woofmeow — Attraction in Derry

I went to WoofMeow 2 years ago while in Derry to bathe my dog. It was great then. $10 to bathe your dog that included free shampoo, towels and dryer. They had 2 cleaning stations and there was room enough around each station so that you could walk around either side of the it to wash your dog.

Well, I'm back in Derry again and went to WoofMeow to bathe my dog. However, they've changed. First, the cost is now $10 for 10 minutes. That's a dollar per minute, so you better be fast. Also, you now have to show your ID to use the cleaning room. Once inside you'll see they have 3 stations as opposed to two, to make more money, I suppose. To accommodate the 3rd station, they pushed all of them up against the wall so 50% of each station is next to the wall. This means that you cannot walk around to the other side of the station. I have a standard poodle and had to reach in and physically turn my dog around to wash his other side, getting soaked in the process.

In addition, the "free shampoo" is practically all water. No kidding. I had to use a bottle and a half to work a lather onto my poodle. I complained to my friend and, unbeknownst to me, the manager was in the cleaning room doing something. He said, "We dilute the shampoo because people were using too much. This way, you can use as much as you want." I'd say there may be 10% shampoo in the bottle and 90% water, so you may want to bring your own dog shampoo.

Finally, the water pressure is almost non-existent. There is warm water but the water pressure is so low with hot and cold on full blast that it takes a very loooong time to bathe and rinse your dog. Since the station is next to the wall and you can only get on one side of it, the diluted shampoo and the poor water pressure causes the bathing job to go on for longer than 10 minutes (for me) and since you're paying $1 per minute, that's not fair to consumers.

They still had free towels and a dryer (which I didn't use because I wanted out of there). Also the manager, after hearing me complain about the shampoo, water pressure and the stations being pressed up next to the wall, didn't make me pay, but I'd rather have a good, paid cleaning experience than a free bad one.

I don't know if WoofMeow got new management or what, and maybe their items for sale are a good value but you'd be better off washing your dog at home rather than going here...

Of the three rats i have purchased from woofmeow, one passed suddenly within two weeks, and now the other 2 have pneumonia and mites, after only having them for 6 days. The manager assured me they were not sick, and an associate assured me they would take care of any health issues. That is NOT the case. They said they would take the rats back and reimbiurse me the 7.99 each i paid for the rats. Why would i accept that if i know the rats were living in cages too small, eating improper food, on mite infested bedding? They will die if i return them. Luckily theyre with me, getting the vet csre they need. If yourr thinking of getting rats from here, do yourself a favor and go somewhere better. The three male rats i purchased from Zoo Creatures in plaistow NH have been healthy and they gave me medicine when i needed it. Woofmeow may be equipped to handle birds and reptiles, but their rodents are living in horrible conditions. The only reason i saved the two large male rats that were there was because they were covered in wounds, obviously not being cared for. I also know what it means when someome tells me they get their animals from 'reputable breeders'. I worked in the pet industry. It means the employees have no idea. The employees have always been helpful, but i have gotten no help for these close to death babies. (Oh yeah, they gave me flea and tick spray NOT SAFE FOR RATS when i brought them in for mites.) I have spent so much money at this store on supplies for both my rats and my dogs, but this is...

Very very disappointed in my experience tonight. Have always loved this pet store and have spent hundreds if not thousands here on all of my 4 animals. I will not be patronizing this place again and I suggest others don’t either. Brought my 14 week old Aussie puppy to a “puppy social/training class” after heavy convincing from multiple employees, claiming it would be good for the dog and he’d get some time with a trainer, and honestly I’ve never been more scared for my dogs safety then I was in the back part of woof meow tonight, with a 50 pound 6 month German Shepard, out of control, thrashing my pup and others A DOG WITH AN OPEN AND INFECTED WOUND, 3 or 4 others running around biting other dogs and growling, while the parents AND THE TRAINER all socialize in little cliques oblivious to the two or three smaller dogs and their parents asking for help…Trainer spent the entire night with the same 4 dogs never, didn’t even acknowledge his presence. Do not take your dog to one of these classes, unless you’re one of the (Pinkerton moms who’s there to socialize with your kids friends parents which seemed to be the only clientele the trainer cared about at all.) especially if you’re trying to teach them to be socialized. Went ten steps backwards in my pups confidence out in public tonight and may have even got him sick, all thanks...