Dogs die when kennel heater malfunctions

[Catherine]

Quote:This case is worse than I first thought. So they were actually warned of the dangers beforehand and did not change anything.....

Yes, this is a case of negligence, not a case of unfortunate circumstances.
They knew the heater had problems more then 6 months ago. They knew the room was poorly ventilated. Yet they still continued to use it for a large number of dogs.

Quote:It was Friday night and no-one wanted  to stick around. That's why this happened!

I think you have it right. No staff wanted to stick around.


Years ago we experienced a major power outage in eastern Canada and the USA during really hot weather. The zoo keepers at Toronto Zoo stayed all night to keep watch over their animals because the buildings were without ventilation. They couldn't be sure they would be okay, so they stayed. (Those that needed to stayed and they spelled each other off, but there was someone there.)

When we had a winter power outage, I slept here with my animals in the cold. By morning it was too cold and I evacuated my animals to a home with heat. I didn't go to the warm neighbour's house for the night and check on the animals in the morning.
(The neighbours showed up in the morning with hot coffee because they were worried about me.) I stayed so I would be sure my animals were all right.

One year when I was cat sitting it turned very cold much earlier than expected. I closed windows and things like that, but it wasn't enough. I called their daughter and got her to tell me how to turn the furnace on. The house would have been okay, but it was too cold for the cat. If I was unable to  get the furnace working, I would have taken the cat home where she would have been warm.

When you accept responsibility for animals that is what you do. You do not leave them if there is a question of their safety and comfort. The management failed to fix a serious problem and the staff failed their responsibility to the animals.

Then there is the issue of the ads that imply someone will be with the animals all the time. I think that warrants a law suit or maybe some charges. They clearly put profit ahead of animal welfare.