Chicago Dog Owner Robert Ruzeki says his dog, Rocky, was mistreated at a dog training and boarding facility after being forced to board the dog when his regular could not take him.
It took place at the Chicago Canine Academy, near Ruzeki’s home. For Rocky’s five-day stay, the pet owner was charged $500 by the facility upfront.
After dropping Rocky off, the Academy posted a video on their social media page without Ruzecki’s permission. One of the owners can be heard saying: “Dog owners make excuses for behavior that we have to fix and our fix looks tough because this guy trying to ‘bite’ us.”
Ruzecki says his dog has never tried to bite anyone, whether a human or a dog. He has taken care of Rocky since he adopted him as a pup five years ago.
Once he returned from his trip, Ruzecki called to see how Rocky was doing at the facility. Unfortunately, the call did not go so well. The facility owner started by calling the dog a swear word, followed by “I have to train it.” Ruzecki, rightfully upset, responds by saying, “Stop, I never once asked you to train it. I never gave you permission to touch him. I said don’t touch my dog any longer, that’s final.”
Ruzecki called the Academy again, only to find out that the owner had told him that Rocky was hurt and did not give any answer as to how it happened. But they took responsibility for the veterinarian bill. Rocky had a contusion on his neck and a knot on his head.
This was a surprise, especially since The Chicago Canine Academy has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. According to the agency, they have a license from the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare, and there are no complaints on file.
When searching for a reputable boarding facility, it is important to do research. Animal advocate, Susan Taney of Lost Dogs Illinois said, “I would get on Nextdoor or Facebook and ask who you’d recommend. And ask why they’d recommend them.”
She recommends showing up unannounced to tour the facility. She also suggests the pet owner pay attention to the facility’s cleanliness, security, fire alarm system, and live cameras. Also, she recommends checking to see if the temperature is normal and asking where they have chemicals stored.
Jim Morgan, Chicago Canine Academy owner, confirmed over the phone with Fox 32 that Rocky was indeed injured at his facility and said he paid the veterinarian bill. But, when asked the question of how the dog got injured, he hung up the phone.
Written by Daylontie Jasper
Edited by Cathy Milne-Ware
Source:
Fox 32 Chicago: Chicago man claims his dog was abused at training and boarding facility; by Natalie Bomke
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Inset Image Courtesy of The Bee’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
