Do not bring your dog to this facility…read more
We booked our dog for a five-night stay based on the facility's advertised promises of 24/7 supervision, cage-free boarding, hikes, and attentive care.
The problems started before we even dropped him off. We paid an additional $200 for round-trip transportation from Chicago. The day before his scheduled pickup, someone contacted us from an unfamiliar phone number. Because we didn't respond immediately, they simply didn't show up the following morning. We were then forced to drive four hours round-trip to meet them halfway.
Things became significantly more concerning when it was time to bring our dog home.
He was scheduled to be returned on Tuesday. That day, we received a text asking if he could stay another night, free of charge, and be dropped off Wednesday instead. We agreed to be flexible. On Wednesday, they contacted us AGAIN asking to delay his return another day.
At this point, we started researching the facility and discovered a Facebook post from a former employee alleging extremely troubling conditions. I contacted her directly, and what she shared was alarming.
According to this former employee, the facility does not provide the 24/7 supervision it advertises. She explained that Sasha, the owner, is rarely present and leaves virtually all day-to-day operations to her assistant. She also stated that the assistant works multiple jobs and has four children, making it unrealistic for her to be physically present at the facility around the clock without additional staffing. She alleged that dogs are frequently left confined rather than receiving the advertised hikes and cage-free experience. She also described unsanitary conditions, unsecured fencing, and flooding inside the facility.
We insisted on driving six hours round-trip to pick him up ourselves. After multiple unsuccessful attempts to contact Sasha throughout this process, she suddenly called us once she learned we intended to visit the property. The conversation was extremely hostile, and she strongly pushed back against our decision to come get our own dog. Her reaction was so concerning that we contacted local police ahead of our arrival to let them know we would be retrieving him.
When we arrived, the facility was completely dark, with no staff visibly present until someone came to retrieve our dog from his kennel. Attaching photos of the main house and the garage where dogs are kept.
Most upsetting of all, our dog came home approximately 10 pounds lighter than when we dropped him off, after just five nights. We were horrified.
I understand that boarding facilities can experience scheduling challenges, and we were more than willing to be flexible. But there is an enormous difference between an occasional logistical inconvenience and serious concerns about animal welfare, transparency, and whether a business is providing the services customers are paying for.
I would never trust this facility with my dog again. Based on our experience and the information shared with us by a former employee, I have serious concerns about whether this business operates as advertised. Please do your research, ask questions about staffing and supervision, and insist on seeing the property before leaving your pet here. No dog owner should have to fight to get their own dog back or wonder what happened to them while they were away.