Cape Town - A Cape Town woman is angry after a posh dog hotel shaved her prize pet without her permission.
Taro the Pekingese, whose shiny mane and fluffy tail was his crowning glory, has been left with a buzz cut and “severe trauma” following the unscheduled haircut at the @Frits Dog Hotel in the Cape Town CBD.
Ronel Vorster, from Melkbosstrand, says it will take TWO years for her award-winning dog’s coat to grow back, and his days as a top show dog are numbered.
Ronel says she took Taro and his sister Tamara to @Frits Dog Hotel for a three-night stay.
She paid R2 166, and thought her pooches are safe, as the hotel has a live online camera feed for owners to check on their pets.
@Frits Dog Hotel in city centre has apologised. Picture: Daily Voice
“My husband Arno and I had a trip to Johannesburg and we booked Taro and Tamara in at the dog hotel on 14 September, it was their third visit,” Ronel explains.
“Taro is also our show dog and two weeks prior to the booking, he won a competition.”
She says they checked in online and noticed Taro was not in his room.
“We phoned and spoke to the receptionist and we were told that there was big drama,” says Ronel.
She was furious when she heard Taro was shaved after being mistaken for a Yorkshire terrier.
Taro the Pekingese and her award-winning fur before it was shaved. Picture: Daily Voice
“We were informed the washer took Taro, instead of a Yorkie, to the washing area. If they’re so well trained, the washer should have noticed it’s two completely different breeds. Without checking, she shaved Taro’s hair.”
Ronel says her once confident and playful doggy is now depressed.
“After the incident we took Taro to the vet and had to get Calmeze and medication for his anxiety. He has nightmares, he doesn’t eat, is not playful and hides away. He’s not the same dog I left there, he is depressed,” she says.
“Our dog behaviourist can’t even see him now because he is too traumatised. Taro needs to wear a jersey to keep him warm. It could take two years for his coat to grow back."
“Pekingese is not a breed known to be cut, as the coat is their asset. The top coat will never grow back to its original state. My dog’s future and competitiveness has been ruined for life."
“This is not classified as a mistake; it is plain stupidity and shows they’re incompetent,” an angry Ronel adds.
The owner of @Frits Dog Hotel, Yanic Klue, says it was not intentionally done.
“We made a mistake. Once we realised that, we gave him a professional cut for a Pekingese and offered the owners flowers and a gift voucher as an apology but the owners refused it,” Klue said.
Ronel said it’s a “blatant lie”.