Lincolnshire, UK, August 16 (Reuters) – A heartrending tale has unfolded as a couple returned from their vacation to a grievous scene – two of their dogs lay lifeless in the kennel where they had been left in their care. Tim Shaw and Olga Shaw entrusted their four beloved pets to Bourne County Dog Rescue in Lincolnshire while they embarked on a holiday last May. Tragically, upon their return, they discovered that two of their dogs had perished.
Allegedly, managers at the kennel informed the Shaws that one of their dogs had turned aggressive and fatally attacked the other two during an altercation. Filled with grief and concern, the couple took the matter to court and have recently been awarded over £3,000 in damages.
It’s reported that the Shaws had previously utilized the kennel’s services, leaving their four dogs – Minty, Daisy, Boss, and Teddy – under their care for a brief period. However, during their most recent vacation, they made the fateful decision to entrust their pets’ well-being to the kennel once again.
The Shaws’ holiday came to a devastating end when they received a phone call while driving home, revealing that two of their chihuahuas, Boss (aged seven) and Teddy (aged two), had been fatally attacked by Daisy. The kennel’s staff suggested that Daisy, a Jack Russell/Chihuahua cross, had initiated the attack, leading to the tragic outcome.
In a state of shock and disbelief, the couple immediately visited the kennel, where the situation was explained to them. Tim Shaw shared, “We showed up at the kennel and we were totally shocked, really, totally crazy and couldn’t console ourselves. They pointed to one of our dogs as the culprit and said they had a report of blood on the dog‘s muzzle.”
Initially, the Shaws requested that Daisy be relocated, fearing for their remaining pets’ safety. However, after a few days, they decided to bring Daisy home and sought the guidance of a dog psychologist.
Alongside their criticisms of the kennel’s supervision practices and the dimensions of the spaces provided for the dogs, the couple also expressed dissatisfaction with the response of local authorities, particularly the South Kesteven District Council. They believe that the council failed to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
As Tim Shaw emphasized, “Our four dogs are kept in a 1.9-meter square kennel every day – about the size of a door. There was no one on site during that time, there was no CCTV, and frankly, anything could have happened. The conditions of detention were horrific.”
Following a protracted legal battle spanning over a year, the Shaws were granted £2,500 in compensation for the loss of their dogs and an additional £557.10 to cover legal costs.
Given the traumatic experience, Tim Shaw expressed his determination never to leave his pets in a kennel again.
In response, Tri-County Dog Rescue provided their perspective on the matter. They refuted the claims of inadequate supervision and highlighted that staff members were present on-site at all times, including during overnight hours. The rescue organization also noted that the Shaws had initially accepted their interpretation of the events before pursuing legal action. The rescue had cautioned the Shaws about Daisy’s assertive behavior when they initially entrusted the dogs to their care.
The organization stated, “When they came to board with us in 2022, we asked if they wanted to board again, and they said yes but to be careful with Daisy ‘as she can be a bit bossy’. No problems for the first three days of the stay… The next morning two of the dogs were found dead, and Daisy had blood on her nose.” Tri-County Dog Rescue maintained that a veterinary examination confirmed the cause of death to be an attack by another dog.
South Kesteven District Council acknowledged the situation and expressed their commitment to working with licensed premises to ensure compliance with regulations.
This incident has underscored the challenges and responsibilities associated with animal care facilities, prompting broader discussions about supervision, space provisions, and the importance of thorough investigations in such cases.
