Complaint Review: Puppy Pals

Where does this nightmare story begin? I just returned from a vacation on the east coast visiting family and has put my 9 month old lab in the care of Lynn Adams and Puppy Pals, under the impression that this was some kick a*s camp in the wilderness, staffed by professionals and home to elite pet owner's dogs who tromped through mountain lakes and national forests.

So my girlfriend and I talk to Lynn Adams and she says to drive out at 11 am on a Sunday and check out the facility. So we drive 65 miles to check this place out and just like another Ripoff user reported earlier, Lynn no shows. Deserted property, dogs out in 105 degree heat by themselves, and not a sign of any staff to be found. This should have told us everything we wanted to hear or see, but we were leaving town and thought we just missed her and all would be well.

This was my lab's first time at a camp and we had no idea whatsoever how he'd react to other dogs so we had some genuine anxiety. He plays hard and we were concerned he may bully some of the other dogs at camp. After a day or so at camp he appeared to be fine, we flew to the east coast and after a few days I called Puppy Pals to check on my dog, and to see if he had finished his prescribed medicine without issue. Lynn called back and we had a very pleasant conversation for 15 minutes. But 3 hours later my girlfriend gets the most out of the world bizarre, accusatory, and hostile email from Lynn berating us about an "attitude problem" and that she is going to reverse her $210 discount for first time users and that we can board our lab someplace else. What...???? Attitude? From who and for what?

We immediately email her back pleading our case about this "attitude" she claims we have. This was July 4th and it's now July 8th and she still has not responded to that email. I called and left messages. I emailed asking for clarification. My girlfriend emailed and asked for clarification. Nothing. My vacation was ruined, as I had to spend the next 4 days wondering what the f*&K this lady was talking about and getting ZERO response. Isn't this a service business she's in? Aren't I paying hundreds of dollars for this service? I'm 3,000 miles away on the opposite coast and I can't even get this lady to acknowledge multiple calls and emails. By this time we are freaked out and completely and totally helpless.

Finally, I had to have a friend drive 80 miles from his home to go pick up the dog for us so we'd have him when we got home. I did NOT want him spending another night with this whacko, as scheduled, and instructed her once again via email and phone calls that my buddy was coming to get the dog. Guess what? No return calls, no acknowledgement of his driving out to get the dog.

This was yesterday afternoon and as usual, Puppy Pals is deserted and no one is on the property. When Lynn finally returns home after my buddy waits for hours, she is an absolute b***h to him and proceeds to blame me for the fact that she can't act like an adult and return phone calls. According to this idiot, she is "offended" at my "rudeness" because apparently calling her asking about the welfare of your dog is too much to bear for her. Calling and checking up on your pet is crossing the line and is insulting, apparently. What a freak, what an idiot, and what a joke of a business this place is and how they are in business is nothing short of a divine miracle from God.

Oh, and Lynn claims that Joaquin Phoenix and Gwyneth Paltrow board their dogs with Puppy Pals as if this is some d**n validation or something. Hey Lynn, I don't care if you board the President's dog, return your clients correspondence and don't ruin people's vacations by acting like a 2 year old. You're in THE SERVICE BUSINESS so start acting like it. Better yet, go find another line of work because you are an insult to the Pet Care Services Association of which you are not a member, conveniently enough.

Stay the hell away from this company people.

Jm
Brea, California
U.S.A.