If it's layered and heavy, I would think it is not of torsion box construction.... and dog holes should be no problem.

Maybe sand down the "ugly" top and reseal it. Maybe contact Hallowell and ask what it is sealed with, for resealing.

*Sounds like the top is in reasonable shape, just looks terrible. Does the top look terrible because of some sort of contaminate/toxic chemical? Maybe try to find out if the previous shop spilled some toxic product on the surface, making it look terrible (and toxic), and that's why they discarded an otherwise reasonable work top.

Sonny