kennels

[chas2008]

put my 12 year old golden retriever into the local kennels last saturday week, went to collect him on saturday morning to be told he had a slight accident and he was at the vets, been there for 3 days. It transpires that his tail had been mutilated by the dog in the next pen and had to be amputated ! He really didnt look well when we picked him up wasnt sure he would survive the next few days luckily he has bounced back and apart from the obvious almost back to his hold self, the kennels insurance has paid the bills but it really has been a bad experience for the dog and us! Not sure what the next move is regarding the kennels.

[ruthann58]

poor dog how awful for you to come home to find he had been hurt bless him ,sorry dont know what you do about the kennels but if it was my dog i wouldnt consider that to be a slight accident, i know they have paid the bills but thats not the point really is it, hopefully someone else will be able to point you in the right direction, glad he is ok

[welshlibranr]

I would be furious! this was not a slight accident at all, your poor dog wasn't given the care you expected from the kennels, and yes their insurance company paid the vet's bill, but what about the distress both you and your dog suffered as a result of their neglect, surely you should received some form of compensation, I think you should seek some specialised advice, I would need to know that this could not happen to another dog in future at this kennels, it sounds as though the pens are too close together, hope he continues to recover well..............welsh

[lankeela]

I don't see how you can blame the kennels, they would have had no way of knowing that the dog in the next pen was likely to grab your dog's tail, if that is what happened.
Just one of those unfortunate accidents. The vets bill has been paid and you have luckily still got your dog. I am sure they feel really bad about it.

[chas2008]

the reality didnt hit home until we saw him at the vets, reduced us both to tears, he wasnt the dog we had left at the kennels, even the vet wasnt sure he would survive the anethesetic.
The one peice of information i held back because it upsets me just thinking about it is the other dog virtually chewed his tail off!! eaten alive ?
I certainly dont consider it an unfortunate accident he should never have been put in that position , what if he had been a prize showdog ?
Apart from the distress etc, the dog and us have suffered we have also both had to have time of work for vets visits with more to come.

[lankeela]

How did it happen then? I assume that your dog's tail was under the partition into the next kennel, otherwise how could the other dog get hold of it? If it was negligence on the part of the kennel owner, i.e. the two dogs were being exercised together or the handler of the other dog let it come after your dog and get hold of it, then you would have a case, but I think it would be very difficult to prove. I once looked after some Rhodesian Ridgebacks and as I returned one to its kennel another dog jumped up at its kennel door to have a go at it, and the one I was holding grabbed its foot and bit its toe. I knew the dogs did not like each other but had no choice other than to walk past the kennel to get to the next kennel, and it pulled so hard it took me by suprise.
I certainly don't feel I was negligent, I consider this was 'one of those things' which was very unfortunate but could not be anticipated. Still not sure though what recompense you could claim.

[Twinkle17]

Hi chas2008
So sorry to hear this, you must all have been so upset
...
I used to work in kennels and this bought something back to me....
This may sound a bit awful but does your dog like the kennels? is he used to it?
The reason I ask is because we had a dog that came in for its first stay and chewed its paw, almost off during the night, due to the stress of being in there....It made me think, had your dog done this itself and the kennels wont say that incase you dont leave it there again (they lose money)...I know that is a horrible thought but for another dog to chew your dogs tail sounds a bit strange, bite it maybe but to actually chew it almost off......Trust me, some kennel owners think more about making money that the dogs welfare.....
So glad he is ok and back to his old self
x

[jakep]

Doesn't help you but I have seen a dog who chewed her own tail off in kennels. Had to have a surgical 'tidy up'.

[ganesh]

It does sound odd I know but could twinkle be right? Maybe the next-door dog bit it badly and then your dog chewed it or worked at it coz it was sore?It just doesn't sound possible or even likely that a dog would try and eat another dog. How come they didn't notice it happening?
Sounds horrendous and I'm so sorry for you. You expect a kennel to look after your dog and I'm sure you should get some compensation over and above the vets fees.

[chas2008]

i have seen the vets report and i have no reason to doubt the kennels, he has been there many times.
From what i am led to believe his tail went under the partition and as hes quite an old dog a bit slow on his feet couldnt get away from the other dog