I began working at Urban Mutt after being hired on the spot, with the owner praising my grooming skills and work ethic. For the first week, I received constant positive feedback. However, after taking time off during my daughter's school break, everything changed.
The owner started treating me unfairly, telling me to come in later than other employees, micromanaging every groom I completed (even minor touch-ups), and falsely accusing me of being a no-call, no-show, despite his daily practice of informing us when to report to work. It was clear this was retaliation for speaking out about issues at the local crisis center.
When my case manager contacted him to request a letter verifying my employment and income so I could secure housing for myself and my 5-year-old daughter, he ignored repeated emails from both her and me. Instead, he complained about being "hounded" for the letter, despite knowing it was crucial to help me leave a homeless shelter.
Upon returning to work, I witnessed him grab a dog by the face so hard that it squealed and whimpered. This blatant act of aggression was not only unprofessional but cruel. He disregarded the dog's safety and well-being simply because he was angry with me. The environment is chaotic, with no systems in place to label or organize dogs, leading to confusion and stress for both employees and animals. He later blamed me for grooming the wrong dog, even though there are no name tags or proper procedures in place to avoid such mistakes.
The workplace is overcrowded, disorganized, and highly stressful. Employees are overworked and constantly on edge. While the owner maintains a polished demeanor in front of clients, behind closed doors, he is verbally abusive to staff and completely indifferent to the animals' welfare.
Today, when I came in to pick up my check, I was given only $88, which is far less than what I had earned. I had worked two full days and part of Thursday, and it's clear to me that he deliberately withheld my pay in an attempt to steal from me. I am deeply disappointed in his actions, and I do not trust his business practices.
I cannot in good conscience recommend this business to anyone--whether as an employee or a client. The way he treats both people and animals is unacceptable, and the environment is not safe or professional. read more