Complaint Review: Alpine Dog Ranch - Alpine California

I was going out of the country for a family reunion. I did not want to board my dog for two weeks so I searched high and low for a outside facility for my three year old Rottweiler. After much consideration and because I travel to San Diego frequently I contacted Alpine Ranch. There web page showed the dogs playing and sleeping in a house, mentioned air-conditioning and hikes and free roaming. We dropped off Bellboo two days before we left for Europe in case Bella did not do well being around so many dogs. I called the next day and spoke to Jacob who assured me that she was "doing great".

One week later I recieved a call from the owner who said "I think Bella has had a stroke".

Bella was taken to the local El Cajon Animal Hospital where she was almost dead. She was "found" in her kennel unable to stand. She was severly dehydrated and could not walk. After 1 week she was stable to be transferred to VCA Neurological Hospital an MRI was done and indeed she had a stroke. The first hospital still did not have a diagnosis, however Thomas MacKinon knew it was a stroke? How many times has he seen this? Not even the Doctors were able to state she has a stroke until the MRI was completed.

My dog's medical records stated she was in "severe leg pain and back pain" "without signs of trauma" had a head tilt and gaze and did not respond.

This is what the Alpine Ranch did: The did not provide adequate shade in the hot summer sun, they placed my dog in a hot barn in a kennel (remember they advertize as a cage free boarding facility) to sleep without proper ventalation. They did not care for my dog at all. She lost 8 pounds in one week and had a 2 month recovery time. She still is not the vibrant dog that I left. Her lab values revealed dehydration and severe muscle breakdown. That affected her kidneys and caused the stroke. Her Vet here agreed this is what occured.

After the information was given to the owner he said he would submit the issue to his insurance carrier (it was denied, because I signed their waiver, typical insurance denying the claim) Thomas then called my dog fat, implied that I spoiled my dog, and it was my fault she was out of shape. These messages from him are all documented on Yelp. He is not a animal care giver he is animal hater. I reported him to the Humane Society and they visited his "Ranch" and documented that he needed to provide ventilaition in "the Barn". After I notified him that I know you were cited for the sleeping quarters he lied and said the officer did not say that and she came during a heat spell at the Ranch. Unbeliveable.

The owner Thomas also said that they did nothing wrong and my dog had a pre-exhisting condition because he had a dog recently "that had a heart atttack here" and the owners found out that he had a bad heart?

Over $10,000.00 in medical bills and his offer to my husband and I was $1500.00, and we must accept it by a certain time frame. I refused his offer. I am notifying you all not to believe his false web page, where he shows dogs on cots. They are in cages without access to water in a hot barn. Thomas misrepresents his "ranch"and that the dogs are well cared for.

The most recent Yelp reviews (November 2014) someone gave him 5 stars but added my dog came back with more bumps and cuts and advises this place is not for certin breeds. I was never told that certain breeds would not do well there. I was told Bella was doing great and five days after that she was almost dead. The dogs run wild, there is no way he should have a license to care for animals.