ComplaintsforDorchester Paws

• Initial Complaint

  07/10/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  On Friday, 7/7, my wife and I visited Dorchester Paws on 136 Four Paws Ln, Summerville, SC 29483 to adopt a kitten. Upon choosing a kitten to adopt, we noticed the kitten was on Doxycycline medication. Having concerns over this, as my wife and I have a 4-month old baby and another cat at home that we care dearly about, we inquired with the associate assisting us what this medication was for. We were informed it was for precaution only, and that the cat did not have any health concerns, viruses, diseases, etc. that we should be concerned about. We were sure to inform the associate we were concerned due to having a 4-month old baby and another cat at home, and we did not want to put them at risk. We inquired again with another associate who provided the last dose of Doxycycline if we should be concerned and again was informed there was nothing to be concerned about. We received documentation detailing the medication but no where in the documentation was it stated the kitten in fact had an Upper Respiratory Infection (URI), nor was this relayed to us by the two associates we inquired with. Upon bringing the kitten home, we noticed it was sneezing and wheezing; matters escalated the following night when we were forced to bring the kitten into an emergency vet, who informed us of the URI and the potential of pneumonia, as this was severely progressed case. We likely saved the kittens life. The veterinarians in fact told us to call the shelter ASAP to ensure no other animals were infected and adopted with a misrepresentation of health. Upon calling the shelter, all the associates brushed off the matter, and informed us they WERE aware of the URI and failed to inform us. The final associate I spoke to, Ebony S***** was extremely unprofessional and rude, and should not work in the industry she does. To treat us in the manner that she did, after their gross negligence and misrepresentation of the health of the kitten, is unacceptable.

  Business response

  07/20/2023

  Dorchester Paws does medical evaluations on each animal that enters the shelter. Unfortunately, we do not have an x-ray machine here that would be required to confirm if an animal has pneumonia. We do medically treat any animal that presents with signs of an upper respiratory infection, which would be the same treatment for pneumonia. After looking through this kittens medical paperwork, that any adopter would receive, it does state the medical condition the kitten had. We would be happy to issue a second Free Health Exam voucher that the adopters could use at their next vet appointment. 

  Customer response

  07/21/2023

  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.  However we dispute the statement that the medical paperwork provided indicated the kitten adopted had an Upper Respiratory Infection, as can clearly be seen in the attached document.  The technicians we spoke to also apologized for the failure to inform us, further indicating negligence on the part of the shelter and it's employees.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ******* ********

• Initial Complaint

  07/14/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On Sunday me and my son went to go and adopt a dog but they said we could not adopt a dog we can only Foster him although me and my son paid $26.19 I feel like he got robbed and scammed by these people they are really rude and the place smells like death and it's hot and humid the conditions are awful. And the dog they were supposed to adopt out is still up on their website so they lied about that too.

  Business response

  08/03/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 10, 2022/07/26) */ This mother and son came in to adopt a dog. The reason they had to foster first, which was explained to them, was because they had pets at home that we were unsure how the dog in question would do. They were taking home a German Shepherd and had small dogs in their home. They pay the adoption fee up front so if all works out we can just process the paperwork. If the dog is returned, they receive a full refund, which in their case they were refunded. They took the dog on 7/10, called our emergency foster line at 3am on 7/12 stating the dog was going to be shot by their neighbors and other things of that nature. When they returned the dog on 7/12 we refunded their adoption fee. The entire process was explained to them prior to taking the dog home. They were upset that he didn't work out in their home and that we would not allow them to keep him in an unsafe environment. Thank you, April

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