Hi everyone. I’m a former employee of Camp Happy Paws in Bothell, and I’m sharing my experience because I genuinely believe prospective clients deserve to know about some serious concerns I witnessed during my employment.
I originally accepted this job because I love working with animals. I came from PAWS, where I had experience handling large groups of dogs, including dogs with significant behavioral challenges. I was excited to work somewhere where dogs could socialize, play, and enjoy themselves in a safe environment.
Unfortunately, my experience at Camp Happy Paws was very different from what I had hoped.
During my employment, I personally witnessed a coworker hitting, kicking, and forcefully yanking dogs by their scruffs and collars. I witnessed dogs yelp and screech during these interactions, and I observed dogs cowering, flinching, and startling at hand movements around this individual. Seeing these things was incredibly upsetting.
On October 26, I submitted a written complaint to management explaining what I had personally witnessed, why I was concerned for the dogs, and why I felt uncomfortable working alongside this individual. Management acknowledged my complaint, assured me it would be addressed, and asked me to document further incidents.
I also understood that similar concerns had reportedly been raised by other employees before my complaint. Despite raising these concerns, I did not see the underlying handling issues adequately resolved.
I want to clarify something because it became central to my termination: I never expressed an unwillingness or inability to intervene in dog altercations. I asked management for clear emergency protocols and appropriate training. I was comfortable supervising large groups of dogs and was prepared to intervene when necessary.
On October 30, management was still discussing my upcoming Thanksgiving shift and a meeting to formalize my employment. On November 11, I was terminated. My termination letter cited alleged concerns about my willingness and ability to physically intervene in dog altercations, which I strongly dispute.
I have serious concerns about the facility’s employee training, emergency procedures, animal-handling practices, and management’s response to complaints. Based on my experience, I would not bring my own animals there.
I’m not sharing this because I want to create drama or encourage people to attack the business. I’m sharing it because dogs cannot tell their owners what happens when they’re away from home, and I believe owners deserve to make informed decisions about where they leave their animals.
If you’re considering Camp Happy Paws, I encourage you to ask questions about staff training, dog-fight intervention procedures, and how complaints about employee conduct are handled.
I have also shared my experience on Google, Yelp, and Facebook.
Every dog deserves to feel safe and be treated with compassion. ❤️
submitted by /u/Same_Honey15
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