1. How it usually happens
It happens more often than you think: you arrive at a boarding facility or breeder and something feels off. The smell is strong, spaces are smaller than expected, animals seem stressed or poorly looked after. Sometimes everything looks perfect online and much less so in person.
Many avoid taking photos out of embarrassment or not to seem "untrusting". Others convince themselves it is just an unlucky moment: "maybe it's an off day". But then repeated details emerge: dirty water, overcrowded cages, promised care that isn't seen.
A typical anecdote: someone leaves their dog for a week, receives only old photos or always in the same corner, and upon collection finds a thinner or agitated animal. At that point, reconstructing what happened becomes complicated if you haven't documented beforehand.
On the facility's side, there is often internal normalisation: certain conditions are considered "standard" even when they aren't for an outside observer.
Sometimes those managing the facility react by minimising if you ask questions. Do not be intimidated: asking questions is not accusing, it is caring.
2. What you need to prove
Here the point is to concretely show what the situation was like at a certain moment.
It can be useful to prove:
- Condition of the place (cleanliness, space, safety)
- Visible state of the animals present
- Differences between what was promised and what was observed
- Communications received from the facility
- Any changes over time
- Presence or absence of declared services
It is about building a coherent snapshot: what you saw, when, and in what context.
3. What to collect
The collection must be simple, discreet, and as complete as possible.
- Photos of the environments (boxes, enclosures, common areas)
- Short videos showing movement, noise, real conditions
- Screenshots of the facility's adverts or website
- Chats, emails, or messages with the manager
- Photos and videos of your animal before and after the stay
- Any documents or agreements on offered services
- Payment receipts
- Notes written by you right after the visit (even on your phone)
A useful detail: videos capture elements that photos don't show, like smells suggested by context, continuous noises, or repetitive animal behaviours.
4. How to proceed
When on site, keep a natural attitude. You don't need to turn into an investigator, just be attentive and systematic.
Observe first, then document what you deem relevant. If possible, collect material at different times: upon arrival, during the visit, when picking up the animal.
- Take photos without modifying them
- Record short, clear videos
- Save received communications immediately
- Organise everything in a folder with understandable names
- Keep original files exactly as they are
Once the material is gathered, you can use ExistBefore to timestamp it. This helps prove those contents already existed in that form at a given moment.
5. Mistakes to avoid
Some mistakes make documentation less useful.
- Photographing only isolated details without context
- Waiting days before gathering evidence
- Modifying images or videos (crops, filters, compressions)
- Saving only versions shared via chat
- Not keeping communications with the facility
- Avoiding documenting for fear of "making a bad impression"
A practical tip: better a simple, coherent collection done immediately, rather than trying to reconstruct everything from memory later. Timestamping files with a free attestation allows you to maintain order and give a clear temporal placement to the material.
6. After documenting
With well-organised documentation, you can decide how to move with a clearer head.
- Speak directly with the facility, showing what you gathered
- Contact animal welfare associations
- Check with other customers or reviews to see if it's an isolated case
- In serious situations, report to the competent authorities in your country
Having concrete elements changes the tone of the conversation and makes it easier to get attention. Even a simple request for clarification becomes more effective when supported by clear, orderly evidence.