Downtown Dog Resort & Spa The Downtown Dog Resort and Animal Hospital Sascha came home with fleas after being boarded at Downtown Dog Resort & Spa Baltimore Maryland

My dog Sascha was boarded at the Downtown Dog Resort & Spa from Thursday, September 25, 2014 until I picked her up Monday, September 29, 2014. Sascha came home with an infestation of fleas and she also had sores in her head.

Now, she is constantly scratching which is an indication of fleas. I paid to have her bathed on Monday which was done prior to my picking her up.

In that she was housed in an area with other dogs, I must assume that one/some other dog(s) had fleas or the area where she resided may have them...

I paid for Sascha to have a bath which was given to her approximately an hour before I picked her up on Monday, 9/29/14. In speaking with other dog grooming establishments, the fact that the dog was given a bath and fleas not discovered or mentioned to the owner at the time of pick is an indication of gross oversight. Sascha was so infested with fleas after her stay at the Downtown Dog Resort & Spa that she had scratched sores into the top of her head!  I would suggest that if patrons agree to pay for a bath the price should include some type of flea deterrent or at minimum, a thorough inspection of the dog. When I picked her up there was no mention of fleas, sores, or anything else.

I contacted Jim Yannatelli, Managing Director at the Downtown Dog Resort & Spa to advise him of this problem. He suggested I bring Sascha back to be examined by the pet hospital onsite. At no time in that initial conversation did he mention the visit would be free of charge. In that the Downtown Dog Resort & Spa was the source of flea infestation, I refused to take Sascha back to a place I had no confidence in nor any trust and I was not comfortable with that suggestion because the Downtown Dog Resort & Spa is (in my belief) the source of the problem.

I then made an appointment with my vet for Monday, 10/13/14 and followed up with the Downtown Dog Resort & Spa regarding her findings which confirmed that Sascha was flea infested. She was treated for fleas, I sprayed my home with flea deterrent spray, and requested full reimbursement for my out of pocket expenses. The only offer from the Downtown Dog Resort & Spa was to reimburse for the flea deterrent spray and the bath she was given while being boarded. I find this to be unacceptable because the Downtown Dog Resort & Spa is not accepting responsibility for Sascha’s discomfort and my financial setback.

My vet treated Sascha for fleas; she is now doing fine and I am requesting compensation for the expenses I incurred. I am also requesting reimbursement for the bath she received while at the Downtown Dog Resort & Spa.