Pet Paradise Dripping Springs — Local services in Dripping Springs

Physically Abusive Employee.

I have now boarded my dog at Pet Paradise for two extended stays. The first time was roughly a year ago and the most recent time was this past week. Barring a few minor inconveniences, the first stay was seemingly uneventful and positive.

Yesterday, however, on February 17, 2025, this changed. While out of town, I decided to check the cameras to see if my dog was outside for play time yet and I happened to look at the perfect time. After watching my dog play with the other dogs for about 30 seconds, I noticed that she started to “hump” another dog. This is typical behavior of hers and my reaction is that I immediately put a stop to it by removing her from the other dog. The employee that was managing Play Yard 1 identified the behavior problem and removed my dog from the other dog. This employee’s behavior from here was unacceptable. This employee decided that he needed to impose corrective action by pinning my dog to the ground by the neck. I was unfortunately too late to be able to screenshot the images of him being physically abusive to my dog, but was able to get a clear image of his face.

I immediately called the location and asked to speak with the manager. I was connected very quickly to a woman that identified herself as the manager and I explained what I had witnessed. She informed me that this is not acceptable staff behavior according to their company standards and that she would “investigate it further”. I asked the manager what the typical response should be given the circumstances and she informed me that employees are instructed to use redirection as a form of ending inappropriate behavior between the dogs. I thanked her and let her know that I would be following up when I pick up my dog.

This morning, February 18, 2025 at roughly 07:00, I picked up my dog. While waiting, I asked to again speak to the manager. I was informed that the manager was not in until 09:00 but I would be able to speak to a supervisor. The supervisor came to the front desk and I explained the circumstances of events. The supervisor then reported to me that she wasn’t familiar with the happenings from the previous day as she had been gone for three days, but did report to me that it wasn’t my dog that these events had surrounded. She explained that it was a different dog, one that resembled my dog. I’ve had my dog since she was 12 weeks old, I know her behavior and mannerisms. This WAS my pup. REGARDLESS of the dog, this type of behavior is unacceptable of an employee that is entrusted with the lives of our pets. You wouldn’t grab a child you were babysitting by the neck, pin them to the ground, and hold them there for having acted up or thrown a tantrum. Why would you do this to a dog? This employee is clearly incapable of managing his emotions and should not be allowed to oversee or interact with animals.

It is because of his actions and the lack of concern from the supervisory/managerial staff that we will never again trust these people, this location, or this company with the care of our four-legged family member. I am continuing my attempt to rectify the actions of this employee by contacting the Pet Paradise Corporate Headquarters and Human Resources Department to ensure that this doesn’t happen to someone else’s furry family member. Allowing this type of behavior from staff to go unchecked will only lead to more occurrences and potentially worse scenarios.

I will update when additional information has surfaced.

UPDATE: Response to Pet Paradise's reply to y review: I have attempted to contact you and your company to remedy the events to no avail. Your staff at the location are unable/unwilling to provide me with the email contact for a manager/supervisor on the area/regional level. I am being told that I can call someone, but then I will have no record of the...

Avoid at all costs!!! Management is a disaster and extremely rude. The assistant manager Nathan called us 12 hours before our drop off time to tell us they were canceling our reservation due to our dog having Von Willebrand disease which hampers his bloods ability to clot due to larger than normal blood vessels. It really only is any issue if having major surgery. They said because of this they wouldn’t accept him because he could scratch himself and not stop bleeding which is absolutely false. They instead educated themselves via Google rather than calling our Vet who would’ve assured them of the lack of risk. We made the reservation long ago, verbally confirmed the reservation 3 days prior along with multiple email confirmations,but still waited until the night before to say they wouldn’t honor the reservation. They offered no solution, no apology, and said we were told all reservations are subject to review to which I stated was never said to us and Nathan stated well that is what the employee said she said. I told him would you say anything different if you messed up and Nathan responded saying good point but oh well.

These folks are rude, lack all common sense, and should be replaced if this location has any hope of surviving. During the tour of the facility, they said they have staff onsite at all times but Nathan accidentally let it slip that they actually don’t. Beware of the false information and that no reservation is guaranteed especially if the internet research says so even against a Vets...

I will never ever take my dog back here!

First, the people who work here have zero personality and all seem like they hate their job and answering questions. Just uncaring people.

I chose Pet Paradise because they had boarding AND day camp as I didn't want my dog locked up 24/7 in a kennel and they knew a month in advance I had a pug however the morning I dropped him off is when she told me since he's a short faced dog he doesn't get Day Camp so my dog only got 2 hours of play each day and was locked in a kennel for 22 hours a day. He would have only gotten 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening but I paid extra for him to get an extra hour. This is Texas for god sakes you don't have an air conditioned room for dogs to play in. 22 hours in a kennel per day is inhumane and ridiculous. I would have left but I had a plane to catch.

I also watched the video cameras several times per day while on vacation and never once did I see an employee pet a dog, play with a dog or even act like they were in the room. I feel sorry for all the dogs being boarded who didn't get touched their entire stay.

When I picked him up she handed me his medicine, his food and said your bill is $$.... no input whatsoever on how he did or how his stay was just rushing me out the door.

He had so much anxiety when we got home it makes me wonder how he was treated in there and now *2 days later he has fleas which he's...