We entrusted Taurus Academy of Lake Travis with our two dogs while we were on vacation, just as we…read morehad done multiple times before over the years. Because of our history with the facility, we had no reason to believe there would be any problems. What happened instead has been one of the most upsetting experiences we have ever had as pet owners.
Four days into our trip, we received a phone call informing us that one of our dogs was in serious condition. She could not stand or walk. She would not eat. Staff could not get her to take her medication - don't worry, the treats used to give her the medication were unopened so I'm not sure how they attempted to even give her the medication. She was vomiting bile and suffering from bloody diarrhea. Faced with the possibility that our dog was critically ill, I cut my vacation short and booked an immediate flight home.
All along, Taurus repeatedly stated that she must have picked up a bug while here; however, according to our vet, the most likely explanation was not some minor stomach issue but a massive anxiety response. Taurus has repeatedly characterized what happened as simple "GI discomfort," but that explanation does not align with what we witnessed, what our veterinarian treated or the lasting changes we continue to see in our dog weeks later.
The physical symptoms eventually improved, but the emotional and behavioral damage has not. More than two weeks after bringing her home, our dog is still not the same dog we left in Taurus's care. Before this stay, she was remarkably independent, confident and friendly. This is a dog who routinely stayed home alone for 8-10 hours without issue. She was fully house-trained, comfortable meeting new people and rarely showed signs of significant stress.
Today, she can barely go ten minutes without someone nearby before having an accident in the house. She has become fearful of unfamiliar people. She is noticeably more anxious and clingy. Situations that never bothered her before now seem to overwhelm her. Rather than the confident and secure dog we knew, she behaves like an animal that has experienced a traumatic event and no longer feels safe.
Perhaps the most heartbreaking change is that she has begun displaying behaviors we have never seen in her before. In all the years we've had her, she has never growled at me and never bitten me. Since returning home, she has done both. For a loving, gentle dog who has always trusted her family, that change is deeply disturbing and speaks to just how profoundly something has affected her.
Anyone who has cared for a traumatized dog recognizes these signs. Trauma doesn't always leave visible scars. It can manifest as separation anxiety, loss of confidence, regression in house training, heightened fear responses, hypervigilance, emotional dependence and even defensive aggression from a dog that previously showed none. Watching those changes unfold in a 5 year old dog who never displayed those behaviors before has been heartbreaking.
What makes this situation even more frustrating is the complete lack of meaningful answers. Something clearly happened during her stay. Healthy, well-adjusted dogs do not suddenly become unable to stand, refuse food and medication, vomit bile, develop bloody diarrhea, and return home exhibiting signs of severe anxiety and behavioral regression without a cause. Yet despite the severity of the situation, Taurus's explanation amounts to little more than "GI discomfort."
That explanation is simply not credible based on what we experienced.
The financial costs of veterinary care are one thing. The ruined 25th anniversary vacation is another. What hurts most is seeing the lasting impact on our dog. We left a happy, confident, independent companion in Taurus's care. We brought home a dog that was physically ill, emotionally distressed and behaviorally changed.
We trusted Taurus Academy of Lake Travis because of our prior experiences there. After what happened to our dog and the lack of accountability that followed, we will never board our pets there again. Pet owners deserve transparency, honesty and confidence that their animals will be safe and cared for while they are away. Based on our experience, Taurus Academy failed on all three counts.