Arrest Made at Doggy Day Care/Boarding in Brooklyn, NY
Published August 31, 2010
When we must leave our pets under the care of professionals, often we assume that they will be safe and well cared for. But as we all know, unfortunately, this is not always the case.
So when I recently ran across a highly disturbing item about a Brooklyn, NY boarding facility and day care service, published on the ASPCA website, I was shocked. I wondered how anyone could leave their pets and animals, for which they are responsible for, without thoroughly checking out the facility by visiting and obtaining references. I just don't get it!
Recently my husband and I went on vacation. Knowing that our cats are terrible travelers and become greatly stressed out in unfamiliar surroundings, we hired an extremely competent local cat-sitter with impeccable references. And even though our kitties were in the best of hands, and in the company of someone who was extremely fond of them, I still worried if they were eating, using their litter boxes, and feeling secure.
Obviously this ASPCA announcement really got my blood boiling.
According to the ASPCA, their Humane Law Enforcement Agents arrested Matthew Soto, daily manager and co-owner of a doggy day care and boarding kennel called Bark&Play, on August 25. Soto was charged with five counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty for seriously neglecting several dogs boarded at his facility.
In late June, upon discovering that the dogs boarded at the facility were neglected and left unsupervised, ASPCA initiated a total investigation of the facility. They found dogs that were left without appropriate supervision, housed in areas lacking sufficient ventilation, and living in horribly unsanitary conditions saturated with urine and feces.
Tango and Sweets, two emaciated Pit Bull mixed breeds, were transported to ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital for emergency treatment provided by veterinarian Robert Reisman, ASPCA Medical Coordinator of Animal Abuse Cases. The dogs were suffering from severe urine burns and other signs of neglect.
What is even more alarming is that Tango and Sweets were only two of the many dogs boarded at this kennel by local rescue groups. Stacy Wolf, ASPCA's Vice President of Chief Legal Counsel for Humane Law Enforcement said, "rescue groups would pay the facility to temporarily board dogs until they found homes for them. However several dogs had been left there for months."
If convicted, Soto could receive a two year jail sentence. Thankfully Bark& Play is now closed to the public, since it was seized last June.
When you must leave your pets with a care-taker or a boarding facility, how do you check them out? Leave a comment and share your experiences.
Photo credit: Flickr user m kasahara This is not a photo of a dog at the day care facility. It is a Pit Bull Mix
Shortly after retiring as a social worker and psychotherapist, I discovered my "writer's voice"…
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Comments (5)
I would go to jail if someone abused my animals. They are like my children.No one will ever put their hand on them in an abusive manner and not face consequences of my wrath.
Easy - thoroughly screen ANYONE taking care of your pets and ask for proof of INSURANCE!!! Even a family friend or the kid next door will make life threatening mistakes. pet care should be left to professionals who are truly professional and cvan vouch for their competency. All boarding facilities undergo investigations from time to time by licensing and insuring agents, and apparently this guy was not running things properly. If you choose a facility, check on their qualifications to make sure they are legit and BBB certified!!!
That is why I am never far from home and if I must leave I leave my daughter in charge of our animals. She is excellent with them. If she cannot sit for them then I just do not go. This last time I had to travel my daughter went with me so my husband took care of the animals. Boy did he spoil them. This is the man who will tell everyone that he doesn't especially like pets. LOL
We have a lot of animals so either my husband or myself has to always sbe here to make sure they get their meds, and cared for properly. But in my opinion people who operate these boarding facilities should have a license to do so, and should be inspected at least once a month and graded just as restaurants do. This should not be allowed to happen to any animal
I have been very fortunate. The few times that I did need to kennel my dogs and cat, I was able to find a facility that was clean, had caring staff, and my animals were fine when I picked them up. Now, I use a very respected pet sitting service. They will come several times a day or will actually house sit, if that is my request. When I can I travel (by car...not airplane) with my dogs. How sad for the people and their pets who trusted that facility in Brooklyn!