Dog parents’ surprise holiday turns into tragedy after seeing their puppy’s last picture from boarding
A tragedy unfolded as several families in New York left their beloved pet dogs with a trusted facility for the weekend. Twenty-one dogs died under the care of Anastasia’s Acres Dog Boarding Facility, a dog boarding establishment in Argyle, while the pets’ families were away for vacations. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office has informed all the affected families about the incident as investigators dig deeper for more information on what may have caused it, WTEN revealed, as reported by Rochester First. A couple opened up about the storm of emotions they were experiencing from the loss of their pet, equating it to losing a child in the family.
The calamity was likely caused by a malfunction in the central air conditioning system overnight. It resulted in an oxygen deficiency in the boarding facility, forcing the poor dogs to suffocate, one family revealed. While the majority of the pups lost their lives, one dog survived and was rushed to a local animal clinic. “He was such a good boy, he was only eight months old. We’re going through a tough time. It’s like losing a child,” Leah Brown choked up speaking of her late dog, Rex. She and her husband, Robert, were informed by investigators about the malfunction in the air as they waited for more information from the officials. However, a confirmed report on the cause of death is yet to be released.
The Browns had planned a weekend getaway to New Hampshire. Before heading to the airport, they dropped their pet dog at the facility on Saturday morning. However, their vacation was cut short when they received the dreaded call from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office the very next day about the tragic incident. Originally, Melanie Scoville, daughter of the Browns, had arranged the trip to New Hampshire. She divulged how deeply affected her mother was, recalling her fear of losing a pet. “My mom, she hasn’t gotten a dog in years because … she doesn’t like the heartbreak of losing a pet. So for this to happen to her is just heartbreaking.”
Scoville said when her mother called her to inform her about the loss on Sunday afternoon, she wasn’t able to talk clearly. The Browns had chosen Anastasia’s Acres in Argyle, considering the stellar reviews they had received from former pet owners. To ensure Rex was safe and content, the family had paid extra to the facility to send them pictures of their pet over the two days. When Leah received a photo on Saturday but none on Sunday, she had “a feeling” that something had happened. Meanwhile, the facility's owners are cooperating with the investigation and have officially announced the closure of the boarding establishment until further notice.
“The hardest part is going home, and all his stuff is there. All his toys. Everything,” said Leah. The couple dreaded going back to their home filled with toys, pictures, and memories of Rex. Their daughter stated that her concern remains about the information that is yet to be disclosed before blaming anyone for the incident.