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Bark Avenue
Rating Details »
Categories: Pet Boarding/Pet Sitting, Pet Groomers, Veterinarians
Neighborhood: Downtown545 S Main St
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 748-7485
- Hours:
Mon-Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
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27 reviews for Bark Avenue
I can't say enough great things about this place. I have taken my pups to quite a few places, but nowhere had the kind of love for animals as Bark Ave. They know my bulldog Duke by name, and everyone fawns over him every time we come in.
Also, their drop off/pick up service is a lifesaver.
I would not recommend this facility. I have gone there on two occasions. One to have my dog groomed and another time to try the daycare. Both times, it's been very chaotic.
The reason why I would not recommend it is based on my experience with daycare. I have a 5 lb maltipoo. I took her there for a 8AM drop off. Picked her up at 6pm and saw that she was confined in a small corner of the facility and she was wet.
They leaned over, handed me my dog, and she was full of dog hair, dust bunnies and a wet coat--the provider smiled as if I should be happy with her appearance.
It's my fault for not asking why she was sectioned off and dirty. I was in a hurry to move my car and get the heck out of there.
I would never take my dog there again. I assumed she was sectioned off because they may have had larger dogs there--and there doesn't seem to be a section for large and small dogs.
Also the place was VERY DIRTY. They have a staff there, but I guess no one takes the time to clean it.
They do alot of advertising and they are good at promoting their facility. Unfortunately, they could use some help in keeping the facility clean. My dog went there as a clean and groomed dog--but she came back dirty and wet. Never again.
Came here two days ago to drop off my precious puppy.
when the other dogs barked, like dogs do, an unprofessional employee yelled on the top of her lungs, "Shut your mouth!". Honestly, the man with the glasses was very nice. the woman however (i think she does the grooming) was not nice at all. that is not how to treat any pet, or anyone. she could have nicely told them to lower their voices.
i'm never bringing my pup here again.
ps. the location for drop off & pick up are different locations. the pick-up location reeks of urine and poop. disgusting! i almost wanted to vomit, no lie.
I like Bark Avenue. Every time their van drives up to pick up my dogs their tails are wagging like mad and they WANT to get in the Van crates and go!
My big pups get a day of running around at the Main Street Location and grooming; newly brushed out clean coats, happy faces and tired legs. All for a little over $100 TOTAL ( with tip) And I get a day vacation.
I've self washed them other places (with some extras, like nails and you know, from the self wash groomer) and the cost is $98 and they are not tired, not happy, and mad at me for getting them wet!
OK so the folks who answer the phone are sometimes grumpy but the van driver is always great and gives me info on their day and any suggestions the groomer has. Kudos go to the door to door pick and delivery ...they pick up your pup(s) and return them at the end of the day for $5 Round trip. Tip em!
I am truly shocked by the negative reviews posted here. The reviewers are entitled to their opinion but they seem to be basing their review on one day. In four years I have never experienced anything like they have described. Our dog always has a wonderful time at the day care facility and is always impeccably groomed (complete with a bow on her collar). Excellent staff and excellent facility.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/2/2009
Our dog has been in daycare at Bark Avenue since she was a puppy. The care and attention she… Read more »
Been going here for years-- now they have a terrific space in the heart of downtown. Bark Ave was there before any other doggy daycare spot...and they really love what they do - it shows.
Thumbs up!
Disappointed!
I had such high hopes for these guys, especially after all your shining reviews and their love of adopted animals and adorable pictures of owners & their dogs which make my heart grow two times bigger. But fail.
Have you ever gone to get a haircut and said cut off just one inch and they cut off two or three? You leave there thinking, 'wait ... did she not hear me or something?' It's gotten to the point where I'm half-way sure all hair dressers are plotting a huge conspiracy in favor of short hair & unhappy customers.
This is basically what happened. I got in with a fur-ball of a dog who has a fluffy bear face and lots of curls. I drop $65 for them to cut his hair (a 15 lb dog with the lazy, easy-going temperament of a stuffed animal) plus $10 to clean his teeth. I come back and my dog is completely unrecognizable. :(
They say stuff about how he was matted. But regardless, they said they would leave at least an inch! They can't just shave my dog until you can see his pink skin without telling me he's going to look like that. I would have paid extra money to de-matte him. My poor pup is so depressed without his coat ... and his owners aren't too excited about it either.
Both the lady on the phone and the guy at the front said the groomer was "very good" and that he would absolutely look "cute" when he was done. Well their definition of cute and my definition of cute is vastly different. I said I wanted him to have a teddy bear cut and be all one length. He came out looking like a poodle! A poodle! Oh my poor baby -- the humiliation. The groomer left this fluffy helmet on the top of his head for him to hide his shame under.
All I'm saying is if I'm going to drop $75 on my baby's haircut (which is a lot of money to me), I would appreciate something that almost resembles what I asked for.
I will say that the people seemed really nice. They seemed very caring and loving to the animals -- that should count for something so I want to throw it in.
But that doesn't mean I'm going to come back.
About a years ago, we decided after much research that to adopt a puppy. I saw one on http://petfinder.com and contacted Dawn. I talked with her in depth about my situation- that both myself and my fiance work from home (so the puppy would have round the clock attention-especially when it was so young.) I filled out the long application and she called me back and told me I seemed perfect for the puppy and told me to come in the next day. She honestly made it sound as if it was a sure deal. I came in and met the puppy. I will first note that the placed smelled of urine. It was horrible. However, I held the puppy and fell in love and wanted to give him a home. This lady asked me where I would have him sleep and I said a crate as we do our other dog. She seemed outraged that I would put him in a crate and not our bed. The lady is NUTS! THe puppy was 2 pounds old and did NOT need to face the possibility of getting squished in the middle of the night. She also told us that it was best to let puppies roam around at night - not crated. (Gee, does she ever consider that a 2 pound puppy might get stepped on?)
This nutcase basically yanked my chain over and over during my visit- making me think I was taking the puppy home and then saying no she would have to think about it and would get back to me the next day.
She never called- not even a courtesy call to say yes or no! Who does that? She is simply a NUT and in my opinion NOT a true to life animal rescue organization. I would have provided a perfect situation for this puppy and she sent me away.
A week later, so frustrated by this woman and so sickened at being turned away from adopting, I contacted a reputatible breeder and took home the puppy that is now my sweet baby and has been given such attention and training, that she has actually has a couple of spots in a few different movies. I don't think that would be the case had a been an unfit adoptive parent! On the contrary.
Like I said, I don't believe for one second they are actually about adopting out animals. The adoption fee was $450 - and I was willing to pay it- but later, I'm told that was quite steep.
My advice - DO NOT keep this place in business - find another pet adoption organization! And no way would I ever leave a dog there for services or heaven forbid overnight!
I was hoping that I'd lock in a great place for my pup to stay but I was really disappointed. The staff was nice enough for sure. The daycare area was nice. But whatever happened at their off-site night facility I dont' know. My dog was a wreck and she picked up a parasite. That's a feces to mouth transmitted disease. That means they either let her eat another dogs dookie - or they did not clean well enough. That's a fundamental of dog care and I'm still upset with the fact that I stayed up all night taking care of her explosive sickness. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Okay, this place kicks butt. Everyone has a positive attitude, is helpful and most importantly loves animals. I thought it was so cute because frequent "Play Care" doggy parents pull up and a Bark Ave. Staff brings the dog directly to their parent's car, almost like it was a elementary school parent pickup.
I took my second rescue, a VERY SASSY long haired Persian Cat back to Bark Ave. to get shaved and styled by Tyrone. She came home happy and relaxed. Both cats look beautiful, felt pampered and I would highly recommend any long haired cat parent to take their cats here. Make sure you sign up for their discounts by email. Sometimes they offer 20% off grooming, or free play care. It is well worth it. They even hooked me up with a free Natural Balance food. Believe it or not, one of my other rescue cats is allergic to grain and this is the only wet and dry food they eat. How sweet. Thanks Tyrone, Shannon, Jay and crew. I wish you future success.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/31/2009
Tyrone, the master groomer gave a beautiful Lyon's cut makeover for my long-hair Himalayan rescue.… Read more »
WOW!!!
This place is HUGE
Their business card says on one side "Everything under one Woof" Awwww
How cute is that?
My daughter has a 5 1/2 month toy poodle so this place is somewhere I would definately want to take her 2 once she gets a bit older.
I walked inside and asked the lady working there at the desk....if I could have a business card she said SURE
They have Dog and Cat services
Daycare
Boarding
Grooming
Training
Doggie Gym
Art and Photo Gallery
Lots of seperate rooms are contained within...I was seriously impressed by what I seen.
I was watching a gentleman clip a dogs hair thru the window....and he was doing a SERIOUS Edward Scissorshands type of movement with his shears around the eyes and nose of a large fluffy dog.... he was doing a good job 8))).
Their were 4 cages behind him too...all with a dog in it.
Waiting for their weekend cuts...LOL
Really nice place
These guys are amazing. I adopted Rusty from Bark Avenue Foundation and have been a fan ever since! I now use Bark Ave for boarding services when I'm out of town because I know that Rusty is in good hands.They are truly dedicated to the community and have a real passion for animals. Whenever I have a questions about my pet they always have an answer and are willing to help. I also love the fact that they participate in the art walk activities.
I , set an appointment with my dog groomer Monday , I was told that she would be there on Saturday , I called Friday night to make sure my appointment was scheduled , I ask for my groomer bye name BOY was I shocked I was told she quit last month , I informed the store keeper that one of her employee informed me that she would be there Saturday to groom my dog . I asked a couple of Friends to recommend a decent dog groomer " BARK AVENUE " in LA . took a chance drove Friday night , they where closing a female employee took pity on my flight , and said yes we can groom your Cocker on Saturday , I was so happy finally some good news , Saturday came , There groomer did a fabulous job , thank you Bark Avenue from me and Cinnamon she looks gorgeous
AWFUL! It might be ok for dogs, but... I took my two cats there for their first boarding experience over Thanksgiving weekend. The cat room is upstairs from the dog kennels and it reeks of urine, not to mention you can hear all the dogs barking and growling. The caretaker was insane and wouldn't shut up about how she wants to be a dominatrix (crazy, I know!). I should have grabbed my cats and walked out right then and there.
When I returned, their water bowls were bone dry and their little apartment was trashed. I got them home and they spent 15 minutes solid just drinking water. I don't think anyone filled up their water the entire time.
I was eating downtown the next summer and saw a Bark Ave van full of dogs just sitting in a parking spot in the hot sun while the driver went in to a liquor store. I promptly called Bark Avenue and told them that the dogs in the van were unattended in the sun for about 15 minutes and the receptionist was horribly rude and didn't care. I hate that place. If you need to board your cats, PLEASE board them at a cats-only facility!
This place is as good as it gets! They have free Wi-Fi, an indoor lounge area with a coffee maker that makes everything from a simple cup o' joe to a mocha/vanilla latte.... AND an HD TV. The staff is always wonderful and very knowledgeable.
I'm sure you're thinking "Why go to this place when I can go to other pet boarding and grooming facilities with high reviews?" Well, let me tell you why. This boarding and grooming location helps fund their no kill animal shelter that's located on Hill St. & 31st. Not only are you helping YOUR pet by getting them groomed or boarded, but you're also helping other pets that are waiting for forever homes. It's a 2 in 1!
So go now, make your pet look pretty and help save a life while you're doing it!
This place was such a disappointment I do not know where to begin. Let me first start with the positive:
1. The facility is very large and very creatively designed. Could be an incredible facility for a canine to have fun and/or get pampered.
2. There were several dogs they'd taken in and were attempting to adopt them out.
3. The building seemed very secure.
Now, here's the reason I would never take my pooch there:
1. STAFF: The staff was scary - odd. Just really odd. The person who answered the door seemed frazzled, unprepared and overwhelmed. When asked if there were other staff members there to assist (since there was concerned that she was the only person there to take care of a shelter full of animals and should something serious happen, it was questionable whether or not she would be able to manage alone), she said there were 3 people there all day. She assured us but the only other, one person, we saw was incredibly dirty and didn't appear to be too friendly. Now that person may have been a groomer...but the reception received, considering we were new to the facility was not a friendly demeanor. Then in the midst of the chaos, the lady who was assisting us announced that she was 'short-handed' and asked for patience which left me wondering if there were indeed 3 people there or were they short-handed???
2. OFFICE/FACILITY: When the door opened the stinch of urine, defication and grime were unbearable. Literally unbearable. After several minutes of being in the facilty, I had to step out to get air.
3. DAYCARE: The daycare area where the dogs were to play was setup in an adorable manner but it was difficult to look at the cute setup for the defication that was sprinkled around. The bedding appeared not to have been washed in any recent time and there didn't appear to be a handler in that area to facilitate activities or monitor interaction other than that one person who answered the door.
4. PROFESSIONALISM: The scene encountered from walking into the facility, the daycare and upon leaving was nothing more than chaos and as a result, it did not seem best to utilize the service for either daycare or boarding. It was an incredible disappointment but in the best interest of all involved.
Unfortunately, there is no circumstance where I could envision leaving my dogs in the care of a facility like this. It's not just the fact that the air outside was fresher than the air inside the facility but everything in total. Conceptually, it's a fabulous idea and the company really seems to have placed a lot of creativity in the design and setup of the establishment. However, if this is the standard by which they operate, I could never recommend such a facility. If, however, this was a fluke, then the owners/managers need to take better care to select staff who will manage the premises in a manner which they deem appropriate. I'm hopeful this was a fluke but my first experience will unfortunately be my last. I still can't get that smell out of my nose...
Lastly, I'm not sure if there's an agency that periodically reviews facilities like this but if so, there should be a review conducted. I've not been to an animal shelter in recent years that grossed me out as much as this place.
Ugh. I really don't like giving negative reviews.
Let me start off by saying that my dog has never stayed at Bark Avenue... but there's a reason for that. I went to check out their location at 3016 S. Hill Street (I was told that this is where the dogs who are boarding overnight stay) one day before the hubby and I went out of town, and was not impressed. The first thing I noticed was that the floors were very dirty. Not just, Hello!-This-Is-A-Kennel dirty, but dirty as in looked like they hadn't ever been scrubbed or disinfected. The next thing that I noticed was the dingy tattered blanket hanging on the wall in place of a door... "Hmmm", I thought, "This is really not matching up to their website!"
Website=Posh
Facility=...Not so much
Then the woman on duty showed me where my dog would be staying. I took one look and thought, "Over my dead body". It's not like there was blood on the floor or anything, it was just a very dank, DARK cement-floor cage area. It was a cloudy day, so perhaps they normally depend on natural sunlight in the (few) windows. But there wasn't much sun that day, so can the dogs have a lamp or something? It just seemed... sad.
I'd love to give them the benefit of the doubt. Maybe the floors were scheduled to be scrubbed right after I left. Maybe the light bulb had burned out seconds before I walked in. Who knows. But I also find it strange that of the 13 reviews that are now posted on yelp for this place, 4 of them are by picture-less members, all of whom gave them 5 stars and haven't reviewed one single other business. Almost as though someone (or 4 people) made an account just to give this place a 5 star review.
Just do yourself (and your dog) a favor by checking it out before you book.
Today I felt like a good dog-mom. We dropped our dog off at Bark Avenue feeling a little like parents dropping their kid off on the first day of school. "What if the other kids don't like her? Will her teachers be nice? What if she gets in a fight with another kid?" Staffmember Tina greeted us with calming reassurance and said we could call anytime and check on our dog...even view her on a web cam-which unfortunately didn't work on the iPhone. Naturally I called about an hour later, and our dog was "doing great"! Which set my mind at ease. At the end of the day, I called again, and was told by Sharron (another outstanding staffmember), "she has been playing all day, is doing great and should fall right to sleep when you get her home". I have to admit I was skeptical about that last part...she has endless energy and chatters constantly in the car...usually...
We picked her up and put her in the car, and not only did she not chatter and complain the whole time, but she actually laid down and was quiet almost the whole way home! Right now she is tucked into my leg snoring away, I am sure dreaming about her great day at Bark Avenue. We will be boarding her there soon, so I have reserved five star status until then, but I have confidence that I will be adding that last star shortly
In addition to the daycare services, Bark Avenue also has an animal rescue center where they foster about 70 dogs. Cue the violins....
Two weeks ago I fell head over heals for a pointer/ bull terrier named Sugar, and last week my husband I went to Bark Ave to see Sugar and her foster sister Cinnamon. They are both around 5 months and were found downtown around the same time. They were both so much fun to be around and both were absolutely adorable. To make a long story short, the two puppies weren't a good fit for our family, but Sugar and Cinnamon deserve some good homes, so if you are thinking about rescuing or adopting, go to Bark Avenue!
FYI, their website announced that they are starting mobile pet adoptions at Kiel's in Santa Monica on the 1st Sunday of every month. These folks are doing some great work. Also, check out the pit bull/poodle buddy team that act as the unofficial ambassadors of the place...
http://www.barkavenuef...
As good as it gets - Bark Avenue rocks on every level. Great phone service with making appointments, etc. Excellent grooming - my old timer 11 year old mini dachshund comes home looking like a shiny puppy. They are very caring - some groomers are too aggressive with Cujo's old teeth and gums and he has had infections after visits with other groomers ... not here! And a big WooHoo for the pick-up/delivery service - the guy is always on time and loves the dogs. Excellent Excellent Excellent. Stop shopping for a new groomer now and get to Bark Avenue!
Bark Avenue came through for me in the nick of time, and I am forever grateful.
About a year ago, I rescued a 6 month old pitbull mix puppy off the streets. I had to find him a home, but the problem was where to keep him. I already had 3 dogs at home, and one of them is very territorial. So we decided to put the dog, Sunny, into boarding at a dog rescue. After 2 weeks, I came and visited him and he had gone downhill-- dirty, thinner, and starting to show signs of going kennel crazy. As a last resort, I emailed an animal rescue contact and she was able to get me room at Bark Avenue at the discount rate for animal rescue groups. Thank you, Bark!
While Sunny was at Bark Avenue, I would get emails from the staff, telling me how he was doing and even sent me pictures!!! They have a nice dog run and the kennels are constantly kept clean. There's also a small retail store where you can buy doggie clothes, treats, leashes, collars, etc.
When I came to pick him up to take to his new owner, he was a much happier dog with no signs of kennel craziness at all. Overall, this is a great place to board your dog.
I've been an avid patron of the Bark Avenue on Hill St. for about 3 years now. My dog Dixie goes to "camp" here when there aren't any other options (e.g. no one else to dog-sit). Prices are comparable to other kennels and I've always observed it to be relatively clean (at least as clean as it can be with ~20 dogs running around) and the staff is attentive and caring. They often host fun neighborhood events for pets and their owners (I went to a halloween party a few years back) so extra kudos for community-building events. With their new location on Main St., I'll be sure to stop by more often!
What's weirder than a high end boutique dog shop & daycare in the middle of South Los Angeles?
I'm not sure why they chose to build this place here, every building around it seems to be some empty warehouse that was once used for those underground raves back in the 90's. I'm guessing they're trying to attract the clientele working in downtown los angeles. Who else would pay $45 a day to board their dog in their "suites" or lavish their pups with a "spa getaway"?
Not me, that's for sure. My dog's "spa getaway" consists of a tub in the backyard filled with lukewarm water. His "hydrotherapy" is the hose and a special glove I bought on sale at petco. Although I did splurge on avocado oatmeal conditioner.
This review is for the downtown location.
I took my dog here to be groomed, and I can't say enough about the place. I live nearby, so I was just using this facility for its convenience. I own a Shih Tzu, a breed that requires a great deal of upkeep. I asked for a teddy bear cut, and over the years, I've seen a lot of variations. This was by far the nicest cut I've ever seen. The groomer at Bark Avenue really handled my grumpy old dog well; Niles has been known to bite, but the groomer was very calm and gentle with him. He spent a lot of time plucking and cleaning my dog's ears and even advised me of a developing ear infection. I didn't leave my dog there for very long, but when I came to pick him up, he was romping around with the other small dogs in the facility, having a blast.
As a result of this excellent experience, I'm a repeat customer.
this review is strictly for their grooming, as i've never used their boarding services and after my experience, i probably never will.
i brought my pup in because my regular place in little tokyo was booked full that day. i figured i might as well try them out since i'm in the neighborhood. the girl at the front was really rude. i don't know if it's because i didn't have a toy pup with me (she was cooing over every other one in the area), but she pretty much treated my medium-sized, really well-behaved docile dog with such coldness, that i really almost didn't want to put him in their care. but he really needed a wash/groom that day, so whatever. the girl was really curt with me, didn't give me a price for a regular grooming, and told me when to pick him up. i was kind of surprised at the lack of explaining or even asking if my dog needed anything special (he needs oatmeal soap for his skin condition). now okay, all those things are sort of excuseable (i suppose), but after i picked up my pup and brought him home, i inspected him to see what kind of job they did. he still looked somewhat unclean, although he didn't reek. for about $60 (which was kind of pricey for a dog that was around 20 pounds), they did a pretty crappy job. then the capper -- i noticed a cut underneath his tail that had never been there before. he was actually still bleeding! no one mentioned there was any accident, nothing.
never again, this place. i know you guys do a service to the community with your pet adoptions, which i completely support, my own dog being a rescue himself, but the way my dog was treated was unacceptable. i'd much rather do a self-wash across the street at the much friendlier pussy & pooch.
Bridget got treated very well here. She got a bath/grooming. She came home smelling & looking adora-bully gorgeous. She hasn't done the day care yet, but when we checked it out it was really cute, all the doggies were having fun, playing together, lounging on the hammocks & romping around. They have a little "store" too & have come through for me in a pinch with medication! Close, friendly, fun, well organized, go Bark.
This is the third doggie daycare I've used in Los Angeles and Bark Avenue is top notch. The staff are very friendly, and the price is good (I pay $240 / month for 2 days of day care a week which comes out to $30 per visit). My boy comes home wiped out and sleeps for the entire day afterwards which does tons to alleviate the guilt of working 9-5 and having a dog. Check them out!
