Post by k78 on Jan 8, 2009 12:49:50 GMT -5
Received this from a friend of mine:
My dog's tragedy
To be shared throughout the Chattanooga pet community
On Tuesday, December 9, 2008, I hired Carl Rochford of Aussie Pet Mobile to come to my home for pet grooming for my elderly dog, Cody.. Cody is a 15-16 year old Golden Retriever/Chow mix; obviously a very hairy breed combination. Aussie Pet Mobile is a franchise out of California and they had an ad in the Mint Magazine. A few years ago I determined it was no longer viable to take Cody to a traditional groomer since he is forced to stand for so long and is typically cage dried; it was just too much for him and his arthritic body. But his nails have gotten so long I wanted to have them clipped and thought a bath would be nice. Aussie Pet Mobile (Brenda and Carl Rochford) assured me they could take care of Cody. Carl arrived on Tuesday and I reiterated the fact that Cody is elderly and arthritic and I mainly wanted his nails clipped but I thought a bath w ould do him good too. Carl said if there were mats in his coat, he may have to clip those out. I said that was ok on his underbelly and back legs where his hair is so long and thick; my main goal was to give this sweet, elderly dog a freshening-up and nail trim.
Carl was out in his van (feet away from my home) and never once came to my door for clarification; when he was done and came to my door, he was holding my traumatized Cody who had been shaved from the top of his neck to the base of his tail. This always-furry, golden dog was now a small, white, frail, bald dog. I was utterly shocked and speechless besides, "WHAT HAPPENED???" He said that Cody had some matting on his back so he had to shave his whole body. He set him down and went back out to the truck to clean up. When he came back to the door, I told him this was not acceptable and asked why he w ould shave an elderly dog (who's had long fur his entire life) bald at the beginning of winter. He had no answer. I told him I had called my husband at work and he had told me not to pay him. Carl had closed my front door by this point so it was just the 2 of us inside my home. He sternly said, "Oh, I expect to be paid." I was fearful at this point so I paid Carl and he left with me crying on floor with my traumatized dog.
When my husband returned that night from work, he called Carl and asked for a refund ($70) for this injustice to our dog. Carl stated several falsehoods about our conversation and even implied that his wife had been here with him (she had not). Basically the call ended with no resolution, no apology (even for a miscommunication), and no offer of any type of compensation. The check had been deposited that day. My husband has left 3 det ai led voicemails with the Aussie Pet Mobile corporate office and has never received a call back. The complaint I filed with the Better Business Bureau has gone unanswered.
When Carl was here, I told him, "I think you have just caused the beginning of the end. I think you have just shortened the life of my dog." Unfortunately this was true. We had to send Cody to Heaven on Friday, December 19th; before his time and only 10 days after Carl Rochford shaved him bald against our wishes. Our vet said that this traumatic event caused a lot of shock and stress which contributed to his early death. We had to buy a new collar (he's worn the same collar his entire life which now was too large since his large lion-like mane was gone), new bedding, coats and sweaters, and pain medicine prescribed by our vet for the pain from the nicks on Cody's body from Carl's blades. But this dog's life is the costliest outcome of this man's actions. Cody was like a son ... a family member. I promised him I would spread the word of this tragedy; I want to prevent this from happening to someone else!
Please help us spread the word about this couple and their horrible business practice!
BEWARE OF CARL AND BRENDA ROCHFORD AND
AUSSIE PET MOBILE OF CHATTANOOGA !!!
Kelly Bowden Lewis
My dog's tragedy
To be shared throughout the Chattanooga pet community
On Tuesday, December 9, 2008, I hired Carl Rochford of Aussie Pet Mobile to come to my home for pet grooming for my elderly dog, Cody.. Cody is a 15-16 year old Golden Retriever/Chow mix; obviously a very hairy breed combination. Aussie Pet Mobile is a franchise out of California and they had an ad in the Mint Magazine. A few years ago I determined it was no longer viable to take Cody to a traditional groomer since he is forced to stand for so long and is typically cage dried; it was just too much for him and his arthritic body. But his nails have gotten so long I wanted to have them clipped and thought a bath would be nice. Aussie Pet Mobile (Brenda and Carl Rochford) assured me they could take care of Cody. Carl arrived on Tuesday and I reiterated the fact that Cody is elderly and arthritic and I mainly wanted his nails clipped but I thought a bath w ould do him good too. Carl said if there were mats in his coat, he may have to clip those out. I said that was ok on his underbelly and back legs where his hair is so long and thick; my main goal was to give this sweet, elderly dog a freshening-up and nail trim.
Carl was out in his van (feet away from my home) and never once came to my door for clarification; when he was done and came to my door, he was holding my traumatized Cody who had been shaved from the top of his neck to the base of his tail. This always-furry, golden dog was now a small, white, frail, bald dog. I was utterly shocked and speechless besides, "WHAT HAPPENED???" He said that Cody had some matting on his back so he had to shave his whole body. He set him down and went back out to the truck to clean up. When he came back to the door, I told him this was not acceptable and asked why he w ould shave an elderly dog (who's had long fur his entire life) bald at the beginning of winter. He had no answer. I told him I had called my husband at work and he had told me not to pay him. Carl had closed my front door by this point so it was just the 2 of us inside my home. He sternly said, "Oh, I expect to be paid." I was fearful at this point so I paid Carl and he left with me crying on floor with my traumatized dog.
When my husband returned that night from work, he called Carl and asked for a refund ($70) for this injustice to our dog. Carl stated several falsehoods about our conversation and even implied that his wife had been here with him (she had not). Basically the call ended with no resolution, no apology (even for a miscommunication), and no offer of any type of compensation. The check had been deposited that day. My husband has left 3 det ai led voicemails with the Aussie Pet Mobile corporate office and has never received a call back. The complaint I filed with the Better Business Bureau has gone unanswered.
When Carl was here, I told him, "I think you have just caused the beginning of the end. I think you have just shortened the life of my dog." Unfortunately this was true. We had to send Cody to Heaven on Friday, December 19th; before his time and only 10 days after Carl Rochford shaved him bald against our wishes. Our vet said that this traumatic event caused a lot of shock and stress which contributed to his early death. We had to buy a new collar (he's worn the same collar his entire life which now was too large since his large lion-like mane was gone), new bedding, coats and sweaters, and pain medicine prescribed by our vet for the pain from the nicks on Cody's body from Carl's blades. But this dog's life is the costliest outcome of this man's actions. Cody was like a son ... a family member. I promised him I would spread the word of this tragedy; I want to prevent this from happening to someone else!
Please help us spread the word about this couple and their horrible business practice!
BEWARE OF CARL AND BRENDA ROCHFORD AND
AUSSIE PET MOBILE OF CHATTANOOGA !!!
Kelly Bowden Lewis