07/11/2026
As the owners of Jolly Ranch Pet Resort,we want to address a situation that has recently been shared on social media so our community can hear directly from us.
We understand why there are questions, and I want to acknowledge that there was a misunderstanding regarding communication about medication administration.
Before this dog’s stay, we discussed several times that she experiences significant anxiety, and her owner provided her prescribed PRN (as-needed) medication for us to administer if we felt it was necessary for her comfort based upon our professional experience. She actually told us she gave it to her for the morning of her drop off to help calm her. Based on those conversations, our understanding was that we were authorized to administer the medication when needed to support her well-being.
The misunderstanding was NOT about whether the medication could be given—it was about when the owner would be notified after it had been administered. Our standard procedure with PRN medications is to inform owners before pick up how many times medication was administered so they have a complete record and know their final charges.It is not always feasible for our staff to contact owners each time an as-needed medication is given especially during busy boarding periods, such as July 4th holiday.
We recognize that the owner expected to be notified after each administration, and unfortunately, that was not our understanding at the time. I sincerely regret that this expectation was not communicated clearly.
I also want to be very clear that every decision made by our team was based solely on the dog’s comfort and well-being. She was NEVER given any medication that was not prescribed for her or that we were not authorized to administer. The medication was provided by her owner specifically to be used as needed for anxiety, and it was only administered when our trained staff believed it would help keep her comfortable. She was given the dosage prescribed on the bottle by her vet.
During her nine-night stay, which included 3 nights of Fourth of July fireworks and very severe storms,we did everything we could to reduce her stress and help her feel as comfortable as possible. We spent extra time with her, monitored her closely, sent photos throughout her stay, and communicated with her owner regularly.
At one point following the storms, I let her owner know that all of the dogs were safe and normal. I want to clarify what I meant by that. My intention was to reassure her that her dog was healthy, safe, and coping as we would expect given her known anxiety. It was never meant to suggest that she wasn’t anxious. We were fully aware of her anxiety, anticipated it based on what we had discussed before her stay, and gave her additional attention and care throughout her visit because of it.
Although our signed boarding agreement includes a $5 per-day medication administration fee, we chose not to charge for administering her medication because we understood the owner’s concerns and wanted to extend that courtesy.
At Jolly Ranch Pet Resort, we take the trust families place in us very seriously. Every decision we make is centered on the health, safety, and comfort of the pets in our care. This experience has reinforced the importance of making expectations surrounding PRN medication communication even clearer, and we are reviewing our procedures so there is no room for misunderstanding in the future.
We understand that people may have different expectations, and we respect every owner’s desire to be informed about their pet’s care. While we regret this miscommunication, we stand behind the compassion and intent of our staff, who cared for this dog with kindness and with her best interests at heart every day she was with us.
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to hear our perspective and for the continued trust you place in Jolly Ranch Pet Resort. We remain committed to providing a safe, caring, and loving environment for every pet entrusted to us.
