Justice for Kali and Esmee: End Dog Daycare Negligence

On Tuesday, August 20th, Kali (age 12) and Esmee (age 3) tragically died in the back of their doggie daycare van due to extremely high temperatures.

The doggie daycare is responsible for the death of these two dogs, as well as endangering the lives of many other pet-friends. On the day of the highest temperature recorded this summer, their cargo van did not have AC or ventilation in the section of the vehicle that our dogs were left to die in. Their bodies were 110*, and according to the vet whom they were brought to, they had clearly been dead for "a while." The vet also disclosed that they believe the dogs suffered "inhumane conditions" by the dog daycare during their final hours.

When Esmee's parent and my family were contacted by the owner of the dog daycare that our dogs were being taken to a vet hospital, we were told that our dogs were taken to an emergency vet hospital because they believed they were overheating. Esmee's mother, and Kali's grandparent (as Brian and I had been out of town for our wedding and honeymoon), showed up to the vet expecting to bring our babies home. The devastating experience of discovering our dogs had long been dead, and sat in the back of that van for an undiscovered period of time, is an experience of extreme pain for both families affected.

Neither Esmee's parent, nor Kali's parents, have been given an apology for the abusive conditions that our dogs endured and died from. What's more, the owner of the dog daycare has not indicated that he intends to outfit the area of the cargo van where the dogs are transported with AC, or discontinue using the cargo van that they died in. Instead, he has oscillated between lecturing us on his guilt and how this affects him, and a litany of lies and half-truths. He has consistently downplayed and deflected the deaths of our two dogs.

Esmee and Kali's parents are partnering with Roland's Silly Goose Crew to ask in our community's support in preventing deaths and negligent harm perpetrated by doggie daycares. RSGC's mission is simple yet powerful: to advocate for change in the dog daycare industry (and beyond), support local animal shelters and rescues, educate the community on dog safety and empower dog parents to be stronger advocates for their dogs.

For more information about Roland's Silly Goose Crew, please visit their website at: https://www.rolandsillygoosecrew.org/