LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Clark County has suspended a Valley kennel’s business license after Animal Control officers found multiple animals living in filthy conditions.
It gets worse – evidence shows officers even recovered the bodies of two dogs from a pair of freezers. Veterinarians say, both died from neglect or abuse.
FOX5 Investigates obtained photos from an Animal Control raid on A V-I-P Kennel at Warm Springs and the I-15 last August only after filing a request under the Freedom of Information Act.
The photos show dogs in enclosures with doors so dirty that it’s hard to see inside. They also show multiple puppies in one confined area surrounded by feces and urine and a number of unclean refrigerators containing pet medications and perishable food.
We won’t show you pictures from the most startling discovery: officers pulled a three-year-old French bulldog and a Chow around the same age from a pair of deep freezers.
Reports show both dogs belonged to the kennel’s owner, Kurt Williams. Those same veterinarian reports show the bulldog died from symptoms of heat stroke. A tennis ball-sized hairball led to the Chow’s ultimate death.
The kennel remains open for business because owner Williams hasn’t been convicted of no offense.
Williams declined to talk to FOX5 Investigates’ Andryanna Sheppard about the case. It remains under investigation.
We have learned Clark County suspended the kennel’s business license just days after FOX5 inquired on its status. However, that doesn’t mean it has to shut down. The kennel can remain open until the county revokes its license – and it’s unclear how long that review process could take.
Williams does have upcoming court dates – and we will follow the proceedings.
Now, we do realize this story comes at a time of year when many pet parents plan to travel for the holidays. So we came up with some advice for keeping your dog or cat safe, healthy, and happy during your time apart.
“We’ve had him for about two weeks now, he’s a miniature pinscher, and he loves coming to the dog park and he’s playing with other dogs, running around, he’s got a lot of energy, so we love taking him here. It’s very close to where we live.”
Michael Batogower and Leal Silverstone haven’t had little Babka for very long. They had hoped to bring their new fur baby home to Florida to meet their family for Thanksgiving, but Batgower tells us, that’s not going to work out.
“He’s not quite old enough, and so now we’re trying to figure out how to get him if we go for Thanksgiving, where our options are at.”
Boarding is not an option for a pup as young as Babka, but it’s a good choice for many families who can’t take their pets along on their travels.
Valley Veterinarian, Dr. David Espinoza urges you to do your homework — check the websites, look for reviews, and get recommendations from your friends and neighbors.
“A lot of times you should call ahead of time, talk to the person in the front, kind of go through the guidelines and the requirements, and it’s always a good idea to reach out to your veterinarian and go over specific questions and details before scheduling boarding.”
And Espinosa urges you to see for yourself where your dog or cat will stay. You can even try a test run.
“It’s always a good idea before you go in there, go ahead and meet the people behind the scenes, go do a walkthrough, even sometimes you can do kind of a daycare exposure, bring them for the day, see how they enjoy it, and that’s always a good idea before you go in.”
Dr. Espinoza says your pet’s health should be top of mind for you and for those caring for them.
“In a kennel, it’s very important to rule out for infectious diseases, exposure, and overall their quality of life, and so big things I look for in a boarding facility are how up to date they are on their vaccination protocols, their fecal monitoring, things to ensure that they won’t go there and pick up things to bring back home.”
The American Kennel Club urges to you to find out if a kennel has scheduled feeding and play times – whether they pick play groups by breed size – and if they offer training for younger pups.
The doctor warns not to forget older dogs need special care, especially when it comes to prescriptions.
“And so absolutely you want trained staff to be able to handle medications like that and make sure that their pet is being taken care of,” says Espinosa.
For pet parents prone to worry – he recommends an increasingly common feature.
“With today’s technology, kind of the gold standard with boarding is to be able to watch them through cameras, videos, and just get feedback on how they’re doing, feeling, and even eating on time.”
As for our new friend Bobka, he’ll spend his first Thanksgiving here at home in the Valley.
“He’s so young we don’t really want to put him under someone else’s care. We just got him, he’s not potty trained, so it’s difficult to tell someone you’ve got to take him out every hour on the hour,” says Silverstone.
While other Valley families can rest easy knowing their furry members are getting proper care.
The AKC recommends packing some items for your pet including a favorite toy, their blanket, their food, and a piece of your recently-warn clothing. Dogs find the scent comforting.
If your pet seems tired from playtime when you pick them up – they’ve had a good stay.
More positive signs – they seem bonded with a caregiver, they’re bruise and scrape-free, and their paws are clean and free of dirt or feces.
Copyright 2024 KVVU. All rights reserved.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
