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Seventeen dogs, all clients of Green Acre Dog Boarding facility in Gilbert, Arizona, have died of apparent heat exhaustion in what police are calling a “bizarre accident.”
The dogs’ owners, however, aren’t convinced there was no neglect involved.
According to the kennel owners, someone checked on all of the dogs around 11:00pm Thursday night. When they returned at about 5:30am on Friday, they discovered the dead dogs. According to reports, one of the dogs chewed through the cord that powered a window air conditioning unit. The temperature overnight was about 80-degrees.
But, something isn’t adding up.
It wasn’t until Saturday that kennel workers began calling the dogs’ owners. And, instead of telling them of the tragic accident, they told them that their dogs had escaped and were lost.
The dogs’ owners want answers. They want to understand how 17 dogs died overnight when it was only 80-degrees out, when only one air conditioning unit was off, but others in the facility were operating. They want to know why 17 dogs were all being boarded in a single room. They want to know why they weren’t informed of the incident immediately, and then lied to. And, they want to know why the 17 dogs’ bodies were piled into a shed in the back of the facility.
Most importantly, they want to know why no one is being charged in the deaths of these dogs.
“We are gonna continue to investigate and find out what happened here. It doesn’t end here. It’s a horrible tragic accident at this point,” said Chris Hegstrom of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.
LILLIAN DINIC
says:1 DAY PER DOG. WHAT WE SHOULD DO TO INCREASETHIS OR GET SOMEONE ELSE TO RTAKE INTEREST IN THIS CASE AND APPEAL ??????
jane Illuzzi
says:This “punishment” is a travesty of justice. I can’t believe that the dog owners haven’t become irate enough to push the system into taking this further. What is wrong with our system??? What is wrong with our country?! A judge served a sentence of 23 days for this egregious crime !!!!??????This is sinful!!!!
Bonnie Welch
says:THESE ARE A COUPLE MORE IDIOT SCUM BAG EVIL MONSTERS THAT BELONG IN PRISON THE REST OF THEIR PATHETIC LIVES!!!! THEY DO NOT DESERVE TO BREATHE OUR AIR!!!
Patti Corder
says:My Maltese was recently pararylzed at a doggie redort & spa. They lied too. Basically, same thing. Owner not over seeing business & she was mishandled. Also she had suffered from heat exhaustion & severe dehydration. They advertised huge cages but she had skin breakdown like she had been sitting in urine & feeces all weekend. These people should be regulated.
PFLAG Yuma
says:If you own and profit from a 24/7 business (in AZ) that ‘houses’ animals or people… 1) Never leave it unattended or unmonitored AND 2) Have a back-up system in event electricity fails. This is a horrible tragedy.
Meliesha Hughs needs to be in jail!!
Yes I truly am passionate about making sure justice is served- and I absolutely cant stand lies when it comes to animals that cannot speak up and tell exactly what happened. As humans we have taken pets on and taken them from the wild to comfort us. When we take on a pet we understand we are now their guardian. And unfortunately things happen in life such as weddings, funerals, babies being born, work, whatever the reason and in those times we have to put our trust in something. For me leaving my dog at a kennel is not an option. I will hire an at my house pet sitter or a trusted friend or family member to come stay here with her- at that time I load up on movies, snacks, I tell them to take as long of showers as they want, whatever! Just watch my little girl!! I know this isnt an option for everyone- and they TRUSTED this woman and her facility with good faith that she would not let anything happen! This isnt a small mishap, or a dog that got kennel cough or a nick or cut…THIS IS 21 PETS LOST TO DEATH, because of negligence. This is a state that allowed this same women 5 foster children in her care when she already had 4-5 kids of her own and 10 dogs. We figured out last night she is collecting minimum $3500 a month for those foster kids if the state is paying the least amount. She was also collecting $20 a day per pet and we said if she had them for 4 days at 30 pets thats another $2400 she collected JUST IN FOUR FREAKING DAYS! If you cant afford to build indoor/outdoor runs and proper kennels that are approved by ASPCA then what the hell are you spending the money on??? Vacations to Florida? You dont lock all those dogs in a 10×10 laundry room, and get your ALREADY PROVED TO BE DELINQUENT counterparts to watch someone elses dogs that you took the money for!!!!! Then NO FOOD, NO WATER BOWLS in a room with a tiny window AC in Arizona??? I mean THIS IS WHY licensing and inspections come into place! This is why Im fighting because things need to change with this! KENNELS need to be inspected and licensed. And if Sheriff Joe can make one good thing happen it will be to subject these hell holes to thorough inspections, and the same licencing I have to get and jump through hoops for to try to make money in this world!
eddy eavenson
says:I have worked at a kennel and these types of
things don’t happen, it sounds very very suspicious
and the fact that they were checking on the dogs
at 11 pm when they should have all been tucked
in for the nite. press charges i would so agree
Tandi Noggle
says:SUE and DEMAND from the county WHY it wasn’t stricter on the housing of pets. BE RESPONSIBLE OWNERS too!
Tandi Noggle
says:As a vet tech I can HIGHLY recommend you find a friend or family member to take care of your pets. Or pay EXTRA for a highly reputed place with 24/7 ON DUTY staff. This won’t be the last kennel mishap I assure you.
Pa
says:Senator Flake son was supposedly taking care of the dogs. It sounds like a cover up to protect his son. I hope these pet parents continue to pursue justice these dogs. The owners of this kennel had a responsibility to take care and keep them safe. I don’t understand how this dog was able to chew threw an air conditioning cord? At the very least this place should be put out of business.
myfoxphoenix.com/story/25841729/2014/06/23/senators-son-involved-in-gilbert-dog-deaths
Bass
says:I don’t think it “accident” .. they need go to jail for not check with 17 dogs in boarding..that is murder and neglection too…make it no sense!! smh smh …that owner need to suing them for not check….sad!!
23 days????? Really, what is wrong with that judge. They deserve years not days. Karma to these people wishing them no peace in their hearts, soul and mind.