My dog has just died at a boarding kennel

[Orc]

Looking for advice. We are on holiday and my dog has just died at a boarding kennel.

We have been using this kennel for years. They phoned me at 9.45 to say he had shallow breathing. And that they would normally take him to the vet straight away but they were short staffed and could not.

So they phoned my emergency contact, my sister, who lives 40 minutes away. By the time she had got there he had died. They said “ideally we like emergency contacts to live closer”, whilst also admitting that they had failed him.

I am so shocked and angry. We trusted them. I also feel like I have let him down as I was not there when he needed me.

I’m not sure how to process this but I feel like they could have done more to help him. What should I do?

DSis is taking him to the vet so we can find out how he died.

edited to add: he died about an hour after they first called. My sister did tell them it would take her 40 to 45 mins to get to them. The kennels are a 15 min drive from the vet.

I'm so sorry for your loss. It absolutely wasn't your fault, I understand your guilt as I've lost a young pet before too and it's awful. But keep reminding yourself that this wasn't your fault, you loved him dearly and you trusted the kennels.

The boarding kennels absolutely have the responsibility of taking pets to the vets immediately in an emergency. They shouldn't be relying on someone's emergency contact to come and pick them up. It's negligence and it shouldn't happen.

I hope you get answers from the vet soon.

We used home boarders in the past as kennels were too stressful for one of the goldies. We decided not to use professional kennels again as Amber was barking so much she lost her voice for a while coming home. I think a 1-1 home boarder is better as the dog have their undivided attention.
I'm so sorry for your loss, and of course I'm not saying it would bring back the dog, but it might help in the future.

I’m so very very sorry. They really did drop the ball here.

I am so very sorry. I know you are going to be feeling so bad for not being there but please don’t beat yourself up. I know you have a lot to process right now, it sounds like you are a very loving owner. Dogs are very smart, he knew you didn’t abandon him, especially if you had taken him there before.

I would certainly be asking the kennels some questions. They would be daft not to expect them either.

@OrcI’m so sorry about your lovely dog. I lost my elderly dog just over a year ago and even in the most straightforward case of old age it’s very sad, so it must be a shock for you. The kennels should have been far more active in their response and their behaviour is frankly odd. I’d have thought they should have had something in place for having to leave the premises in an emergency (canine or human). Why not call your vet/an emergency vet to come to them?

Regarding the sudden change in health, it does happen. My friend’s six your old Labrador spent the day her usual happy self, ate her supper like a Labrador then went quiet, and then began shallow breathing. My friend and her DH had stethoscopes out (two GPs) but couldn’t really hear anything untoward, but she just lay down and died, all within an hour, much of the hour spent trying to work out if there was anything really wrong at all. She had an internal bleed, no obvious reason for it and had a clean bill of health weeks before. Sorry to share a sad story but I’m just trying to illustrate how swift and unpreventable these things can be in even the apparently healthiest dog with the very best of experienced owners like you. 💐

Our kennels doesn't have their own emergency vets. The understanding is if a dog is ill we return or a friend gets the dog and takes it to its own vet.

I think perspective is needed here, when we drop our dogs at kennels they do not have the resources to go to a vet immediately and I don't know any who have a vet who could've been there within an hour.

It is a sad situation op but these things happen. Agree with pp if you have other pets maybe using a sitter to get the immediate 1 to 1 care some on here expect with an instant vet trip may be better for you.

Well then they aren’t licensed

it is a government minimum standard

Was it star boarding in Chessington?? Sorry again for you loss :(

I’m so very sorry OP. That’s devastating

You absolute fruitcake

have reported your post. utterly vile and unnecessary.

Ignore the trolls @Orc

Thank you for reporting! Edited as that was a reply to the troll, not the other kind folk on this thread.

I'm always one to take stories like this with a pinch of salt and an appreciation that we don't have the business's side of the story. However this really does sound as if they failed your dog. Surely there was minimal (if any) risk to the other dogs leaving them in their kennels whilst your dog was tended to. Surely you prioritise the seriously sick animal. If the other dogs get their dinner late or miss out on walkies most/all owners will be understanding of this. If they need emergency contacts to be available to provide basic emergency care then this should be made clear. This seems absolutely indefensible

I’m so sorry . Do you have a picture of your beautiful boy. Please don’t feel guilty about not being there you weren’t to know.

Please ignore that awful poster. You had no idea your lovely dog would take unwell and that the kennel wouldn't handle it as they should. You didn't have a crystal ball. Sending you hugs.

@Orc

MN have been been fantastic-responded straight away to my report and when I reported second post-poster suspended while they have a look.

All love on here for you!!

I am so sorry OP and I totally agree with this.

In any paperwork you signed do they say they might not be able to call a vet if they are "short staffed"? in my opinion this is disgusting and I would be looking into legal action.

Oh, that's so bloody sad, and in absolutely no way your fault. I'm not impressed with the staff's attitude though, I wouldn't be letting it go.

I'd love to see a photo of Riley too, if you feel like sharing.

I would have thought a kennels would have a vet they could call out at short notice.

Really, and you're ok with that arrangement?

The kennels are responsible for meeting their boarders welfare needs, that's what they're being paid for. One of those welfare needs is ensuring emergency veterinary care is available. Unless the kennels is in the middle of nowhere the nearest vet couldn't be that far away, as previous posters said all they needed to do was drive the dog there. I don't think they should be offering a boarding service if they don't have a proper plan for animals needing emergency care. It's like saying sorry we don't have enough staff to feed your dog today. It's just not acceptable.

I agree, OR they should at least be making it abundantly clear that if a dog gets ill they will just leave them and wont take any action at all. But I bet they dont advertise that fact freely, do they?

i'm so so sorry that you have lost your dog.I would except this to be classed as an emergency and someone should have taken your dog to the vets 15mins away,as part of the welfare for your pet. Unless there are underlying issues with your pet i would look at the kennels insurance policy about pets dying in their care

We’ve had 2 dogs die while we have been away. Its heartbreaking at any time, the latest being 2 years ago, we nearly lost him 6 mths before, he crossed the bridge shortly after his 16 birthday, he was deaf, blind couldn’t walk far and almost certainly dementia as he had strange ways, but he always had his spirit. Losing him while on holiday was tough, it was the last day thank god, but an awful trip home. It brought a mixture of emotions, guilt at not being there, and that our daughter had to cope, but also guilt that maybe if we had lost him 6 mths earlier we would have been there, i’d made the decision to have him put to sleep to end his suffering as he’d been ill for a few weeks and his back end gave way, my husband asked for one more weekend with him, and we tried some new tablets which helped him make a miraculous recovery. My daughter and friend took him to a pet chapel of rest so we could see him to say goodbye when we got home, they took really good care of our boy till we could get to him, and let us visit a few times until we felt able to say a final goodbye, the man said to me when leaving, he strongly felt that our boy had waited till we were away so we didn’t see him suffer, that strangely helped a little. Sending you love and a massive hug 💞 xx