It’s been nearly six years since Bonnie and Howard Chamberlain lost their dog, Jack, after he was attacked by a dog at a kennel, but all it took was a Facebook post to bring the raw emotions back.
On the morning of August 28, Bonnie was scrolling through Facebook when a post from an old friend came up in her feed. It was made by Rick Tvelia, the owner of Coastal Dog Services. The two hadn’t spoken in years.
Reading the words on the glowing screen, Bonnie said she couldn’t believe what was happening. Tvelia was responding to allegations that a puppy had died after spending time at his boarding facility that weekend, to which Tvelia said the dog, Fenway, had “in a panic injured itself.”
“It was like a punch in the gut,” Bonnie said. “After reading more about the puppy, I couldn’t believe it. Our story was so similar.”
‘Horrendous’ wounds
Bonnie had experienced what the puppy’s owners, Jason and Jessica Fox, were now going through. In October 2011, Bonnie’s own dog died after it was attacked by another dog at the Newport News facility.
At the time, Bonnie and Howard, formerly of Newport News, were close friends with Tvelia, she said. Bonnie said she had dropped Jack and their other dog, Sadie, off at Coastal for a few hours while they took care of some errands in town.
“Jack just loved doggy daycare,” Bonnie said. “He’d run up and down the fence and play the whole time.”
But, like Fenway’s owners, Bonnie said she and her husband received a disturbing call just a few hours later. Tvelia called and said that Jack had been injured and was being taken to a local vet.
Bonnie said Tvelia told the couple not to worry – their dog would be just fine.
But what happened when their 8-year-old dog died suddenly?
“He never even apologized,” Bonnie said. “He ended up paying for the vet bills and Jack’s cremation, but never did he take responsibility.”
After Jack’s death, the friendship fizzled out.
According to Newport News Animal Control records, the manager on duty at the time of the attack, Jennifer Lews – who is due in court next month for charges stemming from the death of a chocolate lab over the summer – drove the dog to York Veterinary Hospital for treatment.
Upon arrival, Jack was seen by Anita Weidinger. In Jack’s medical records from the day of the attack, Weidinger wrote, “extensive bite wounds on head, neck and left elbow,” and “large wound central neck/can feel trachea.”
As for Jack’s wounds, Weidinger said they were “horrendous.” She also said that it was nearly impossible to estimate the number of bites the dog had sustained.
“There were so many bite marks it was hard to tell what puncture wounds matched up with what,” Weidinger told WYDaily in an interview. “This attack was something that would’ve lasted for more than a few seconds.”
Weidinger recommended Jack be transported to an emergency animal hospital. Documents state that Lewis drove the injured dog to a nearby facility, but Jack wouldn’t live to see another veterinarian. He died on the way, Weidinger said.
Tvelia would later tell Bonnie and her husband that, similar to what happened to Fenway, no staff members witnessed the fatal wounding.
The fine print
WYDaily received a copy of the contract pet owners must sign before leaving their animals at Coastal Dog Services. While one page specifies that dogs in the facility’s yard would be accompanied by a staff member, another page states that “there is usually someone on the property, but there are times when staff is not in the kennel area, or has left the property.”
Before signing the contract, pet owners must agree to the following stipulation: “By signing below, I hold Coastal Dog Services, Inc. and itss [sic] employees harmless, and release them of any liability associated with any illness, accident or injury while my dog is in there [sic] care.”
Tvelia has not return repeated requests for comment from WYDaily since late August.
To prevent situations like Jack and Fenway’s deaths, Del. Jason Miyares, R-Virginia Beach, said he plans to introduce a bill in the upcoming General Assembly. Under current state legislation, there isn’t enough oversight of boarding facilities, but if the bill that the Jason and Jessica Fox have dubbed “Fenway’s Law” is passed, Miyares said that will change.
State code specifies that boarding facilities must provide basic essentials like food, water and adequate shelter. Boarding facilities must also provide any needed veterinary care for illnesses or injuries sustained on their properties, as well as cover the cost of that care.
Tvelia covered Jack’s bills, but Jason Fox said that Tvelia has not contributed any funds for Fenway’s care, which reached more than $16,000.
Miyares said he thinks Fenway’s attack was preventable and occurred because of a lack of supervision. After the brutal attack, Fenway was left lying on the ground for hours, according to Jason Fox.
“Fenway was left in mud and filth, which contributed to his infections,” Miyares said. “I think the incident was preventable.”
The legislation, Miyares said, will specify that dogs at kennels and boarding facilities must be supervised at all times. Clauses in contracts that would attempt to dissolve the staff of any responsibility would be illegal under such legislation, Miyares said.
If the legislation is passed, it would go into effect on July 1, 2018 – nearly a year after Fenway’s death and eight years after Jack’s.
“It’s important that we get supervision on these kennels so that situations like these don’t happen anymore,” Miyares said.
Send news tips to Poulter at amy@localvoicemedia.com
This article was published in partnership with WYDaily’s sister publication, Southside Daily.
