Camp Bow Wow Carmel

Or call (317) 580-0446 or email carmel@campbowwow.com for more information.

• Stan
  Feb 24, 2024
  Good People, Good Animal Care

  The long and short of it is they’re great at what they do.

  I’m thrilled that Camp Bow Carmel cares enough to ensure dogs are properly vetted and checked for temperament so that my dog is safe.

  I’ve been a customer for almost a decade and I appreciate that the mom and daughter run this as a family owned business. Looking at [the] review below mine, I can say that I’m not sure she understands how a “family owned” business works. As it’s family owned, family often works together. I can say my dog is safe, the family that owns the franchise is fsntastic. Some people aren’t worth any amount of money, and they can’t handle when they’re shown the door.

  Thankful for the wonderful years long animal care. Thankful to deal with a women owned family owned business. Thankful they keep the riffraff out.

• Stacey
  May 31, 2023
  Do not recommend

  Wow! I am truly at a loss for words. I have been shopping around for a new daycare for my pup so I arranged to bring my kiddo in for an interview at Camp Bow Wow Carmel. Back in 2008 I brought my German Shepard girl here for day care and boarding twice a week for quite awhile and it was great. They treated her well and ran a clean pleasant facility that the owners took pride in. On her interview day I brought her in so they could test her temperament and they gave me a great report card with her picture and feedback. I also took a tour and met the owners an middle age couple who were charming I ran into the owners several times over the period that I was taking my dog there and they were great. So now that I was wanting to try out a few other places I thought why not.

  I filled out paper work online and a very nice personable man called me and advised me that I would have to fill out a paper application and send it back before I could schedule her interview. I did and he called me back and everything was great. I arrived at 7:00 am and he came right out and stood in a small fenced in area. I asked if I was supposed to bring her to him and he said yes. I asked him why the lobby was closed, and if it was due to covid and he said one of their owners has a rare form of blood cancer and they need to keep them away from people as much as possible. He took her back for the evaluation and came out later and told me that she did great. I checked on her a few times through out the day and she was safe, but mostly pacing the fence. In the morning there was one employee that was in the area with the dogs mostly pacing around using their cell phone or talking on there cell phone. The dogs take a rest from 11am-1pm and have lunch if their parents packed it for them. I found this information on the paperwork they hand out and on the website. I checked in on her again in the afternoon and saw that she again was pacing the fence and laying around again resting.
  During the day I thought this might be a good spot for my dog to visit and I purchased a ten pack of passes.

  Pick up is between 4-5:30pm and I arrived a little bit after 5:00pm. I called from the parking lot as directed and the phone was picked up, and I was hung up on. I called in again and said that I was there to pick up my dog and they said she did great and they would bring her out. I inquired about their schedule today and I was told they took a rest from 11am-1pm, and from 4pm-5:30pm. As I was checking in on them on the web cam today I asked if they went to rest at 3pm today instead of 4pm and I was told that the schedule varies depending on the temperature, staffing, etc. and was hung up on.

  A young lady came out and said she would be with me in a minute. I asked of she was the person I was talking to on the phone and she said yes. I asked her if the space was airconditioned and she replied yes, so I asked if it was a staffing issue to which she became visible irritated and said no it wasn't a staffing issue. She went back in and came out with another dog and handed me a piece of paper and told me the break times and that they vary were on the paperwork. Again in and out with another dog, and I said I read the paperwork and didn't see anything notation of other break times and if she could show it to me. She grabbed the paper from me folded it in half and walked away. I asked if I could speak to the manager, she said I am the manager, I asked if I could speak to the owner and she said she is the owner. That she has owned the business for 16 years. At that time I asked her if she was the owner with the rare blood cancer that the other employee mentioned and she said yes, and I said I'm so sorry that must be hard. From there she became incredible rude and started insulting me, trying to shame me (I was called disgusting, and many other thing I won't type in a review). She was becoming more and more belligerent as I stood calmly holding my cell phone so I had a witness to the situation. She told me that I was on video and I said great then we have proof I wasn't doing anything. I asked if she would cancel my next appointment and the ten day pass I just purchased today and she said she would and that this wasn't going to work out. She continued to verbally assault me, I told her God Bless you and got in my car and left.

  From reviewing the website Michelle is the owner and her two children work there. I believe it was the owners daughter who was verbally accosting me because she didn't want to answer questions about their daily schedule.

  Needless to say, I won't be driving 15 minutes out of my way to take my dog to a business where I get hung up on multiple times, yelled at, and insulted. I would love to have a copy of the video to share with their franchise corporate office and would welcome the opportunity to speak with Michelle the business owner.

  I spoke with their corporate office who advised they have received many complaints about this location and that they have tried to work with them on these exact issues. Corporate also advised that they don't have an afternoon rest time, that only this location does that.

• Stephanie
  Jul 7, 2021
  Never trust them with your dog!

  I boarded my dog for seven days The week of June 19th. I prepackaged 7 bags of food, one for each day- measured out in portions, my dog eats.

  I picked her up on the following Sunday and was given back SIX bags of food back. I called Monday to ask how my dog ate last week. The girl on the phone, JULIA, was extremely rude and said my dog ate during EVERY meal. I asked why I was given back six bags of food. She’s responded with, “Oh that’s weird. I’m not sure, we don’t store dog food and only give what the owner brings.”
  I’m unsure why no one could give me an answer on why I had so much food left or what happened during the week. She then retracted and said,“Maybe my dog didn’t eat all week.”

  My dog lost 4 lbs while staying here. No one can tell me how much or when my dog ate. This is neglect. I can’t believe how much money I spent to have my husky treated like this.

  I paid for bath services to find out when I picked her up there was no bath given. The girl working said they ran out of time, but put that they would give her a bath, if I brought her to doggy day camp. So it’s now assumed I’m bringing my dog back? Why wouldn’t my money just be refunded for the bath not given? I’m in disbelief on everything from this place.

  Also to add- my dog went to the vet today and diagnosed with kennel cough.

  I’ve tried contacting the owner several times and have not gotten a response. She did however reply to a review I left on Facebook, very unprofessionally.

  I can’t understand how this location is in business.

• Tom
  Aug 8, 2020
  Complete lie Do not use!

  This place does not let your dogs play. They let them out for a few minutes during pick up times then back to the crate for the remainder of the day. I believe there is no one there except pick-up and drop off times.

• Kelsey
  More than a year ago
  No

  I echo the experience of Anne E. below. Our dog had an overnight during Labor Day weekend, and I too obsessively watched the cameras to find that my dog played no more than 30 minutes all day long. Our phone call and voicemail that weekend also was not returned. We were so frustrated that we picked our dog up early on Sunday. When we expressed that we did not feel comfortable paying full-price for the service, the on-site manager informed us that they were understaffed so the dogs did not have a normal play schedule. The manager told us the owners needed to approve a refund, and she would have the owner call us right away. No return call for over 3 weeks. We called 2-3 times per week for over 3 weeks requesting a follow-up call from the owner. Refund eventually denied.

  The facility has explained that when they have too many dogs and not enough caretakers, play schedules are minimized to maintain safety of dogs. I do not, however, think it is fair to charge customers the same price for a day with 30 minutes of play time when customers expected their dogs to receive much more than that.

• Kelsey
  More than a year ago
  No

  I echo the experience of Anne E. below. Our dog had an overnight during Labor Day weekend, and I too obsessively watched the cameras to find that my dog played no more than 30 minutes all day long. Our phone call and voicemail that weekend also was not returned. We were so frustrated that we picked our dog up early on Sunday. When we expressed that we did not feel comfortable paying full-price for the service, the on-site manager informed us that they were understaffed so the dogs did not have a normal play schedule. The manager told us the owners needed to approve a refund, and she would have the owner call us right away. No return call for over 3 weeks. We called 2-3 times per week for over 3 weeks requesting a follow-up call from the owner. Refund eventually denied.

  The facility has explained that when they have too many dogs and not enough caretakers, play schedules are minimized to maintain safety of dogs. I do not, however, think it is fair to charge customers the same price for a day with 30 minutes of play time when customers expected their dogs to receive much more than that.

• Anne
  More than a year ago
  Never Again

  I would like to point out that the website states “At Camp Bow Wow® CampBow Wow Carmel's Overnight Camp, a premier dog boarding service, Overnight Campers enjoy all-day play and are tucked away each night in their individual cozy cabins where they sleep on cots with fleece padding.” This is a lie. I boarded my dog over Labor Day weekend from Thursday until Tuesday. My dog enjoyed playtime on Thursday and Friday, but when I went to check the cameras on Saturday (around 10 am), there were no dogs to be found! I thought that seemed a little odd, so I checked again at 2 pm and 4 pm. Nothing. I called to ask what was going on, but I was routed to the voicemail system. Finally, around 6 pm, my dog was allowed some freedom (for approximately 30 minutes). Upset by what I saw on Saturday, I began watching the cameras obsessively on Sunday and Monday (Labor Day). Based on my constant checking in (every 30 to 45 minutes), I estimate that my poor dog was lucky to get more than an hour outside of his kennel on either of these days…not exactly what I would call all-day play. When I went to pick him up on Tuesday, the employee mentioned that play was limited on the weekends (that comment seems like a gross understatement). Not only did my dog suffer what I would refer to as borderline neglect, I was charged full price for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday even though my dog was not offered the full services listed on the website. My dog was also extremely energetic and needed exercise when we arrived home. I previously used another doggy daycare facility where I used to live, and my dog would have to sleep for two days after visiting that facility because he was so exhausted from actual all-day play! I previously recommended this place to a couple of friends (stating only good things after my dog seemed to have so much fun on his interview day). Rest assured, they’ll be getting an update from me letting them know that they should never take their dogs here. I know I won’t be back. The management team should be ashamed of themselves for their treatment of pets on the weekend and the false advertising they promote. I hope they don’t own pets.

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