The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria plans to recommend changes to how PetSmart operates its PetHotel at Potomac Yard, but said there is insufficient evidence to charge PetSmart or any of its staff after three dogs boarded there died there this summer.
“We will be making strong recommendations to the PetSmart PetsHotel to consider increasing staff or limiting the number of animals in the facility based on current staffing levels. Pet boarding industry standards recommend having an animal-to-staff ratio of one person to every 15 animals in order to provide the highest level of care,” AWLA said in a news release.
“We also strongly recommend that PetSmart have a licensed veterinary technician on staff to monitor animal health and/or require boarding facility staff receive regular and recurring training on how to quickly recognize and respond to medical concerns in the animals kept at the facility.”
AWLA said it did not believe the care was up to par when a 3-year-old Aussie-doodle named Clark and two other dogs, Blu and Lily, died. All three died within a week of their boardings.
AWLA said PetSmart had a high number of animals being boarded, “100–160 animals to 4–5 care staff,” at the time of the deaths. The investigation into the facility started on July 1.
A necropsy found that Clark had a bacterial pneumonia related to an E. Coli infection with possible sepsis, likely present in the dog before its stay. AWLA said in the release that the veterinarian who performed the necropsy found the illness “was advanced with bacteria in his lungs, thymus, liver, spleen, thyroid gland, adrenal gland, kidneys, heart, bladder, and brain, and the prognosis for survival would have been poor regardless of where or how he was being cared for.”
No necropsies could be performed on Blu and Lily, but AWLA said Lily’s death could be attributed to old age.
The animal shelter encourages pet owners to do extensive research before choosing a boarding facility. Unlike shelters, boarding facilities are not subject to annual inspections and only undergo them when someone files a complaint.
Feature image by Eduardo Barraza/stock.adobe.com
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