The Crate Escape

I can’t believe that when the dogs are tired and lay down the staff makes the dogs get up just so it looks good for them, if my dog is tired then let my dog rest instead of forming anxiety and stress in my dog and others, I’m a dog trainer for 4 years now and when I heard that my dog gets forced up I got my dog right out and I saw so much more I’m just so upset that I’m not going to get into it.

We recently started to use the day care services. We tried the grooming as well.
My dog seems to be happy to get out of the car and go into day care where as other places we tried he would try to hide or shake. Says a lot!
The packages are convenient for us and makes drop off and pick up very quick.

The owner followed up and invited me back to Crate Escape. Why would I after the previous incident. I told her that I would accept reimbursement for the emergency room visit which she promptly declined. Rating stays at one star. Not that I would have considered bringing her back but I would at least respect them taking responsibility for what happened with my dog while she was under their «care» and «supervision».

My biggest issue with this doggie daycare is the attitude of the front desk staff. I found the owner especially to be very rude. Every time I came to pick up my boyfriend’s dog, she never looked me in the eye, unless it was to tell me the dog misbehaved. When he was bad, she would loudly explain what he did, and everyone waiting around to pick up their dog would stare. It made me very uncomfortable. The Crate Escape says they separate dogs by temperament, however our old dog was put into a large room with a variety of other large dogs (log onto their site and watch the dog cam, you’ll see what I mean). I did not feel it was safe to have an old alpha in such a large pack, and it turned out I was right, and he got kicked out. We now take him to a place nearby that told us a lot of dogs get kicked out of Crate Escape, because they don’t do well running around all day in a huge pack. They should be separated into small packs with similar temperament. I’d say save your money and look elsewhere for doggie daycare, there are a lot of reputable places in the Wallingford area.

We like bringing our dog here, and have used the daycare as well as boarding. The owner is always friendly and remembers us and our dog (we don’t go on a weekly basis). Our dog always loves running around in the ample space and sleeps like a baby when he gets home.
Sometimes they put our dog with the little dogs, though, which he hates. He’s a small lab so it probably looks like he wouldn’t like the bigger dogs, and with the camera option we were able to see he wasn’t with the big dogs. When we called they were very pleasant and moved him right away, so just make sure to specify if you have a preference. No problems here though, and they have held cute extra events to raise money for great organizations. I also like that they are very up to date with their Facebook posts so I always know what’s going on.
I definitely recommend Chris and The Crate Escape.

Be aware. My poor dog kept contracting illnesses here. It was one thing after another. One afternoon I looked at him after picking him up and couldn’t believe they didn’t even notice that my dog had a good bloody scratch on his face near his eye! Bringing him back & forth to the Vet was getting obnoxious and expensive.
I don’t think they keep up on making sure the dogs here are up-​to-​date with their Vet appointments. I would notice little notes attached to some of the owners leashes as they were walking out stating that their dogs were due for certain tests and when I looked at some of the dates they were months past due!
I’ve brought my dog here a few times. There was an older woman at the front desk on some occasions and just found her to be an absolute crank! She seemed as if she didn’t want to be there.
I also noticed while checking out the ‘Doggy Cam’ they started rounding the dogs up around 11:15 to take their nap! Nap time is from 12 – 1:30 (which I personally think is way too long when you’re paying $ 25 a day) But to start putting them in around 11:15 is just ridiculous! Not to mention the staff really doesn’t play or interact much with the dogs. They stand around and talk amongst each other.
I have also seen other Doggie Day Care businesses that have much more for the dogs to do. The Crate Escape invests in pretty much nothing for these poor dogs.
I will definitely be looking elsewhere for a fun place to bring my dog to.

The Crate Escape is the only place we will send our dog for daycare and boarding. They take such good care of him and I know he is in a safe loving environment when he is there. Chris and her staff love him as if he was one of there own!

I have brought my dog her a few times for grooming. He is large and hairy and they have always done a great job with him. He isn’t a fan of going in but he seems at ease after he is picked up. I can’t get him in the bathtub at home so its worth every penny that I pay for the staff to do it.

Our 6-​year old Chocolate Lab, Bo, is a bit high-​maintenance. He requires medications twice daily, can only eat his own food and treats due to allergies, and doesn’t play with toys. The Crate Escape staff were completely supportive of all his needs for the two times we have used their services: first for a bath and nail-​clipping via a Groupon/​Living Social deal, and second for a two-​night boarding this past weekend.
One star less than five comes from an issue we had after the grooming session: Bo became very ill, vomiting many times in a row requiring an emergency visit to the vet and antibiotics/​anti-​vomiting meds. We called the Crate Escape to encounter the answering machine, no emergency number, and left a message asking if any other dogs had become ill and informing them of Bo’s illness since returning home from their facility.
One star more than three comes from their allowing us to apply leftover coupon funds to an overnight stay, and encouraging us to bring him early on his first day so that he would be exhausted on night one and sleep well. They require all dogs to visit the facility before approval for boarding, to ensure that the dog is friendly and might acclimate well during their stay. A great place overall.

For the year I was living in Wallingford, Chris and her crew at Crate Escape were a godsend. My dynamic duo Zoey and Harley are extremely high-​energy and dare I say, uh-​huh, spoiled… they used to chew on everything from my sofa to my shoes and anything in between. After I began bringing them to Crate Escape, they’re behavior totally changed. The time they spent running around with their buddies at day care, and playing with the kindhearted staff at Crate Escape completely leveled them out and gave them the socialization they needed. The facility is clean, spacious, and complete with live webcam feed, bathing/​grooming, and an outdoor play area. Thank you Crate Escape, Zoey and Harley miss you!

You will simply not find a better «doggie day care» facility in the Wallingford area. The level of commitment goes beyond the walls of the business. Chris Ragozzino and her staff are extremely dedicated, as evidenced by their involvement with local outreach programs for pet adoption. Chris is a true communitarian; for example, Crate Escape has an annual Halloween event which is a great chance to get to know other dog owners and patronize the booths of local businesses. Rates are extremely reasonable and we have never been anything less than highly satisfied. The same goes for our friends who are also customers.