I contacted Supa Dawg yesterday while looking for a place in Atlanta, where I now reside, for my family dog to attend dog daycare twice a week for four months due to a family medical emergency. The facility appeared clean, conveniently located, reasonably priced, and I appreciated that they only take a small number of dogs, which initially made it a promising option.
While reviewing the waiver with the owner over the phone today, I asked a few questions about the liability language stating that the facility would not be responsible if a dog were injured or became ill while in their care. As this is my first time using a dog daycare, I also asked whether any serious incidents, including deaths, had occurred in the past. The owner explained that the language was standard procedure and that nothing like that had happened, and I signed the waiver.
However, after this discussion, the owner began to suspect that I was planning to abandon my dog. This surprised me because the owner was already aware that I was arranging a four-month schedule due to a family emergency and that my dog's veterinarian is located out of state, where my dog has lived his entire life. These details had been discussed the day before when my dog was accepted for a free consultation day.
I clarified and apologized that I was simply trying to understand the waiver and meant no offense, but the owner ultimately decided not to accept my dog. His strong reaction seemed more about his perception of risk than anything I did wrong. He said he felt insulted as a business owner, and I believe he misread my intent, which was simply to ensure my dog would receive the best care. I believe his reaction was disproportionate to the questions I was asking, and it makes me wonder why he was extra sensitive to such questions.
I understand that businesses need to protect themselves. That said, I was surprised that asking what I believed were reasonable questions as a first-time customer led to this outcome. While the facility itself appeared well maintained, the interaction unfortunately did not work out. read more
