Two people tied to a Kyle dog daycare are facing criminal charges after a pair of dogs died of heat stroke while in the business's care, authorities say. Veterinary staff who tried to save the animals recorded body temperatures of 110 degrees Fahrenheit and determined that the dogs died from heat stroke.
The Hays County Sheriff’s Office says the deaths happened on Aug. 20, 2024, during a transport run for EZ Dog Stay and Play, when an employee was moving dogs in the rear compartment of a cargo van that investigators say did not have adequate air conditioning or ventilation, according to Fox San Antonio. The dogs were reportedly in the vehicle for several hours before reaching an emergency veterinary clinic in Austin, where staff said the animals maxed out their thermometer. Those findings triggered a deeper probe that culminated in arrest warrants.
Booking records list owner Evan Zwerneman and employee Taylor Roberts on multiple cruelty-related counts, and show that both were later released on bond, according to public arrest reports. Zwerneman was booked on felony cruelty charges and several deceptive-business misdemeanors, with total bond set at $14,000, while Roberts was booked on two felony cruelty counts and a misdemeanor transport charge with a combined bond of $8,000, per TexArrest. All charges remain allegations that must be proven in court.
When animal-control investigators inspected EZ Dog Stay and Play, they reported gaps between what the daycare advertised and what they saw on site, including marketing for a "kennel-free suite" that investigators say did not exist, according to Fox San Antonio. The company’s own website continued to tout kennel-free daycare and round‑trip bus pickup, details investigators noted in their filings; see EZ Dog Stay and Play for current marketing. Former employees told investigators they had previously warned management about unsafe transport conditions before the dogs died, the sheriff’s office said.
Legal consequences
Both felony cruelty charges listed in the warrants are third‑degree offenses under Texas law, while the transport and deceptive-business counts are misdemeanor-level allegations. Potential penalties depend on the specific convictions and any enhancements. A third‑degree felony in Texas can carry two to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, while a Class A misdemeanor can mean as much as one year in county jail and fines up to $4,000, according to the Texas Attorney General. The Hays County Sheriff’s Office said arrest warrants were obtained and that the case will proceed through the local court system.
The arrests represent an uncommon criminal response to a pet-care death case in the greater Austin area and have renewed attention on how dog transport and boarding services are overseen. EZ Dog Stay and Play remains in operation while the criminal case moves forward, and court dates are expected to be scheduled in Hays County.
