Pete & Mac's Pet Resort

We had a family gathering recently and since our cat needed thyroid medicine administered twice daily, we decided to board her for the first time since we've lived in the Phoenix area. We elected to use Pete & Macs in Avondale because they were a recommended provider through my husband's office. \r \r Our experience with Pete & Mac's has been an ongoing nightmare. I can truly say I've never dealt with a business so thoroughly and unapologetically incompetent as P&M. It's so over the top that it would almost be like a bad restaurant or movie you love to hate - if it wasn't for the fact that my cat's health was at stake and, in this case, permanently damaged.\r \r So where to start.\r \r There are some more minor issues that bothered me, such as not being able to spell out names correctly after we filled out multiple forms or charging us for a photo disc but then not providing one because they didn't have enough material to make one during nine days of boarding. That was strange to us, and after several phone calls and several weeks, that money was finally refunded. \r \r However, the biggest issue was that when we returned from our trip, our cat was permanently blind. \r \r We had called numerous times while away and were assured that the cat was doing fine. It was obvious from her behavior upon pick-up and her abnormally large pupils that something was amiss. Her behavior was distraught and she didn't seem to recognize us. We rushed her to the vet to find that she had retinal detachment and would never see again. Had we heard about this at the time it occurred, some form of medical intervention might have been possible. We'll never know. \r \r We immediately sought the records but they gave many reasons to not turn them over including claiming that our cat had never been there and they had no record of her or of us - despite the receipts, account numbers and charges that all left a paper trail My vet called and couldn't obtain records either. Two weeks later, we finally received records with minimal information. \r \r The resistance to communicating with us leads us to wonder if they have something to hide; at first our suspicion was that a tranquilizer had been administered without permission, but when the stupor never wore off, that seemed less likely. In retrospect, incompetence in care and inattention to the cats well-being most likely were all that transpired. Still, a nagging thought lingers that, as the vet suggested, retinal blindness often results from facial injuries (being struck, falling, etc.). \r \r The worst part about all of this is that we will never know what happened or what could have been done - again, because of the horrible communication during and after the whole experience.\r \r We're still stunned that they wouldn't notice such a big change physical and behavioral in an animal in their care - and that they wouldn't act to care for her or even inform us of what was happening. How little attention could they have been paying to not at least notice she was distressed? \r \r Our previously spunky, independent cat is now hesitant, needy and trying to learn her way around the apartment by sound and scent. At times she is inconsolable. \r \r We just wanted to share the word about our experience and I would ask anyone who cares about their pet to think very, very seriously before bringing their animal anywhere near this place for the sake of their pets and for the mental and emotional health of the owners. more

We booked Pete & Mac’s for our dog for 4 days. We inquired about handling difficult dogs because ours is no walk in the park. She is shy and difficult to work with at times until she settles in. They said this would not be a problem. We receive a call 6 hours after dropping her off that they are not a good fit with our dog but will keep her through our trip. I promptly removed my dog from the facility. Our dog has been boarded many times before, and never have we had issues. I tried Pete & Mac’s for their outdoor area. When she was dropped off she had 7 food baggies and medicine. She should not have gotten any food, we received 5 bags back. They did not return her meds! WHO DOES THAT?! I would never take any animal that I feel is family to this place. They are horrible. The reviews were all correct on how they treat dogs. In that 6 hours she was there, she was not let out once even though we paid for extra time to go out. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY OR ENDANGER YOUR PETS WITH THIS FACILITY! more

Stay Away from this place if you love your dog! We recently left our dog in the care of Pete and Mac's in Gilbert for only four days while out of town on the recommendation of our vet's assistant. When we came to pick him up I couldn't believe my eyes. He was SEVERELY DEHYDRATED and looked like a BAG of BONES! We asked to see the top of the line pet ""suite"" he was staying in and it was absolutely disgusting. The suite was nothing but a slightly larger cage with a filthy concrete floor that does not look like it has ever been cleaned. Almost every dog in the kennel area was barking non-stop the entire time we were there. I could hear them as soon as we got close. Not only was our dog very sick, but he was completely filthy and covered with mud and god knows what else. We paid extra for the ""pampered pet"" package that was supposed to ensure he was given extra attention, exercise, treats etc. There is NO WAY anybody paid attention to him at all. We're talking about a very expensive champion sired and grand-sired pure bred dog that was perfect in every way when we dropped him off. I feel terrible for not personally touring this facility prior to leaving him and simply taking the word of our vet tech. I am also completely perplexed by the favorable ratings I have seen about this horrible establishment. I can only imagine they either work for Pete and Mac's or are being reimbursed in some way. If you love your dog, please take the time to thoroughly check out the boarding facility. I truly hope my review can save someone else the pain we experienced. Our dog is still in recovery a week later. I can only imagine what might have happened if we left him for a longer period of time. more

I am always disappointed when you are given a quote for something and then when you get the actual bill, it is higher with fees you were not told about. This is the case with my dog's recent stay at Pete and Macs in Gilbert, AZ. My bill had two fees on it for a total of $25 that I was not told about, and were not on the estimate sheet, when I dropped my dog off for a 2 night stay. And despite my showing the receptionist the difference, she had no explanation for me other than saying, ""That's just the way it is."" She also could not explain to me exactly what each charge was for. After my recent experience and reading the other reviews here, I realize that I will not be going back to them next time. more

Worst place to take a dog that's for sure. I worked there a long time and the things that are allowed there make me so sad. I brought up these things to management because i was so upset over them and i was let go because of it. They turned a blind eye to everything. Dogs getting skipped. Not getting played with in daycare. The person in daycare watching them just sits on there butt and uses there phone the whole time. I was the only one not to do this. I loved playing with the dogs and loving on them. Some dogs would not get there potty breaks. Some would not get there meds, the list sadly goes on a long time. I would take you're dog somewhere else. This place just lies to you, to get you're money. more

Pete and Mac's is, hands down, the best thing I do for my dog :) When we walk through the door, his tail starts wagging and I bet it doesn't stop all day! The staff there truly loves animals, and they treat the dogs with compassion and respect. My dog is a rescue, and Pete and Mac's has had a huge hand in his rehabilitation. He has gone from being timid and wary to being a happy and confident dog, and much of the difference in his behavior can be traced back to when I began to take him to Pete and Mac's for daycare. They also reinforce the training he gets at home, so he has remained as obedient as ever--perhaps he is even better behaved because of his time there. I'm also a firm believer that a tired dog is a good dog. He gets lots of play time and attention when he is there, so on the days I have long working hours, I know he is getting the exercise he needs. What makes it even better is that I board him at Pete and Mac's when I travel. He is so familiar with the staff and feels so loved there that he has minimum anxiety while I'm gone. On his pick-up day, the groomer gives him a bath that leaves him clean, fluffy, and good smelling. Pete and Mac's has a loyal customer in me and in my dog, Beau! more

I have been taking my beagle to Pete and Mac's in Gilbert since 2006. I'm one of those crazy dog people who thinks of my dog as my child and I honestly trust Pete and Mac's with my dog more than any of my friends. I was very surprised by the bad reviews! My dog is kind of a ""Mama's boy"" (he's a sensitive little guy) and I think I would know if he was being mistreated. Whenever I go to pick him up from boarding he obviously trusts and likes his pet guardians. It is really obvious when my dog doesn't like someone (e.g. my sister) and he always acts very comfortable with the people at Pete and Macs. Every time I've picked him up he is cleaner than when I dropped him off. I always leave a pillow and blanket for his pet bed and those are always clean too. The last time I left him there, one of the pet guardians noticed he had a little blood in his urine and took him to our regular vet that same day. (It turned out later he had bladder stones). I would call every couple of days to see how he was doing and the pet guardians would always give me a detailed rundown of his condition (he was fine). When I picked him up on this last visit, all the pet guardians came out to say goodbye and obviously cared about him. I know I'm just one opinion, but my dog is my baby and I trust Pete and Mac's Gilbert to take care of him when I go out of town. more

My yellow lab can't wait to go to Pete & Mac whether it be for daycare or when I'm on vacation. The small dog area is indoor and has play equipment and the dogs run and play...and have a great time. The larger dogs like mine romp and play on turf and swim in the pool. It's very obvious to me there is quality care here. The dogs make canine friends and human friends and it's a joy to watch. My dog comes home pooped so I know she is getting exercise and playing. They give you a tour of the entire building so you can see for yourself. Those saying negative things probably have an axe to grind. I'm telling you from experience this is the Best dog boarding facility in the state of Arizona. The proof is in the pudding. Call them for a tour. I know you'll be as happy as I am. more

So from reading all the reviews of this place posted on the internet there was alot of pros and it seemed most of the bad ones came from employees which worried me then i acctually checked it out for myself. I needed a place to board my precious gems while i went on a trip for work and my last stop was Pete and Mac's. I went to the Gilbert and Elliot one and walked in and the ladies up front stood up and greeted me with smile and a friendly hello. Then I began talking to them about what i was looking for and also to talk about some of the bad posts online and they said that they would love to take me on a tour and show me around just to see for myself. They let me look outside where the big dogs were palying and the guy and girl out there were playing with the dogs and running around with them having loads of fun and i didnt see any dogs acting like they were scared all of them seemed to be having a good time then they showed me the rooms and every room they either had a fuzzy blanket and a toy for them or stuff other moms and dads brought them from home. Everyone had water filled to the rim of the bowls and it was so cute seeing the dogs in the room sleeping like nothing had phased them. also it didnt smell bad and the girl giving me a tour said they clean it all the time. They had so much stuff to offer me and their rooms were nice and spacious. So I decided to board them there. I called literally everyday checking on them and i was never disappointed in the phone reports they were having a blast. When i picked them up they were so happy and clean because they gave them a bath and we also got ID cards with their pictures on them which was so cute and the report cards were everything i expected they would say about them which means they really took their time to get to know them. I will never go anywhere else and my gems will be visiting them again real soon! So again see it for yourself to get your own opinion. more

I work here as well and the staff are so bad towards the animals, i feel like i am the only one here who cares at all. more

I am an employee at pete and mac's and I want to let everyone know they should never bring their pets here. I know of the post about the dog who died because she was not given her medication or feed. I was disguisted by how the situation was handled. The dog was not given her medication because none of the employees care about the animals. Some employees come to work on intoxicated or hung over. It was a very sad thing that happen to this dog and it should never happened at an expensive pet resort. The animals are not taken care of at pete and mac's. Many animals are simply skipped over at medication and feeding time. The employees spend most of their time talking in the kitchen instead of watching the animals. Dogs with individual time have two potty breaks a day that consist of being put in a pen for 5 minutes. They tell you that it is twenty minutes but I promise you your pet is out there for 5 minutes if that. The animals rarely have water and are not treated humanely at all. A person in a manager position dragged an older and blind dog into a door because she was having a bad day. The animals always have urine or feces in their rooms because employees are too lazy to clean. During a pets stay they will have bloody feces at least once because the facility is not clean at all. If you bring your pet here regulary you might think they are well taken care of but this is not true. Pete and Mac's promises a blanket and kong with a treat in every room but this rarely happens. Sometimes the rooms are not cleaned because employees are too lazy. The report cards are made up and most of the time the pet guardians do not even know the animal they are writing about. Corey the groomer has a very bad temper and takes his anger out on the animals. Please look somewhere else to board your pet or take them to daycare. This place is awful and no animal deserves this kind of abuse. Please stay far away from this place. Pros: NOTHING Cons: Lazy/abusive employees, no management supervision, dirty facility, false report cards more

I am a certified Vet Tech who is VERY familiar with kennels and I DO NOT recommend this place for boarding, training or anything. They might act nice but they do not take proper care of your pets. We actually had a family dog die because no one fed her her proper food/medications despite being directed to do so. And all they give you is the BS run around as to why or who's responsible. In the pet industry this is UNACCEPTABLE! They clearly should not be in business if they are unable to prevent tragedies that are preventable. No excuses. They can't even account for who was in charge of the dogs feeding and medication administration. So who watches the employees to make sure they DO their jobs. In my industry there's no room for laziness or doing the bare minimum which so many animal places finds acceptable. This is one of those places not to be trusted no matter what they say or how big they smile. There are other cases involving this place. Do not give them business. For the record I have worked grooming shops, vet clinics, pet stores and so forth. I know what goes on behind closed doors of those places. Cons: lack of staff supervision and proper petcare or proticol followed more

I have boarded my pets many times and this place is hands down the best! The staff is so personal with me and my dog. You can tell they genuinly care about all of the dogs and cats. My dog and I are known by name before we even make it in the door. I had a surgery and the staff would see my car and run out to get my dog to daycare. I never even had to unbuckle my seatbelt. That is great customer service! My dog comes home tired from play and is so much easier to walk when we get home. I can tell they work with all of my dog's training too! The facility itself is just amazing. I went out and visited their newest resort in Phoenix and it is amazing too with the same customer service and care. Overall...just a wonderful place that I know my pet is safe, getting love, and having fun. Check it out! Maybe our dogs can be friends. Pros: Everything!!! Cons: Not enough locations more