Not just staff, she's the assistant manager. He didn't disclose that to me. I asked him directly: "So what now? Or is your business proud to employ people like this?" His answer: "I'm going to talk to her... I can't promise I'll fire her."
While in his office, I noticed a photo of him with a woman. I asked if it was his wife. He said no. I said it looked like the girl out front. He quickly changed the subject. Later, I found her Instagram. Yep, that was her. Shelby is his girlfriend. That was her in the photo. That's why he's protecting her. That's why he doesn't want to fire her. That's why it took so long to even say her name.
Let's be real, if she felt that comfortable using the N-word out loud while filming a birthday photo, she's said it before. And he knows it. He knew exactly who said it the moment I brought it up.
And the other employee in the room? Said nothing. Didn't react. Didn't report it. That kind of silence is just as harmful.
Receipts are posted below. K9 Resorts Bluffton was recently awarded Best of Bluffton, and honestly, that needs to be revoked. This isn't about one person. It's about a work culture that allows racism, protects the people who do it, and brushes it under the rug when clients speak up.
I will never bring my dogs here again. And I hope you won't either. read more