Camp Happy Hound — Local services in Concord

I took my new rescue, Cole, for first day. The manager called me a dog flipper and told me I was not welcome to return nor were any of my dogs. “Flipping“. would imply that I’m profiting from going to high kill shelters pulling out dogs on death row with my own money, then going into credit card debt while caring for their every need including vet bills, often obedience lessons and yes—even doggy day care.

Yes, I’m into animal rescue although very few of my rescues have found their way to Camp Happy Hounds. All my rescues have found wonderful homes! Still reeling from being personally attacked, insulted and maligned for helping dogs! I’ve often fostered dogs for people who find themselves in situations where they can’t keep their dog with them for one reason or another. Stella was a regular at Camp Happy Hounds for over a year. Her family left their house in Charlotte and moved into an RV. Stella is an energetic runner and escape artist who enjoyed her time at Camp Happy Hounds. Stella’s family purchased a 200 acre farmhouse in Florida and were able to take her back. Then there was my cousins’ dog, I’ll call her D. I grew so attached to this dog while my dear cousin was in intensive cancer treatment after being diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. I was deeply saddened when her husband picked her up but what else could I do? This is NOT dog flipping! Yes, I’ve had a lot of dogs come through Camp Happy Hounds. Some I hoped I would keep forever and it didn’t work out. Sometimes no matter what I do—certain dogs are too much for me to handle. I’m a 65 year old female recovering from cancer myself. My rescues always get the most wonderful, caring homes. I take them myself, check references and vet histories. I left in tears. The manager was verbally abusive, extremely angry and told me not to come back under any circumstances. She called me a dog flipper and alluded to the fact that I’d brought too many dogs in. I’ve paid for daycare, they don’t operate a charity. I offered to pay for the evaluation. I’ve usually always purchased a nail grinding and bath when they get an evaluation because I did feel I should for fairness.. She reiterated that I was not welcome and my dog is not welcome. She implied she would have me arrested. It’s unbelievable. Cole is a sweet German Shepherd, I recently drove to Eastern NC to save him from imminent euthanization. The first one is Cole, next is Dolly (now a service in training for a disabled veteran who actually responded for the first time in 6 months), next is Dante, Dinah, Maisey and...

During my recent visit to Camp Happy Hound, more like Camp Depressed Hound... to drop off my application, I was met with a disappointing experience. All four girls standing at the desk appeared stone-faced, providing no greeting or a single smile. Their demeanor was cold and unwelcoming, and I felt a sense of discomfort until I initiated conversation. When I handed in my application, the response was a terse "okay," further contributing to the overall negative atmosphere. The manager came out and was kind, she took my application and spoke to me about how someone was already hired. That's fine, not my concern.

This lack of warmth and professionalism raises concerns for me about the working environment at this establishment. I find it disheartening to encounter such unapproachable individuals during a simple application drop-off. This experience has left me hesitant about the prospect of working with a team that seems indifferent and un-engaging.

Moreover, the cold and glacial atmosphere observed during my visit raises doubts about the quality of care that may be extended to our beloved animals. If the staff struggles to treat humans with basic courtesy, it leaves me questioning how they would handle the responsibility of caring for animals. I would hesitate to recommend Camp Happy Hound to others for employment or as a facility for their pets, as a welcoming and compassionate atmosphere is crucial for both humans and animals alike. I would not bring my dogs here for a minute and I'd recommend this place should look into hiring individuals who actually care about the customers coming in since that is what brings...

Camp Happy Hound has been the best investment I've made for my pups! Before my Ripley passed, he would wake me up early every Monday and Friday because he was so excited I was taking him and PJ to Camp! Now, PJ gets lots of extra pets and love from the staff.

One of the biggest benefits is the "camp coma!" Your pups will sleep for at least a full day after going to camp, sometimes longer because they're so worn out from playing. It's so helpful for the days I work from home!

They have HUGE indoor and outdoor play areas supervised by lots of staff! The facility is clean and they make improvements every year (last year they installed giant fans inside, this year they put new flooring in the back where the kennels and dog runs are.

The owners, Becky and Tony, make sure our babies are well taken care of. They know the dogs and visit with you about how your pup did that day if they see you in the lobby or the parking lot. Becky takes pictures every day and posts them on the Facebook "Parent Page." It's so fun to find pics of your pup and you can download them!

My PJ loves the staff and they love him. If you take the time to talk to them, you'll find out just how much they love your pups and their jobs. I highly recommend you...