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It was nearly one month ago when tragedy struck at the Green Acre boarding facility in Gilbert, Arizona. In what was initially being called a “freak accident” by police and owners of the facility, justice may finally be served for the 23 dogs that died last month.
Last week, Maricopa County Sheriff’s detectives swarmed the Green Acre boarding facility, seizing computers, boarding records, cell phones, medication, air filters, wiring samples, and other evidence in an effort to understand what exactly happened to the dogs in their care.
According to the kennel owners, someone checked on all of the dogs around 11:00pm Thursday, June 19. When they returned at about 5:30am on Friday, June 20, they discovered the dead and dying dogs. According to initial reports, one of the dogs apparently chewed through the cord that powered an air conditioning unit. The temperature overnight was about 80-degrees.
While the kennel’s owner continues to insist that a dog chewed through a wall and an electric cord that cut off power to the air conditioner, leading the dogs to die of heat exhaustion, evidence collected at the scene proves otherwise.
The cause of their deaths, however, remains a mystery – one that Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office is determined to solve.
Dog owners were told that their dogs would be treated with the highest level of care, living in the home like family, sleeping in beds with the owner’s children. Instead, up to 28 dogs were packed into a single 9′ x 12′ room, with only one air vent and a door sealed with caulking to “prevent dog smell from getting into the rest of the house.”
Necropsies performed on 7 of the deceased dogs showed their deaths were consistent with suffocation, a result of too many dogs in a small room with inadequate ventilation. Several universities are now performing tests on tissue samples to determine if the dogs were drugged, as many have suggested.
To follow this story, its developments, and to offer condolences to those who lost beloved family members in this tragedy, follow The Tragedy at Green Acre Dog Boarding Gilbert, AZ on Facebook by clicking here.
You can view the affidavit for search warrant in its entirety here.
Cassandre Miller
Jul 20, 2014 at 12:56 pm
Charges need to be brought up on this facility! Otherwise, in this economy you will see these shoddy little negligent “boarding facilities” popping up everywhere for people to make a quick buck (and cash to boot!) !! What a shame…Here’s a thought to the owners- If you had the money to take a vacation in Florida, then you had the money and it was your obligation to shut down your facility for the week you were gone… Because of your lack of concern for the welfare of these animals..they are all dead! Shame on you!
SHIREEN (@LANSELL500)
Jul 19, 2014 at 3:49 pm
I AM SURE THAT PET SITTERS MUST EXIST IN THE US ?
PROVIDING THE PERSON(S) COME WITH GOOD REFERNCES THAT CAN BE CHECKED VERY THOROUGHLY BY THE OWNER, THIS IS THE VERY LEAST STRESSFUL WAY FOR THE ANIMAL ALSO IT DOES MEAN THAT THE HOUSE IS OCCUPIED !
THERE ARE QUITE A FEW PET/HOUSE SITTER SITES ON THE INTERNET.
VERY VERY TRAGIC WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS CASE & VERY UNRELIABLE PERSON IN CHARGE !! SHE SHOULD BE MADE TO PAY FOR HER CRUEL & THOUGHTLESS LACK OF ANY CARING & RESPONSIBILTY !
Friendly Paws
Jul 18, 2014 at 3:01 pm
I find it disgusting that people think its a fast way to make a quick buck to just offer to watch someone’s pet for a few days, then ignore to the point it dies. Pets are no different than people, 3 minutes without air, 3 hours in extreme temperatures, 3 days without water. This kind of negligence is terrible.
sylvia m.
Jul 17, 2014 at 2:47 pm
It is great that we have a site dedicated to learning and becoming more aware of everything that affects our precious little kiddos. This story is sad and it is unfortunate that these doggies suffered and died.
I would like to say that people should research and investigate any boarding homes. Search the reviews and yelp, or anything else that is available.
Also, on a separate note, you should understand your pet because sometimes it is better to find a responsible family member to look after them. I have a poodle and we try not to leave her alone at all. If we must, it is usually for a few hours. During one time we left her on a weekend, we left her with my husband’s parents and even though she was in good hands, she gets so depressed that she goes on strike and refuses to eat, drink water, or relieve herself.
At least we can tell that she is going through something, but I can imagine it would be difficult if she were in a boarding home for anyone to tell. I know it is not possible for everyone to find alternatives, but if your dog behaves the same way, make sure the boarding home staff know about it to pay special or extra attention to the dog and ensure they try to get them to drink water, to take them out to relieve themselves, and to monitor their food to see if the pet itself eats it or if another dog eats the food.
bess
Jul 17, 2014 at 2:03 pm
Why would anyone board their dogs without checking out the facilities!??? Twenty eight dogs sleeping in BEDS in the owners home??? Give me a break!! Stupidity on All their parts!! Poor dogs! Stupid owners!!
kristi
Jul 18, 2014 at 7:01 am
The owners were told that they only boarded 6 dogs. So insensitive of you to call the owners stupid when they were clearly mislead by these con artists.
Susara
Jul 17, 2014 at 2:02 pm
Such a waste. These people are so irresponsible. I have had an experienced with my dog once when I left them for a weekend. When I pick them up I came early than the time stated in my contract. My dogs were dirty and looks that they haven’t really eat their food which I brought. And the their cage was all dirty. They don’t really care about your dog.
Ruth Ann
Jul 17, 2014 at 12:15 pm
I hope the owners of the boarding place gets very stiff fines and even some kind of jail time.
Checking on them at 11 on Thursday and then more than 24 hours later is not enough. They are the boarders responsibly while the owners are out of town and therefore need to be check on several times a day.
This kind of treatment of those poor animals is unacceptable.
ChibiOkamiko
Jul 17, 2014 at 6:02 pm
I do not endorse they people, I am NOT defending them. But it was six and a half hours, not over 24. Still too long and from the sound of it, they had an sbsolutely ridiculous set up and shouldn’t have accepted so many dogs. And people wonder why I don’t board my dogs. I don’t trust other people with them.