The owners of a 10-month-old dog that died after a weekend stay at a Newport News kennel are suing the business for $25,000.
Jason and Jessica Fox, the owners of an Australian shepherd named Fenway who died in August after allegedly sustaining injuries while in the care of Coastal Dog Services Inc., have filed a civil suit against both the kennel and owner Rick Tvelia, according to court documents.
The case is set to be heard at 9 a.m. June 12 in Newport News General District Court.
“So excited that we finally got a trial date in our civil trial for our beloved Fenway,” Jason Fox wrote May 29 on Facebook. “We aren’t even close to being done yet, the fight continues.”
The case was filed May 14, less than four months after four criminal charges were dismissed against Tvelia on Jan. 31.
The criminal charges stemmed from the death of two dogs last summer: Fenway, and a chocolate lab named Bruce.
During the Jan. 31 trial, a district court judge dismissed charges of animal cruelty and a boarding establishment failing to meet the adequate care requirements, both of which stemmed from the death of Bruce.
During the same hearing, prosecutors also dropped two other charges of the same nature against Tvelia, which stemmed from Fenway’s death.
Jason and Jessica Fox dropped the dog off for a weekend stay at Coastal Dog Services, at 12618 Warwick Blvd., on Aug. 26.
About 24 hours after the dog was taken to the kennel, an employee called the couple and said that Fenway had been injured.
Fenway died several days later.
Tvelia said the dog’s collar had gotten stuck a fence and, in a panic, the dog injured itself. But Jason Fox said he believed Fenway had been attacked by another dog.
Tvelia has previously called the Foxes’ allegations about Fenway’s injuries false.
After Fenway’s death, other animal owners came forward with concerns about Tvelia’s kennel services, including a Northern Virginia resident whose dog was fatally attacked in the facility’s yard in 2011. Protesters marched outside of the business several times last fall, calling for justice for the animals who have died.
HNNDaily reporter Troy Jefferson contributed reporting.
WYDaily archives were used in this story.
Fearing can be reached at sarah.f@localvoicemedia.com.
Editor’s note: Jason Fox is a former employee of WYDaily’s parent company, Local Voice Media.
