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Wednesday, August 01, 2001

Deborah Logan has just lived through a pet owner's worst nightmare. The seemingly healthy, happy dog she took to a boarding kennel July 11 was very sick when she picked her up five days later.

Logan says Samantha, 12, was shaking uncontrollably, her eyes were glazed, and she did not respond when called. Her outdoor run had no water or shade. The door to the indoor portion of her kennel was shut.

"I had to physically go into the outdoor run and pull her through the door" to the indoor portion of the kennel because "she was too weak to come in," Logan said.

Three hours later, Sam's veterinarian said she was severely dehydrated. After several hours of intravenous treatment with electrolytes, steroids and other medication, Sam seemed to be getting better. Logan paid the $425 vet bill and took Sam back to her Stanton Heights home. The date was July 16.

The 50-pound Belgian shepherd mix seemed to improve over the next two days. But on the morning of July 19 "her breathing was extremely labored." Logan tried to rush Sam to the veterinary clinic, but the dog died in the car before they got there.

Logan's other dog, a golden retriever-shepherd mix named Pete, 9, was boarded at the same facility with no ill effects. He had been kenneled in a separate run.

Both dogs were boarded at Rosedale Kennels in Penn Hills. The facility is owned and operated by Animal Rescue League, which is exactly why Logan took them there.

In 1994 she adopted both dogs from the league's East Liberty shelter. She regularly boarded them at Rosedale, with no problems, because the fees benefit homeless shelter dogs and cats.

"The staff in past years was very caring," Logan said. But when she left the dogs there at 4 p.m. July 11, there were no workers in the kennel. Logan went next door to the wildlife rehabilitation center -- also operated by ARL -- and had one of those workers check the dogs in.

Logan says she signed a form authorizing Rosedale to call her vet if either dog became ill. She left two telephone numbers where she could be reached.

Peter Casella, executive director at ARL, disputes Logan's allegations.

"I spoke to the workers at Rosedale and they indicated that when the dog left she was all right," Casella said in a July 24 telephone interview. "All dogs have water 24 hours per day" with the possible exception of short periods of time when kennels are cleaned, he said. "We feel terrible about this. We really do not know what to say."

Logan said both dogs had received a clean bill of health last spring at their annual checkups.

"When I picked [Samantha] up, a kennel worker said she had been acting like that [shaking] for two days but they thought that was just her personality. They should have called me and they should have called her vet. But they didn't."

Casella said the kennel worker vehemently denies telling Logan that Sam was shaking for two days.

For now, this is a "he said, she said" situation. Both sides are sticking to their stories.

Logan has contacted Kathy Hecker, humane agent for Animal Friends, to investigate whether criminal charges can be filed against the boarding kennel. She also has filed a complaint with state dog warden Jim Brush, who inspects all boarding facilities.

A lawyer has told her she can file a summary criminal complaint with a district justice under Title 18 Pennsylvania Crimes Code, Section 5511 (c), which covers cruelty or neglect.

That section of the law makes it a summary offense to abuse, neglect or abandon any animal -- or to deprive it of "necessary sustenance, drink, shelter or veterinary care ..."

Logan says she will file the complaint. The attorney told her to take documentation from her vet.

Logan's "paid" receipt says Sam was treated for "severe dehydration." The vet has told her he will also give her a signed statement explaining his diagnosis and the treatment he rendered.

He would not talk to me, citing "doctor-patient confidentiality," but said he will give Logan a signed statement.

"I believe Animal Rescue League is obligated to pay the [vet] bill at the very least and to change their procedures so that this does not happen to another dog," Logan said.

Casella offered to bury Sam for free at Rosedale Cemetery -- a nicely tended pet cemetery adjacent to Rosedale Kennels.

Logan has declined that offer.