The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is currently conducting an investigation into the deaths of three dogs associated with their stays at the PetSmart Pets Hotel in Potomac Yard, as reported by multiple sources. A seven-year-old Great Dane named Nova Reed is among the recent casualties, with the owner reporting that the animal's health sharply declined following its last stay at the hotel. "Not only was she coughing up blood, this last time that we picked her up, but she had diarrhea," Sara Reed, Nova's owner, told NBC Washington. The incidents have raised concerns about pet safety at boarding facilities.
The investigations commenced on July 1 after reports surfaced regarding the death of a three-year-old Aussie-Doodle named Clark during its stay. The seriousness of these allegations was compounded by the subsequent deaths of two other dogs, which had both been boarded at the PetsHotel in June, and, according to the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, died within a week after their stays. As reported by InsideNova, this unfortunate sequence of events has animal lovers and owners deeply troubled.
In the most recent case involving Nova Reed, her deterioration of health following her last boarding at the Pets Hotel from June 28 to July 7 has left more questions than answers. The previous cases include a three-year-old dog named Clark, whose owner reported to the investigators that Clark was dead on arrival after being dropped off at the vet by a PetSmart employee. This incident was confirmed by Alexandria's chief animal control officer and was the catalyst for the ongoing investigations.
The League has yet to release findings from the investigations or the animal autopsies conducted in response to these events. However, the community is waiting with anticipation to understand what might have gone critically wrong at the PetsHotel. In a statement obtained by FOX 5 DC, the League acknowledged they were investigating the deaths, but the results from the autopsies are still pending. The examination of these occurrences is not only to provide closure to the affected pet owners but also to hopefully prevent similar incidents in the future.
