On July 1, PetSmart PetsHotel in Alexandria, Virginia, contacted a dog owner about their canine companion’s passing while they were under its care. Following the incident, two more dogs died during or after their stay at the PetSmart facility. The case is still under investigation, and one of the canine’s bodies was sent for necropsy. However, authorities are still waiting for the results.
PetSmart PetsHotel in Alexandria under investigation after third dog dies after stay
An investigation into the PetSmart PetsHotel facility in Alexandria, Virginia, was launched when Andrew Noles raised a complaint after losing his Aussiedoodle Clark. According to ABC 7 News, the pup was three years old and had no health issues. Moreover, Noles noted that a vet had checked and cleared the canine just a few weeks before boarding at the PetSmart PetsHotel facility.
A few days after Clark’s passing, two more dog owners reported their beloved pets died while under the care of PetSmart. Great Dane Nova Reed was one of them. She was coughing up blood and had diarrhea when her owner, Sara Reed, picked her up. Reed told NBC4 that the seven-year-old pup has stayed healthy over the last three years. However, things went downhill while she was staying at the PetSmart PetsHotel facility.
Reed noticed subtle changes in Nova’s behavior and health from the first time she stayed at the facility. The canine had kennel cough after one of her stays and experienced digestive issues after another. However, during her latest visit to the facility from June 28 to July 7, the Great Dane’s health worsened.
The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria has been investigating the case since July 1 and has sent Clark’s body for necropsy. The results are yet to be announced. All three dogs who died after their stay at the PetSmart PetsHotel facility boarded around the same time. They passed away within a week of their stay at PetSmart. The League has been visiting and inspecting the facility, with the store cooperating with the investigation.
