LITTLETON, Colo. — Denver7 Investigates has been looking into concerns about Camp Bow Wow in Littleton for months. However, an incident on Monday sparked new frustrations from one customer and former employees.
The Littleton Police Department confirmed that officers, including animal control, responded to the doggy daycare located at 8121 S. Grant Way on Monday. The response was due to the facility being “temporarily understaffed after two employees walked out, leaving one staff member to care for the animals.” Despite the staffing issues, LPD insists no animals were ever in danger.
“I was shocked, surprised, frustrated because I needed to get up now and go pick him up,” said dog owner Kate Kane.
Kane explained that staff called her Monday, recommending she pick up her dog, Fergus, early due to the staffing situation. Fergus has been attending the daycare several times a week for more than three years. She noted that Fergus was always “very happy” after a day at Camp Bow Wow, “panting like he was tired, and that was the goal.”
Now, after Monday’s incident, Kane is looking for other options for Fergus’s care.
According to public records under the Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act (PACFA), Camp Bow Wow in Littleton has failed three inspections within 12 months. These included repeat offenses for inadequate supervision. Additional violations involved failing to make records available to inspectors, having sharp surfaces in the outdoor play yards, and not removing feces daily. The facility was fined $500 once and $1,000 once due to staffing violations.
“I was shocked because obviously I did not sign on for a job where animals were not being properly treated,” said Melody Plunkett, one of the employees who “walked out” on Monday.
Plunkett, who started at Camp Bow Wow in June, insists she quit.
“People pay us to take care of their animals, and they entrust us with their care and safety. So to hear that they are not being properly contained and taken care of, which is absolutely disgusting to me,” Plunkett said.
Denver7 Investigates visited Camp Bow Wow in Littleton on Tuesday hoping to speak with the owner. He declined to comment beyond stating that Plunkett is an “upset employee” who was “fired.” He also insisted the facility now has adequate staffing.
Although Kane will be finding a new place to take her dog, she hopes this situation serves as a learning experience for all doggy daycares.
“Maybe they’re learning a lesson from all of this and having you walk in there today and you spoke to them, maybe he’s waking up,” she said.
https://www.denver7.com/news/investigations/records-reveal-series-of-violations-at-camp-bow-wow-location-in-littleton
