Well, I had my airline ticket since August to go to my sister's for Thanksgiving. I haven't seen her for a year and a half. She had a bone marrow transplant last April with many ups and downs. Anyway, friends wouldn't take them so I found dogvacay.com. It's a national company. The dogs stay in somebody's home. I did the meet & greet and all went well. Oliver liked her and Macie took to her immediately, which was a surprise because she is still shy of people. Anyway, as required, I paid up front. Took the furkids over the night of 11/24 because I was leaving early AM on the 25th. The nightmare started at 8:55 PM, less than an hour after I dropped them off. Macie threw up. She had too many treats, which her son fed her. The next call came an hour later. They wouldn't settle down. She was attempting to sleep with them in the living room so they would settle. more calls plus one of them she was yelling at me because one of them pottyed in the house 2 times. She went on and on about how she prided her home of not smelling doggy and now it stunk!!!!! Then she says she has a carpet cleaner. Next call, carpet fine but dogs still won't settle. Oliver panting, he likes water at all hours. I asked if they had been out and had water. She snapped out a "YES" and didn't know if she could take 7 days of this!! 8 phone calls and the last at 1:30 AM. Not settling, separation anxiety. I picked them up @ 2:00AM! She was waiting outside with them, how long, I don't know and it was freezing. I got the dog in the van and Macie just huddled so close to Oliver and just looked at me. I wondered how she treated my dogs in the 5 1/2 hours they were there. She wasn't pleasant to me on the phone. When we got home, they went potty, had a drink of water and went to their spots and settled down. I did not get to go on my vacation. Nobody for the furkids. It was a non refundable ticket. I contacted dogvacay later that morning and was told I would get a refund. Then I let it rip. This woman is a very poor representation for their company. Has no idea how to deal with separation anxiety. Lacks the skill set to deal with anything not perfect. Even I know, SA can go with the territory and should be accepted as a possibility. I have taken care of friend dogs and fostered. What ever happened with patience, compassion and understanding. I was devastated I didn't get to spend the holiday with my family. She is my only sibling and I have been terribly worried about her. On the other hand, I am glad I was here and not in Maryland when this idiot was making the calls. As far as I am concerned, she owes my the price of a ticket, of course it will never happen. I also did a review on line to her and a very long privet email to dogvacay. Yesterday, I checked online @ dogvacay and her name has been removed from the site. She will never do that to my dogs or anyone else again!!   |
