The dog kennel where a puppy was severely injured over the weekend allegedly allowed another dog to die in its care in June.
A 10-month old puppy named Fenway was seriously injured at Coastal Dog Services in Newport News over the weekend.
The facility’s owner Rick Tvelia claimed Fenway’s collar was caught in a fence Saturday, and in a panic the dog injured itself. Fenway’s owner Jason Fox, however, believes Fenway was attacked and “basically left for dead,” he wrote on Facebook.
Newport News spokeswoman Kim Lee said the incident is currently under investigation, but no charges had been filed as of Wednesday afternoon.
Documents filed in the Newport News General District Court indicate Fenway was not the first dog to be injured while in the care of Coastal Dog Services.
Coastal Dog Services was charged with misdemeanor Cruelty to Animals for the alleged death of a chocolate lab on June 24, according to a criminal complaint filed August 21.
A citizen — unnamed in the court documents — contacted Newport News Animal Services and reported that their chocolate lab passed away while in the care of Coastal Dog Services. An officer with the department said they examined the dog at Peninsula Emergency Vet Clinic.
The officer reported seeing “several scratches on the body and bite wounds on the bottom side of the neck,” according to the criminal complaint. A necropsy was conducted on the animal and the officer interviewed Kennel Manager Jennifer Lewis.
The officer said the interview and the results of the examination lead them to believe “Coastal Dog Services Incorporated failed to provide emergency veterinary treatment” for the wounded animal.
Lewis reportedly witnessed the chocolate lab being pinned down and having its neck bitten by a bulldog. Lewis separated the fight and saw the lab would need sutures for “puncture marks” on its neck, and according to the complaint, she decided to wait until morning to seek emergency medical treatment.
The complaint also stated the owner and president of Coastal Dog Services told the officer he knew the incident occurred “but took no further action to provide care to the animal.”
The chocolate lab was said to be found to have a broken neck and severe internal bleeding, leading to its death.
Neither Coastal Dog Services nor Tvelia returned repeated requests for comment. There was no lawyer listed in court documents or state business filings for the company.
According to filings with the State Corporation Commision, Tvelia owns and operates a second kennel in West Point, under the name Coastal Custom Canines. The company’s website lists Tvelia as a trainer.
The complaint alleges Coastal Dog Services “deprive[d] an animal of necessary food, drink, shelter or emergency veterinary treatment.”
According to Jason Fox, doctors treating Fenway say “he was laying there helpless for a minimum of 2 hours” after sustaining his injuries Saturday, he wrote on Facebook.
The puppy Fenway remains in stable condition at a Richmond medical center, and a GoFundMe.com campaign has raised more than $20,000 to help with the puppy’s medical expenses.
“Fenway is remaining stable today and actually stood up and moved around a little bit,” Fox wrote in a post Monday afternoon. “That is so encouraging that he is becoming more and more alert. He still is [in] really rough shape but we honestly are taking any little bit of positive we can get.”
Coastal Dog Services is scheduled to appear in Newport News General District Court for a hearing Sept. 6 at 1 p.m. The trial for Lewis is scheduled for Oct. 4 at 1 p.m., according to online court records.
