I brought my two toy dogs to get groomed yesterday, May 24,2014 at 8 30am to Preston Country Club for Pets Inc. I was told they will be ready to get picked up about mid-afternoon. This is our First time here after going to Tiki's Play House for the past 6 years. Our usual groomer at Tiki had quit and I didn't like the hair cut by the new groomer. At 12:10pm, I received a call from a young woman that my 6 1/2 lbs Shih Tzu fell off the bathing table and was favoring her hind leg and that she wasn't in any pain. She told me that their Vet will be examining her very soon. At 1:16 pm, I was told that the Vet did not have X-ray equipment to see what was wrong with Coco and that they will be taking my dog to Rocky Gorge Animal Hospital.\r
When we went to pick up my other toy dog, I asked to see where the accident occured. A young lady took me to the back to a white ceramic tub with about 4 inch rim and 3 feet-ish high above the ground. She said Coco was leashed but somehow jumped off the table and fell. She said that she wasn't there during the accident. I asked to speak with the person who called me and was told she was at her lunch break. We were lead to the office and spoke with the Assistant Manager,a very young gentleman, who repeated the same information and they all kept saying how sorry they were. I should have asked to speak with the person who was bathing Coco but, of course I was too worried to go see her and wasn't thinking too clearly.I was told all Vet expenses will be provided. At 2 :25pm, Rocky Gorge called to say Coco is at their center as I was driving to get there.\r
I found Coco huddled in a cage. She barely moved and was sedated. She was completely dry with partial hair cut and I just cried. I have never seen such a pitiful sight. The nurse said my dog was dropped off by a young man who didn't provide any information. \r
During examination, the doctor placed Coco on the floor and she used her front legs to drag her lower body and crawled under my chair...,like a Walrus.This certainly wasn't the picture of a dog favoring her back leg as I was told by the girl on the phone.\r
Series of X-ray shows no bone damage.The doctor is thinking of possible spine/disc damage or bruising. She is now getting dosages of steroids to medically treat her before going to a specialists for MRI and possible surgery. She is in PAIN. \r
HOW,WHY,and WHO was handling my 6 1/2 pound dog to have fallen off a table so much higher than her height? Her stubby legs are about 4 inches long! Why was she not wet from a bath and why for God sake did it take so long for her to be taken to the hospital? \r
I found the owner's e-mail address and received a call from him at 10 pm. He was concerned and sincere; provided me with insurance information. I went to bed with a terrible feeling that Coco wasn't handled properly. So many young folks work there and I really wished I spoke face to face with the person who was bathing Coco. I am trying very hard to have faith and not point fingers. Keeyoung Leoanrd
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