Dog owner wants justice after dog dies in care of Coeur d'Alene kennel

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho -- The Coeur d'Alene Police Department is investigating a local kennel where a dog died from heat related issues.

Tiffaney Price-Eddington said she dropped her dogs off at the kennel a dozen times without any issues. She dropped her dogs off on July 18 because she had to visit her mother-in-law who was passing.

Two days later, she went to pick up three of her dogs that were at the kennel for a couple days and noticed something was wrong with her 13-year-old chocolate lab Bellatrix.

"(The trainer) brought Bellatrix out and she was past panting, she had already labored breathing, she could barely stand. I was just stunned in the moment," Price-Eddington said.

Price-Eddington said Bellatrix passed away just a few hours later. According to her, Faithful K9 didn't communicate with her at all about Bellatrix's condition before she was picked up.

"In hindsight, I'm mad because they didn't call us," Price-Eddington said. "They didn't let us know that Bell was in distress. There was nothing. We didn't find out anything until it was too late."

Animal Control officers went to the kennel and said they noticed several issues and notified staff to fix them.

Police said officers followed up on July 25 and several of the same issues persisted, which left them concerned for the welfare of the animals that were still there.

Officers worked with the City of Coeur d'Alene to revoke Faithful K9 Trainer's business license and the remaining animals at the kennel were removed. The kennel will remained closed until further notice.

Price-Eddington is still hoping justice will be served for Bellatrix.

"For her to get sick and pass away in two days, I just don't know what happened. I want to know what the circumstances were because it was only two days," she said.

Animal Control is still investigating and may bring criminal charges forward.

The Coeur d'Alene Police is asking anyone who has information about abuse or neglect at the kennel contact the Coeur d'Alene Police Department Animal Control.

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