This posting is a warning to anyone considering leaving an animal at Shelmar Kennels. It describes my deplorable treatment by Martin Bell, the owner of Shelmar Kennels. \r
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I left my dog at Shelmar Kennels in August 2008 for obedience training and rehabilitation from dog-aggression issues. The cost of this four-week training was $1,200. Two days later, I emailed Mr. Bell to ask a few follow-up questions regarding the methods he uses to correct a dog?s behavior. He called me and reprimanded me for not having asked the questions while I was there, insinuated that I was one of those ?crazy dog park women,? and suggested that I come get my dog because he didn?t want to deal with me. He also told me that he had shown me the correction method he uses, which involves a choke collar and leash. I learned later, when I picked up the dog, that a second correction he used that he didn?t tell me about was slapping the dog across the face with force. Despite Mr. Bell?s confrontational attitude, I declined to pick up my dog because I was in desperate need of help for my pet. The phone call ended with me feeling that I had to grovel for Mr. Bell to keep the animal and train it. \r
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When the dog was ready to come home, Mr. Bell spent three poorly used hours instructing me on how to work with the dog when I brought him home. During this time, Mr. Bell was insulting, condescending, and overbearing. He told me to ?not say another word? because he didn?t want to hear what I had to say. He also said ?you?re just making excuses ? you really don?t want to do this? as well as ?I showed you how to do this and you?ve tried it two times already. You get one more chance to do it right.? His overall demeanor was one of superiority and contempt.\r
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He clearly didn?t care at all about providing any kind of customer service. He told me outright that my opinion of him didn?t matter. His abusive behavior was completely unacceptable of anyone who is offering a service.
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