Warning About Boarding Pets in a Kennel

[tripletsmama]

OMG, I am sitting at my computer crying. This is the worst thing I have ever heard. I am so terribly sorry for your loss. I have 2 dogs and a cat who are all very loved, and I can tell your fur babies were greatly loved as well. You must be feeling so sad and mad at the same time. My prayers are with you.

 

[skuttle]

OMG! I am so very very sorry. I can't imagine. I sent you a PM.

 

[CarolA]

I am so so sorry!! What a horror story. Yes, always the details in writing. I myself have been very worried about what is written vs what is actually happening with my pet since we cannot see the kennels. You never know if they are sharing the pen with another dog.

I know the level of service we have received has gone downhill.

Have you contacted the District Attorney or Consumer Advocate Group? Something has to be done about that kennel.

Pixie Dust to you - I am so so sorry about your loss.

I have not read the whole thread, but where my uncle takes his dog they have cameras all over the place and you can watch your doggie on the web.. So if it makes you feel better look for one of these near you. (My uncle randomly looks in on his dog while he travels. I figure if they have the cameras and know the owners can see they will be more likely to do the right thing. Apparently this is the coming thing in kennels...)

 

[MosMom]

That is so sad and SO awful. We take our dogs to a lady who works wth the local humane socety and dog shelters. She takes in dogs that have no home and helps them find homes. She genuinely cares for her animals. They are small and the kennel doesn't look impressive but they care genuinely for animals and it shows in how they care for them.

Perhaps contact your humane society or local animal shelters to see if they work with any kennels to find your next kennel.

 

[hmp2z]

Thank you again for the kind words. I will try to clarify a bit, about the lawsuit. The lawyer we spoke with said that without the signed paper, it doesn't matter at all. It could have been the owner's own dog that killed them, and as long as we didn't have a signed request to keep our dogs away from their dog, we would be up the creek without a paddle.

It didn't make sense to me, but I accept that is how the law is. Which is why I wanted to post our story here: I think that most people, like me, probably assume that there are laws to protect their pets, when, in reality, that doesn't seem to be the case. I am hoping that others will learn from our mistakes and get every little thing in writing, from individual kennels, to daily feedings, to prompt veterinary care if necessary.

We were told that, if we took our case to small claims court, we had about a 50/50 chance of winning, since apparently that court is a bit more lenient. However, the dogs were each only "worth" $70 - their adoption fees - so this didn't make sense for us. The lawyer also told us that, if we did this, it was likely that the kennel would then countersue us for the $1500 in veterinarian bills, and that they also had a 50/50 chance of winning. We don't want to do anything to rock the boat and end up stuck with no apology, no dogs, and a whopping bill.

More than any money, we really just wanted an apology and for the policies to be changed so that no other dogs will suffer like ours did. Apparently the legal system can't make that happen, at least not the way things stand.

On another note, we thought that our friend whose dog died while in kennel care (out in CA) had an even stronger case than ours. She had given written instructions to the kennel to not give her dog rawhide, and had had them sign the instructions. She gave the original to the veterinarian's office, but when the kennel owner dropped off the dog's body after he'd choked, she asked for the dog's file, was given it, and STOLE the paper out of the file. I thought our friend would still be okay, since the veterinarian's office was willing to testify that they had indeed had such a paper, before the kennel took it right out of the file. But the lawyer told her without the original, she had no case. She was actually stuck paying for the veterinarian bills, too.

Anyway, it was all so astounding to me that I thought I'd share. I know it sounds incredible, but this is just how things are, at least here in NC, so I hope that others realize how vulnerable their pets are and take measures to get everything in writing. If it hadn't happened to us, I wouldn't have believed that anything this terrible could be allowed to happen. Our own veterinarian was astounded and dismayed when he heard what had happened, but he agreed that the lawyer was correct in what he had told us.

Thanks again,
Heather W

 

[momof2inPA]

So, were the dogs attacked by a strange dog? If they were attacked by each other, I would agree that you probably wouldn't have a case and the kennel might be able to come back for the vet bills.

 

[Lezah]

I'm so sorry for your loss. I don't know how to begin to know what you're going through. I love my furbaby and we just had to put him in a kennel for the first time and if I had read your post before we went to WDW I would have died!! My prayers are with you at this difficult time. They look like such beautiful furbabies.

 

[lynetteSC]

wow- i don't even have words for you ... i am so sorry for your loss and also the frustration you must be feeling!

 

[Disney-Kim]

I think you should continue to try and get your story out in your local news. At least it might protect someone else from using that kennel.

 

[mickeyfan2]

So sorry to hear about your dogs.

I have not read the entire thread, so you may have already answered this. Were your two dogs put in with other dogs or were they alone and attacked each other?

 

[Tumbleweed]

This is truly an upsetting story. We have a small family-owned and operated
boarding kennel and we breed and show dogs. The whole idea of leaving
your pet at a kennel is to know they are safe and happy, and you don't have
to worry about them. Our family has not taken a vacation together in 26
years because we dare not entrust our pets or our clients' pets with anyone
but us.

You should contact the local media. There should be a Clark Howard type
in your area. You should definitely contact the ABKA; they are a top-notch
organization with high standards. You should also contact the licensing
agency in your state. In our state, the Department of Agriculture licenses
kennels. There may also be a local business licensing agency, although they
may not have any jurisdiction over a horrible problem like this.

Too many kennels go in for "warehousing" pets. During busy times, I guess
it's just too tempting. It's also why, during really busy holidays, we sometimes have to turn down our really good clients; some of them have
never forgiven us. Often, big kennels have too many employees and too
many kids who just aren't knowledgeable. I believe there is a lot of turnover
in employees.

We love animals, and we get very attached to our clients. Please
know that we feel horrible for you.

 

[KerriSue]

I am absolutely mortified at what happened to your babies. Thank you for the insight into the kennel business. I will most certainly have signatures and copies for my baby dog the next time I need to leave him in a kennel.

So sorry
Kerri

 

[Planogirl]

Eck, I'm so sorry about this. How cruel of that owner!

We had to board a cat many years ago and when we went to pick her the kennel owner insisted that someone had already picked her up. I poked around and checked out things and I believe that they opened the cage and she got out and ran out the back door which I discovered they left for some reason.

We called the police and everyone else we could think of but there was really nothing that could be done. We kept being told that she wasn't worth anything...ummm, OK but she was worth an awful lot to us!

 

[WDWfan36]

Omg I am crying right now, It's just soo sad. We have a vet that boards our dogs and we've used them for years so let's hope theirs nothing bad going to happen and I honestly feel for you

 

[MosMom]

Can they be held liable for leaving your dog out in the heat to die of heat stroke? You shouldn't have to sign anything to assume the kennel owner will not neglect your dog and leave them out in the heat to die.

 

[Sherri]

My heart just broke reading about poor Molly and Moo. I would contact your local news stations and local paper to bring this to the publics attention. Although it can't bring back your beautiful dogs, it can atleast save someone else from the pain you have gone through. I am so, so sorry.

 

[KristiKelly]

I am so sorry to hear about your pets. I can't believe nothing can be done. I'm in NC as well, could you tell me the name of the kennel just so I will know never to board my dogs there or if I know anyone in your area (sho knows, we could be neighbors - I'm in Burlington). I don't board my dog too often but have to on occassion. The last time I boarded her at our vet but am undecided on our next trip in Sept.

Again, I'm so sorry about what happened to your babies, that is completely unacceptable.

 

[snickerharley]

I am so sorry to hear that! My heart goes out to you, losing a pet is an incredibly hard thing to do. We too boarded our dogs once, and after that one of them has had seizures, according to the vet a product of neurological damage. Too sad there needs to be stricter guidelines regarding kennels and care for our four legged babies

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

I am so, so, so sorry. I was in tears as I read this and as I told DH about it he said, "Please stop."

I will admit that as soon as I read this, I contacted our kennel about their policies and administration. Of course, in the course of the conversation, this tragis story surfaced. What the general manager there suggested was that you have an ecropsy performed on the dogs to determine cause of death (autopsy for aminals), you pursure this legally, contact Animal Control, contact the ABKA if they are enrolled and file a detailed complaint so that ABKA can invetigate, and hit them wherei t hurts- word of mouth. She suggested getting word out in one of the newspapers or news stories that are there to help people and go after the bad guys (like the contractor services that don't finish the work new stories).

Best wishes-

 

[Snowysmom]

What a horrible thing to happen to your beloved pets. It would never even occur to me that a kennel would put more than one dog in a run. many dogs just don't get along. Are they just plain clueless? I would definately pursue this with the attorney general's office of your state, TV stations, letter to the editor of your local paper, consumer protection agency, better business bureau, and the association that the kennel belongs to as they obviously are not following the association's standards of care. Just any way to get out the word that this place should be shut down! I am so sorry this happened.