I Returned From A 2-Week Work Trip To Find A Tattoo On My Dog’s Stomach—Now I’m Reconsidering Everything About That Kennel

After a two-week work trip, I returned to find a mysterious blue tattoo on my dog Zuni’s stomach, spotted while she slept. She’d stayed at WagMore Acres, a “luxury” 24/7 dog daycare. The mark wasn’t there when I dropped her off. I posted about it in a local pet owners’ group, and comments suggested it was a spay tattoo, but Zuni was already spayed when I adopted her.

I contacted WagMore. The staff was evasive; Carly, who answered my call, promised a follow-up but never called back. When I visited, I learned Carly had “quit suddenly.” The manager, Jeff, insisted it was a standard spay tattoo, but his vague answers raised red flags. No promised clinic details ever arrived.

My vet, Dr. Nguyen, examined Zuni and confirmed the tattoo was recent, poorly done, and not typical for spaying. Shockingly, Zuni’s microchip now listed a “Rachel Nevin” as her owner. The microchip company revealed someone had submitted forged documents to change ownership.

Digging deeper, I uncovered similar stories of lost or tampered dogs at WagMore. I reported it to animal control, sparking an investigation. WagMore was shut down, and Carly was linked to shady dog placements. Rachel Nevin, unaware Zuni was stolen, apologized. Zuni’s story exposed a scam, reminding me to trust my instincts and hold pets close.