3 Dog Deaths Investigated at Potomac Yard PetSmart – NBC4 Washington

The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is investigating the deaths of three dogs who died during or after being boarded at the PetSmart Pets Hotel in Potomac Yard.

Seven-year-old Nova Reed is a large, active Great Dane. She and her owners moved to D.C. three years ago. Nova’s owner, Sara Reed, says she began noticing changes in Nova’s health and behavior after she was first brought to Potomac Yard PetSmart.

“The last three years, she’s been fine for the most part,” Reed said. “Except for one time with kennel cough, and then she came home with digestive issues.”

Reed says Nova’s last stay at the Pets Hotel, from June 28 to July 7, was when things changed abruptly.

“The last time we picked her up, not only was she coughing up blood, she also had diarrhea,” Reed said.

The latest case follows a nearly month-long investigation by the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, after the League was contacted about the death of a dog while staying at the PetSmart Pets Hotel.

Alexandria’s Chief Animal Control Officer confirmed to News4 that the agency launched an investigation on July 1 into the death of a three-year-old Aussie Doodle named Clark. The agency says Clark’s owner told investigators the dog was dead on arrival after a PetSmart employee dropped Clark off at the vet while Clark was staying at the Pets Hotel.

The dog’s body has been submitted for an autopsy, similar to an autopsy on humans, and the League is still awaiting the results.

According to the Animal League, two other pet owners came forward with similar allegations. Investigators say two owners told them their dogs were sick and died within a week of staying at the Pets Hotel.

Animal investigators say all three dogs were in the animal hotel during that same time period. Since those complaints, the League says it has been visiting and inspecting the animal hotel every two days.

PetSmart released the following statement to News4, which included the following:

“Pet care and safety are our top priorities. As animal lovers, we are devastated when a pet passes away. We take this very seriously and have been in contact with everyone involved to offer our full support. Based on what we have learned, these three incidents are each unique with different causes ranging from underlying conditions to advanced age – not due to the time spent. Out of an abundance of caution, we are proactively conducting hands-on retraining with our Potomac Yard employees.”

Nova’s owner hopes no other pets are injured as the investigation continues.

“I think the facility should be closed until the investigation is complete,” Reed said. “I feel like I’m a loyal customer at this point, and as nice as some of the staff has been to my dog, my dog ​​has come home and, like I said, there have been a couple of incidents where she’s come home and there’s been issues.”

News4 crews were at the location earlier in the day and saw animal control workers walking in and out of PetSmart. It’s unclear what they were doing inside, but the League said PetSmart is cooperating with the investigation.