I've been bringing my goldendoodle, Mylo, to Happy Hearts since 2023--back when Wayne was grooming and operating mostly solo. While we had one earlier issue (Wayne falsely accused me of disputing grooming charges with my bank), I chose to give the business another chance because mistakes happen.
The first boarding experience went smoothly. I received photos and videos of Mylo, which gave me peace of mind while I was away. Unfortunately, this most recent boarding experience was an absolute nightmare--primarily due to poor customer service and a complete lack of communication between Wayne and his staff.
When booking the boarding appointment, I clearly told Shan (the receptionist) that I wanted Mylo groomed during his stay. She repeated the services back to me and took a deposit to confirm everything. I dropped Mylo off on Friday, and Wayne told me he'd be ready for pickup at 3 PM on Sunday. I informed him my sister would handle the pickup, and he handed me a sticky note with a phone number for her to call.
While I was out of town, I received zero photos or updates about Mylo, which was already concerning based on my previous experience. Then, on Sunday at around 12:30 PM, I got a call from a woman at Happy Hearts asking if Mylo could be picked up by 1:30 because she "had something to do" and Wayne had "a work thing." This was a major inconvenience. She called twice more rushing my sister, and then told me she'd be leaving at 2 PM regardless. Before hanging up, I requested a call from Wayne--but instead, she just texted me: "Hey may call this number when your sister arrives please."
At this point, I was genuinely concerned about Mylo's well-being. It didn't feel like I had boarded him with a professional business--it felt like leaving him with an unreliable friend. When my sister arrived, she called the number and rang the doorbell, but no one responded. Eventually, the number called back and Wayne facilitated the pickup. That's when we found out Mylo was not groomed during his stay.
Later that evening, Shan texted me from her personal phone, apologized for the miscommunication, and said I could bring Mylo in on Monday because they had availability. I brought him in that morning, but the receptionist said there was no availability and he wasn't on the schedule. When I mentioned the text from Shan, she was surprised and only recognized the automated business system message--not Shan's personal message. Eventually, they agreed to groom him because, at that point, he was not leaving without service.
Before leaving, I again asked for Wayne to call me. He finally did hours later--with a completely dismissive, unapologetic tone. I expressed how disappointed I was with the service, the lack of updates, and how concerned I felt not knowing if Mylo ate, drank, was walked, or was comfortable during his stay. His response? He blamed his staff and said "You or Shan didn't tell me he needed to be groomed." That's unacceptable. I communicated everything clearly with your staff. It's not my job to repeat instructions your team failed to relay.
And just when I thought the experience was over, when I picked Mylo up after his grooming, the receptionist casually mentioned that she had photos and videos from his stay--yet I still have not received a single one.
This entire situation was unprofessional, stressful, and deeply disappointing. What used to be a trusted business turned into a mess of excuses, finger-pointing, and poor leadership. I will no longer be using Happy Hearts, and I strongly recommend finding a grooming and boarding facility that prioritizes clear communication, professionalism, and genuine care for your pets. read more