The Paw Mankato — Attraction in Mankato

DO NOT BRING YOUR DOG TO THE PAW PET RESORT

Last Friday I brought Reagle to The Paw to try out doggie daycare. After about 3 hours, Ryan went to pick him up and when he got there Reagle was unable to walk and he had to carry him out. The employee who brought him out explained he “was so excited to see Ryan he might have gotten out of her arms too fast” (Finding our later from the manager Reagle could not see Ryan from the kennels so that was a lie). After taking him to the Vet because he could not put weight on his front paw and was howling and crying, we found out he had a sprained wrist. After contacting the Paw and talking with one manager, Debbie, and telling her my dog couldn’t walk she contacted staff and then told me Reagle might have been playing rough with one specific dog, which we were never told about in the first place. She then went back on that and said that didn’t happen, but Reagle “jumped” hard into her employees arms and may have been set down wrong. This employee has apparently been there for three years, professionally trained to handle dogs, along with there being a “strict” protocol for how to take a dog out of the kennel. He should never have been able to “jump” out of the kennel. Then talking to a another manager, Dawn, explaining I wanted to see the cameras of him playing and in the kennel, which she said I could come in at any time to see, but explained that there are apparently no cameras in the kennel he was in but she watched the video from him playing outside and couldn’t see any reason as to why he couldn’t walk. EXACTLY. It had to have happened when he was taken out of the kennel. After explaining this to her, she then went back on what she had previously stated and was 100% sure it happened outside after she previously said she didn’t see anything on the cameras that would indicate it happened outside. I said if you are 100% sure I would like you to show me that in the video. At this point she now said if I wanted to see the cameras I had to come at 5:30pm, it was 5:15pm, otherwise the videos would be gone. I was at work and had already had to leave work to take him to the vet and call in to take care of him so I could not leave with a 15 minute notice and I told her that. I was also previously told she could save the video and I could come whenever, but Dawn was now telling me she couldn’t save the video because her computer was too old and saving the video would make her computer too slow.

Dawn then explained that if this was daycare and my child came home with a sprained ankle, it isn’t the Daycare’s fault. I then explained, I worked at a daycare for 3 years and if the staff member was the one to sprain the child’s ankle they very much would be at fault.

I understand that dogs play rough and if that would be why he was unable to walk out of the Paw, I would not be blaming the Paw, but that is not the case. This was the fault of the employee taking him out of the kennel incorrectly.

All in all, we just wanted to know what happened to our dog and why he couldn’t walk. They gave us multiple answers, continuously back tracked, and were very rude.

It's not hard to admit your mistakes and take responsibility for your actions. This is not a safe...

While I've used the Paw many many times to board my pet with a good overall experience, this time it was down right awful.

My 16 yr old dog was boarded for 8 days. Because of his age, he has a pretty specific feeding schedule - 4 times daily, dry food/wet food mixed with water. At booking on the phone, I was reassured that this more complicated feeding schedule/routine would not be a problem. At check-in, I brought a typed out, detailed list of his feeding requirements. The worker who checked us in was great and very happy to see a typed out list. She used that to mark their feeding schedule sheet for him. She also assured me that she would tape my typed-out list on his kennel door along with notes about his partial blindness and hearing. I sent my dog's dry food in individual baggies for the 4 meals as well as the necessary wet food tins (1 per day). I included one extra day of dry and wet food.

Upon pick up, I found that only 3 of the daily wet food tins were used, despite my very specific directions that my dog should get 1 per day. My dog was also covered in urine - his legs and underbelly were completely coated. It was mostly dry, so not from a recent potty break, but my white dog's legs and belly were tinged yellow. How much urine did he have to lay in to become tinged yellow??? His rear end was caked with feces. His toys were soaked with urine. He smelled like a port-o-potty. The ladies working the counter on pick up could not tell me about his stay, as according to them, they hadn't worked the last week or cared for my dog.

I did call on the next business day to speak with someone about his feeding and condition he was in on pick-up. I was very interested to know why he hadn't been given a portion of his daily food for so many days. The answer was quite vague and difficult to follow - but "according to the notes" he was grazing and not eating all his food. They would leave it until it was "gross", pitch it out and give him new. They could not tell me why he wasn't given more wet food, nor how much food he actually ate vs how much they pitched.

As for his poor condition on pick up, "according to his notes" he did not have any accidents in his kennel..... I find that hard to believe as he, his toys and blanket were soaked in urine.

I'm not sure what happened this past week, but my dog was treated miserably. I question whether they cared or not that my dog was eating, or that they actually feed him according the schedule they said they could accomodate. I question whether my dog received the 4 potty breaks he should have and how many times he had to relieve himself in his kennel to be that nasty. I can no longer trust the Paw to care for my pet nor can I in good conscience recommend them to others. If I could give zero stars, I would. I am heartbroken to know I subjected my elderly dog to this type of...

After our dog Roo continues to get pampered and treated like the "fur baby" she is at doggie daycare-- I've been inspired to write about it. The Paw is truly the premier place to bring your loved pet in MN ---(Probably the planet). This place has hospitality and training second to none in MN.

We have taken our pup Roo there for four years...ever since she became a member of OUR family... (even for 2 weeks on our honeymoon and she's LOVED her time there (not kidding you-- her room was like a hotel). I think if she could talk she would say "Take me back to the Ritz Carlton Mom" ;) Today we got pictures on FB of her and can watch her on the cams (always do) which is so helpful for me---I tend to be a "helicopter mom" loving.... but "helicopter" dog mom so it helps out me at ease she's havin' a great time and its just such a cool feature! :)

Even as a pup she attended their puppy camp (genius idea!) and was treated like Oprah's kid --not sure if Oprah has kids ...but anyways..you get the gist. The staff has been like a family to us...let me dive into a few of the members to explain what I mean by family as its a strong term: Tom Yenish (Owner/"The Dad") is so visible and personable--that he even has time to greet us, chat with us and give advice ( all when he's not busy overseeing the biz and the books of his hugely successful business). Tanya Whitcomb (General Manager/" The protective sister you've always wanted for your kids..I mean dogs") She understands DOGS--she gets behavior and different breeds, she understands our doggie parenting fears and our needs and calms us down when we have to drop Roo off (Aussie's are pretty smart!) The Staff="pick any member of your family you trust".

Another amazing thing---The Paw allows us to do activities with Roo we couldn't otherwise afford/have access to... a few examples:

Swimming on Sundays at 2 pm---we always go---and I've met plenty of folks who drive down for it and have some friends from Coon Rapids that meet me there sometimes.. its literally our friend date spot. Plenty of room in the pool... so if you're nervous about that---don't be! ;) I LOVE spending time there too...its like "people watching" at the mall... but instead dog watching on pool days! I love seeing the variety of pups---can we say ANIMAL therapy?

FREE/Reasonably priced training for "Dog Parents" and behavior classes with your dog of course! :)

To sum up... I'd relate pool days/ paw days to hanging out at the best dog park you can conjure up in your head:). If you haven't been before ...aren't FROM the Mankato, or you are going out of town...check these guys out. We have been loyal customers for 4 years and they've been so gracious to us... Roo is SO pampered! Once again thanks Paw Fam---and intrigued review...