Insta star, resort in stoush over dog
THE owner of a Gold Coast pet resort and daycare has strongly rejected claims by two customers that their dogs were injured or in emotional distress upon pick-up.
One pooch had to have surgery, costing $2600.
Currumbin Pet Resort owner Robert Green says one of the pets was already injured when it was dropped off. He also said the terms and conditions on invoices waived the business of liability.
Model and social media star Lexi Graham says her five-month-old Italian greyhound had to be treated for blisters on three of his feet after an eight-hour stopover at the daycare.
Ms Graham – who boasts more than 19,300 Instagram followers – alleges the dog was left unsupervised and spent extensive time on concrete flooring.
Resort owner Robert Green strongly disputed the allegations, arguing the dog was “already injured” before arrival.
“The dog was already injured when dropped off without an appointment,” he said.
“The woman who dropped the dog off was the sister who was looking after the dog.”
Mr Green said “all yards have grass so it did not happen here”, despite the resort’s social media showing parts of an enclosed area with concrete flooring.
“After they’d gone for the day, we were told the dog had blisters on its feet and we have to pay,” Mr Green added. “We’ve been in business in Currumbin for over seven years, the first place where you take a complaint like this is to RSPCA.
“I have no proof of the dog already being injured, I’m just
saying that’s probably what the case was.”
Ms Graham said only two females were present when she – and not her sister – attended the business that morning and for pick up that afternoon. She also said Mr Green was not present when she dropped the dog off.
“I didn’t notice anything wrong with him until I brought my puppy home,” she said. “He went on the grass to pee but some landed on his foot and he started screeching. I checked his feet thinking an ant bit him, but I found two huge blisters on his front paws. Three out of his four feet were blistered.”
She claims a vet the next morning determined the injuries
were likely due to extensive exposure to rough flooring.
Ms Graham said she phoned Currumbin Pet Resort to complain. She said she was not seeking reimbursement.
She alleges she was told by a worker the dogs often spent a number of hours each day in an enclosed “asphalt concrete pen”, but were moved indoors in the middle of the day when it became too hot.
“We have two concrete yards and another seven with artificial grass, we keep artificial grass in the concrete yard for them to use the bathroom,” he said.
“The dogs are moved inside if it’s a hot day but it
wasn’t a hot day when that dog visited.”
When questioned whether there was enough staff to fully supervise the dogs, Mr Green said ‘yes’: “We run two to three staff all day, everyday.”
“They’re watched, supervised. Our ratios are at least one staff for every 20-odd dogs out the back and we have a receptionist as well.”
Another customer, Alison Lyons, claims she forked out $2600 in vet fees after her seven-month-old puppy Boogie allegedly sustained a “gash” to his leg during a weekend stay at Currumbin Pet Resort.
Ms Lyons said staff had warned that the dog had tried to jump fences during previous
visits. “They said they couldn’t find anything wrong and that they thought because he’d been biting his leg after he was cut that he must of done it that way.
“There was no way he did that to himself, the vet said it was a clear cut mark.”
She said Currumbin Pet Resort did not offer to cover the vet bill.
Mr Green said: “The dog cut its foot trying to climb out of a cage and I can’t even find where it happened. I always try to help customers when I can. Sometimes dogs do unpredictable things. We’ve had dogs that continually jump at a fence until they break it, or break a gate. It’s difficult to manage sometimes.”