'She started to cry and asked me why': Dog owner concerned over canine's health at doggie daycare, they try to take him back and the employees start crying in response

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
May 10, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

As a fellow owner of an anxious dog, we can tell you that life is never simple with them. They are not a go-with-the-flow, goofy golden retriever who enjoys every situation simply by being there. We have to think more carefully about handling situations that involve our doggo because she's… well, sensitive. It's okay, it's not her fault, but we can't just expect her to thrive in every scenario. We can't put her in doggie daycare with 50 other puppers because not only would she not enjoy it, she would be afraid of it.

So when this doggo owner became concerned for his canine's health after hearing his pupper was nervous at the daycare he was going to, we could relate. They made the tough decision to pull them out of daycare to make sure they're happy, but were met with the strangest response. Upon telling the employees their decision, the worker started crying in response. We're not sure what she was going through, but that sounds incredibly uncomfortable, if you ask us. Read through the whole thread below!

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  • 01

    I pulled my baby boy out of daycare and made the woman at the desk cry.

    'This was supposed to be fun for him'
    via from Hero Images

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    So once a week I started taking my pitsky to daycare so he could run around and play with other dogs. We eventually started taking him 3 times a week but dropped him back down to just one day when they
    via u/SuperPetty-2305
  • 03
    called me to tell me he doesn't enjoy it and hides in the kennels most of the time. Well we get a "report card" at the end of the day and today's said that he was anxious. Again. I don't wanna him, and this was supposed to be fun for him so I decided to pull him out of daycare.
    via u/SuperPetty-2305
  • 04
    When I picked him up today I told the gal working that I wanted to pull him out and she started to cry and asked me why. So I told her I just feel like he's not having a good time and he's already got severe abandonment issues (I'm his
    via u/SuperPetty-2305
  • 05
    fifth and FINAL owner) and that I worry this experience is tromatic for him. She told me she respects that and understood. Then she told me if he ever needs a bath or to be boarded to give them a call. I said I would and she went to get him for me.
    via u/SuperPetty-2305
  • 06
    When they came back, all the employees came out to say bye to him and tell me how much they're going to miss him and to bring him back anytime.
    via u/SuperPetty-2305
  • 07
    I feel bad, it's nice to know he's adored there, but I feel bad knowing he's scared the whole time he's there. But I also feel bad for the workers there. They love him and we're all very upset I decided to remove him from daycare.
    via u/SuperPetty-2305

  • We tried to put our anxious doggo in doggy daycare for a few days. She did the same thing - she just kind of stood there, frozen, the whole time. They told us that she was starting to warm up to it, but we thought the risk was too great for a potential payoff. 

  • 08
    I dunno. The whole interaction made me question if I did the right thing. Does anyone have any advice or has anyone been through this before?
    via u/SuperPetty-2305
  • 09
    PowerfulBranch7587 It's nice that you're empathetic towards the staff's feelings, but you did this for your dog. Keeping your dog there who's already anxious, may lead to fear aggression towards other animals. It sounds to me like you did the right thing.
    via u/PowerfulBranch7587
  • 10
    Cheezburger Image 10501847808
    via from vladans

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 11
    RuskiesInTheWarRoom Taking him out is probably the right choice given his anxiety. It's very very hard to get past the anxious moments when everything is so loud and so uncertain and so much like the pound.
    via u/RuskiesInTheWarRoom
  • 12
    But what you should know and be comforted by is that he was apparently very well cared for and attended to by the full staff. It matters that they will miss him, because it shows that they
    via u/RuskiesInTheWarRoom
  • 13
    cared for him and watched over him and made his time as comfortable as possible. So that's a very good thing. Even though he was frightened, he was cared for and watched and safe.
    via u/RuskiesInTheWarRoom
  • 14
    bloodybutunbowed I had one like this. Honestly, I loved that they loved her but I would much rather her be secure. Take yours for walks, he'll enjoy the one on one way more than the other dog company
    via u/bloodybutunbowed
  • 15
    ArtByNightStudios As someone who has experience tending and loving other people's dogs, I'd wager they were giving him such a sweet and loving goodbye not because they will miss him...
    via u/ArtByNightStudios
  • 16
    (They will absolutely miss him, but you get used to missing them)...but because they have spent so much time seeing him anxious and unhappy, unable to help beyond giving him patience and reassurance and love. If I
    via u/ArtByNightStudios

  • Okay, sure. They could be crying because they're going to miss him, but that seems like a little too much investment. It's a bit exaggerated, no? Crying over a dog that isn't enjoying your daycare? If they really cared about the dog, they would want him to be happy no matter where he is.

  • 17
    was the daycare workers, I'd be trying to put as much love as I could into seeing him off, because everyone needs to be shown they are loved*, but ultimately I would be happy he was leaving a space that wasn't right for him.
    via u/ArtByNightStudios
  • 18
    Cheezburger Image 10501842432
    via from alex_u

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 19
    *He is very lucky to have landed with you. If I can tell he is loved from here, I'm certain he knows it well.
    via u/ArtByNightStudios
  • 20
    Roseora I work at a wildlife rescue. Sometimes when my 'favourite' animals get released, I cry. But, at the same time, i'm happy. Because it means they're feeling better and can have a better life in the wild, not cooped up in a shelter.
    via u/Roseora
  • 21
    So i'm not really sad, even if I do miss them sometimes.
    via u/Roseora
  • 22
    So, you didn't do anything wrong. She knows your little guy is somewhere he feels safe and happy, isn't anxious and hiding in the kennel all day. So she's probably not really sad either. Just will miss him.
    via u/Roseora
  • 23
    Tricky_Warning_0115 You should trust your gut, if your pup wasn't having a good time, that's what matters.
    via u/Tricky_Warning_0115
  • 24
    Also I'd think it was a little odd for the person to cry just because you're stopping daycare, but also it was very sweet that everyone came to say goodbye.
    via u/Tricky_Warning_0115

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daycare dogs cry dog owner doggie canine employees doggo pawrents health dog owners animals crying
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