I'm warning all current and prospective dog parents to avoid working with the owner Mary Jane, and…read moreDavin the CEO. Both are high strung, worked up, and hostile individuals that really need to not be involved in this company or any front-facing employee requirements. This facility has received over $700 from my dog's visits in the last few months, and my dog has received excellent report cards for his kind and playful behavior. The caretakers Aaron and Curtis are wonderful to him and I, but I think they should begin to look for new jobs, as my recent phone call with Mary Jane and interactions with Gavin have been very intense, gaslighting and bullying.
I was denied daycare last weekend and resubmitted my request because no reason was provided and they typically only have a few dogs on Saturday for daycare. I thought it was an error, as we come every weekend to play for a full Saturday. My second request was sent with a text to doublecheck the accuracy, and a text came back that the facility was booked for boarding dogs. I assumed it was due to ACL Festival, said no problem and booked my dog elsewhere- at Hill Country Pet Resort. Zoomies recommended no other pet daycare locations to me, so I had to start my research from scratch, and this place was down the street from Zoomies, with 4 star Yelp reviews.
This is when everything changed.
I had never been to HCPR, but upon arriving there I was greeted by a gentleman who took a hit from a bong and had sores all over his mouth. I felt uncomfortable but a sense of duty, and asked to see the facility to find out more of what I could report to city officials. They had kennels filled with piles of excrement at 9am, that the dogs were stepping on and they had no separate pens with mowed grass or turf for them to run around in. I left distraught, said NO THANKS, and drove away immediately. I decided to swing by our regular daycare of Zoomies, which was a few blocks away.
I left my dog in the car and walked inside to inquire about any possible cancellations since we last spoke. The employee said he had extra help and that they would be happy to take my little dog because he was easy to handle and the employee seemed to know the situation over at HCPR and made no issue of taking mine in last minute. So as a mom, I was relieved but also wept driving away for the other dogs left behind at HCPR. All went well last Saturday at Zoomies, and all were happy. I even had a nice talk with the employees when I picked my dog up later that day.
On Monday, I received a call from the manager of HCPR and shared my feedback with him- he was very supportive of my thoughts and concerns and went to the owners immediately. It was a very bad situation but the manager has a good head on his shoulders and took my criticism respectfully, as it was delivered respectfully but with searing truth.
On the other hand, Mary Jane, the owner at Zoomies sent me a banal text this morning asking me to call her. It was written like she was a school principal and I was in trouble. She blamed me for going around her from the start of the call and said she wanted to understand my thinking. Pure ego on fire. I knew she was already upset and said she was at a funeral last weekend, so I could tell this just wasn't going to go well because she was very angry and acting hurt. Mary Jane kept interrupting me and then blamed me for the sins of all others who just show up without a reservation. She told me to stop talking and I had to raise my voice over her to ask her to calm down and reminded her that she's not the only person going through hard things. I asked her repeatedly to please allow me to finish my story because I was coming from a good place, but she kept interrupting and blame shifting. I said again, that I just asked if there were any cancellations with no intention of leaving my dog unless there was a new opening, and did not bring my dog inside with me. I simply wanted to know if there had been any cancellations since we last spoke. She made remarks that I kept putting in requests and didn't respect their final word, she gaslight me and twisted it around on me, insinuating that I was manipulating the situation to my benefit and then she yelled out that I was BANNED from the facility and hung up on me. That outcome was Mary Jane's fault entirely. She had not spoken to the employee yet, either. She just wanted to screw me over and get back at me for some made up slight.
I was a loyal customer. I have also left positive 5-star reviews and recommended them on social media and to everyone I know. I am shocked at how much of a hurt and suffering elitist Mary Jane has become within her own operation. She seemed so nice.
But things have changed and their personal problems are getting in the way of what could have been a successful business.