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.

He's just gorgeous, Im not a dog person but this story is so sad. How can you run a business and be like this? Im a teacher but I wouldn't let a child suffer just because their parent didn't come in time. When you are in charge of another being you're the person responsible, there is a level of care that should be expected for people and animals alike. I know it's different but in terms of responsibility within your job they have failed in the worst way possible.

It’s bad but understaffing is a real issue. Are all the other dogs meant to be left, which could put them in danger, to take yours to the vet which could take a while? Very difficult circumstance

so sad and what a beautiful boy

So sorry to hear about your lovely dog 🐕 😢 ❤️

all animals go to Rainbow Bridge

Lovely pic @rainbowunicorn22 🌈🦄

Sorry for your loss.

fFrom the description it does sound like your dog was going to die regardless of them taking him to the vet, but it is inexcusable for them not to always have in place, someone to take an unwell or injured animal to the vet immediately.

A deep cut or broken bone requires immediate attention, for example.

Or they call an emergency vet to come out to them.

No, we are not near there. Thank you 💔

No, they didn’t say anything about ever being short staffed and what would happen. I (naively) assumed this would not actually happen. They told me that someone stayed with him the whole time so I hope this is true.

@babyproblems he has no existing health issues that we knew of. He was a happy and silly boy, so it was a total shock.

Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who replied to my OP. It helped to read your messages. I hope that we will get some sort of answer from the post mortem at least.

Hi - I’m a vet.

Shocking! I hope you get some answers on the post-mortem and I’m ever so sorry this has happened to you.

I recently saw a dog who had been in kennels, staff had found him covered in blood in the morning (he was trying to scratch his way out of the enclosure). Took him to the nearest vets 12 hours later! The owner had no idea, they only found out when I chased the clinical notes with the actual clinic as kennels had reassured him “he was seen quickly”.

And this is why I find it hard to comprehend working in a kennels myself. All our flooring (tiles) and walls are white so we can spot blood right away. We are a small team but will predominantly always be on our own buildings and we try to keep the dogs in the buildings they are used too. Same kennel if possible.

We've had problems with dogs, seizures, diabetic turns but our paperwork is ruthless if there are any concerns and especially if on meds.

There is another kennels about 10 miles away and we have so many of their ex customers. The worst one being an automatic shutter for the run, dropped and broke a dogs back. Dogs coming out stinking of urine, not allowed to see your dog in or get a kennel tour.

We are an open door policy, we thrive on people turning up unannounced to enquire so they can see us in real time. Early mornings theres cleaning stuff everywhere, mid morning and early afternoon we are out walking on the field so have to use the cameras to tell them to wait 5 mins. Our dogs are never out with other dogs. From horror stories ive read on here and been told, I can categorically say where I work is not like that. Our kennels are thermostat controlled for the heat lamps and all kennels are inside buildings.I could show you many cctv footage of dogs dragging their owners up to the kennels gate..... because they know they get lots of cuddles, walks and of course treats. To us, the parents (owners) are off on holidays/weekend jaunts, so the dogs get exactly the same....spoilt!!!

Oh he was a beautiful boy. I’m so sorry for your loss. I’ve never forgotten losing my girl, she collapsed on a walk but we just thought it was because she was lazy as she was and was prone to stopping but we carried her home and she passed about 2 hours later from a heart attack, that was 5 years ago and k still feel guilty. 😢. Your beautiful boy knows he was loved .

What a lovely boy. God how awful, utterly devastating for you, I'm really sorry.

After the vet report, I'd want to find out a little more from the kennels. I would write a letter stating that you require details of their insurance policy about dogs that die in their care.

I'm sad that they felt they couldn't rush him to the vet, whether that would have saved him we don't know but it would have given him a chance if there was one. They should have had him there immediately in my opinion!

The whole thing is just dreadful, I'm so sorry.

And? You presumably reported the kennels? @Gingka

There must have been problems and signs before he arrived there. I don’t think any of this is their fault as it doesn’t sound like the vets would have time to save him either.

There were no problems or signs whatsoever.

How long has he been with you?

I don't think it is the kennel's fault either.

Our seemingly healthy 7yr old had her 6 month check one month including bloods, all fine and she collapsed and died weeks later. They can only check for existing issues but dogs (like people) can have a massive stroke or heart failure without any warning signs. It isn't that unusual.

Obviously it is easier to process when they are at home with you as you know exactly what happened, when in kennels there will always be the niggle that there may have been warning signs in the hours leading up to the shallow breathing that only the owner would have recognised but they can't watch every dog on a one to one basis.

It is awful when a dog suddenly collapses and dies but if I were the op accept that it was catastrophic and nothing could have saved him.

@Extragreen we got him in March 2020 so just over 5.5 years. He was a rescue. Not an impulse “lockdown dog” (not that I am judging that) as I’d wanted one for years.

I’m now wondering if something was missed. Over the summer he started limping and howled in pain trying to get on and off the sofa. So he went to the emergency vet. I feared cancer. He had an x-ray and blood tests that found nothing and the limp went away after a few days. Now I’m wondering if they x-rayed the correct leg or if they missed something, but surely the limp would have returned if that was the case.

When are you coming back? Any children you’re had to tell?

We are coming back today. It’s probably outing but we are here with our 12 year-old as her school has had 2 days off this week, so we went on a long weekend away to get into the mood for Christmas. I felt really guilty about staying. But she was devastated about the dog (we all are, but she said she would rather finish off the trip and going home would not achieve anything). The vet said to my sister to tell us there was no point coming back and they advised we stay here, so we did.

Why must there have been problems and signs before he got there?

Sorry, editing as misread your post. Exactly. There were none. Other than the limping issue in the summer, which the vet said was nothing serious. And which resolved itself in about 3 days.

If there had been problems or signs of anything being wrong before we went away, then we obviously wouldn’t have done that. I would not dream of leaving an unwell dog in a boarding kennel. He was tearing around the garden with his tennis balls as usual.

Very often with emergent cases there aren’t, as a vet there are a whole host of conditions that sprung to my mind that could have caused these symptoms.
@Orc I am sorry you have lost your beloved dog, from reading the information you have I think it is likely that had your dog made it to the vets you would have had to make some very tough choices very quickly.
https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-loss-support