[animalcraker]

Story Here

Is it just me that's finds this whole situation tragicaly mind boggling. It was hot in the garage so she leaves then in a van on her driveway while she goes to sleep WTF??? In what reality is this a reasonable action or someone to do with other peoples pets in their care.

 

[Lolas_Dad]

"I’ve never seen such a horrific act in my lifetime," said Dr. Laura Ivan, the veterinarian in House Springs whose office Wild brought the dogs to on Monday. Ivan is now caring for the lone surviving dog. "This was not intentional, but a horrible, tragic accident."

I would say differently. I would say it was not a tragic accident but would say it was totally irresponsible and this woman should be charged with animal cruelty. If it was to hot in the garage a simple solution would have been to bring the portable kennels inside the house and leave the dogs in them. This woman is paid as a handler to handle these dogs in shows it is her responsibility to make sure that they are safe at all times while in her care.

Since she failed to do her job and lives were lost she should pay the appropriate punishment even if it is a jail term.

 

[txcollies]

I was talking to another pro handler's assistant about this yesterday. From what's I hear what is going around in the REAL dog world, the handler supposedly DID leave her van's AC running that night (they might have heard wrong, but I'm sure I'll hear the story over and over again from different people. ), and somehow the system shut off. Tragic, but it happens. Many pro handlers have specially equipped vans and the dogs are often left overnight at shows, while on the road, etc.

I'm sure she's a very competent handler, and is just as upset (or MORE SO) about this than anyone else...

Accidents happen, sometimes we have to suffer for our mistakes. We aren't perfect.... It was a bad judgment call. But nothing needing jail time.

It's a tragic thing, but it has happened before, and it probably will happen again. I know of people that have lost dogs when the AC in the rig went out, or a crate flipped over and the dog suffocated, etc. Things happen.

 

[Cracker]

This is the problem with the media sometimes...no one gets the FULL story. If what TXcollies says is true then the handler did NOT make an error in judgement. But, the article says she left fans on in the van and the windows/door open...this is not the same as A/C. It will be interesting to see if we get the whole story or not.

Either way, whether she is at fault or no, those poor dogs suffered. My heart aches.

 

[Lolas_Dad]

If she was a professional handler and was properly equipped to do so she would have had an RV air conditioner installed in the roof of the van. Then it would have only required her to plug the van AC in. As for the garage being to hot she should have had AC installed in the garage as well.

Just the simple fact of keeping the dogs in the van overnight was irresponsible. How many times have we all heard stories of peoples dogs being stolen from parked vehicles and the people that had the dogs stolen were the owners usually coming from a dog show. Her being a professional handler taking care of other owners dogs should be held to a higher standard because she is the one who is ultimately responsible for the dogs when they are in her care.

The least that should happen to her is that she is never able to be a dog handler again.

 

[pugmom]

This is the problem with the media sometimes...no one gets the FULL story. If what TXcollies says is true then the handler did NOT make an error in judgement. But, the article says she left fans on in the van and the windows/door open...this is not the same as A/C. It will be interesting to see if we get the whole story or not.

Either way, whether she is at fault or no, those poor dogs suffered. My heart aches.

I agree ...there seems to be some conflicting info going round.

Was she at her home?...if she regularly handles show dogs...why would she need to keep them in the garage or the van?..I would think she would have a kennel or other appropriate (climate controlled) area?

if she was on the road and had the proper equipment to take care of the dogs...and this is just the result of faulty equipment...then I think its just a very tragic accident

 

[txcollies]

she might have had temporary 'holding pens' in the garage for when they got in late and she could just shove them in there for awhile. Or while loading, unloading, etc.

I'm sure I'll find out more later on...

 

[Elana55]

The media, in their rush to report, often misses key information in the reported story. The person got in at 1AM (according to the media) and with fans etc. in the dark of night.. all probably was well. Assuming the media got it right.

In the AM the dogs should have been removed b4 the sun was up. It is unclear of her housing arrangements or AC on in the van (sounds like not.. with fans) but there is a lot missing in the story.

I do know that a parked vehicle in a very hot and humid climate will quit cooling pretty quickly and the AC unit may even blow a fuse and stop working.. as Lola's Dad says.. roof top AC unit that plugs into household current.

I am sure that there is a LOT more to this story and I am willing to bet some of it may be incorrect.

Either way, the dogs suffered horribly and died.. and that is at the hands of the person handling them.

More info is really needed I think. I so believe that prevention is 9/10ths of the cure that I find it hard to believe in this being very accidental.. and I say that knowing I may be very wrong.

 

[LoupGarouTFTs]

I traveled with a handler friend of mine I was at a show in Monroe, LA a couple of summers ago. While we were inside, showing the dogs (Chinese Shar Pei, TFT, and a couple of ringside pick up dogs), the breaker for the motor home a/c went out. Both of us had a couple of dogs that were not being shown that day or that had already finished being shown, so there were at least four dogs in the motor home, including a dog that was entered in the match that weekend. *If* we did not have the policy of checking hourly on the dogs, the situation could have been much worse--and if the weather had been a little hotter or if the motor home's second a/c unit had blown too OR if we had not had an extra fan blowing, I'm sure that we could have come back to dead dogs, as well. Accidents happen, even when you take precautions. Personally, if it had been me, I would not have gone to sleep until the dogs were taken care of, but if she took steps that she believed that she had taken precautions to keep the dogs safe and did not simply leave them in a dangerous situation, then I don't see how it could be considered negligence.

 

[txcollies]

Oh, Loup. Monroe is always so HOT. that had to be tough.

 

[Junior]

So so sad

 

[LoupGarouTFTs]

Oh, Loup. Monroe is always so HOT. that had to be tough.

It was pretty awful. We were fortunate that we could move all of the dogs to our grooming area in one of the "tunnels," but it could have been much worse. Despite the near tragedy, though, Monroe remains one of my favorite shows of the year and I try not to miss it.

I forgot to say in my last post that my heart goes out to all of the people who lost dogs. I know someone who lost a lovely Australian Shepherd in a similar incident and even now, several years later, she still feels guilty over sending him out with the handler. Unfortunately, when you send your dog with a handler, you do take risks with your dog and accidental death is one of those risks. Terrible, yes; tragic, yes; but it's one of those things that you have to be prepared for if you relinquish control of one of your pets to anyone.

 

[Puppy_love_122]

Here's another version of the story.

http://www.ksdknewschannel5.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=178553&provider=top
(note the video on the side as well)




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At least she tried to do the right thing and not put them into the garage. This is near me, and let me tell ya, it is hot hot hot here, we have an Excessive Heat Warning. But still, she should had just taken them inside the house.

 

[txcollies]

It was pretty awful. Despite the near tragedy, though, Monroe remains one of my favorite shows of the year and I try not to miss it.

Monroe is a great show. We used to make big majors in smooth collies. We've finished dogs, picked up points and big major reserves there. Now it barely makes a point. So no use going anymore.

 

[Inga]

whether the AC was on or not how sad for the dogs. I would never trust the AC to be left on for a whole night. Anything can go wrong. If she was neglectful or not, I think it is safe to say that will harm her career as a handler. I know I am an over protective spaz but it is stories like these that make me that way. I won't let my dog just go off with a handler or anyone for that matter. I just can't. Those poor dogs, what a horrid way to go.

 

[txcollies]

whether the AC was on or not how sad for the dogs. I would never trust the AC to be left on for a whole night. Anything can go wrong. If she was neglectful or not, I think it is safe to say that will harm her career as a handler. I know I am an over protective spaz but it is stories like these that make me that way. I won't let my dog just go off with a handler or anyone for that matter. I just can't. Those poor dogs, what a horrid way to go.

If you are on the road with 20+ dogs you are not going to take those dogs into a hotel room, and most of the time handlers don't leave them at the show site either. Hence the AC system in the big rigs that allow you to keep dogs in the truck overnight, and even work out of it at shows. It's NOT just your typical car AC. The rigs have some darn nice systems that work very well. But things can still occasionally happen.

I know it's horrible, but accidents do happen. It's part of the business.

 

[Inga]

If you are on the road with 20+ dogs you are not going to take those dogs into a hotel room, and most of the time handlers don't leave them at the show site either. Hence the AC system in the big rigs that allow you to keep dogs in the truck overnight, and even work out of it at shows. It's NOT just your typical car AC. The rigs have some darn nice systems that work very well. But things can still occasionally happen.

I know it's horrible, but accidents do happen. It's part of the business.

That is right. My dogs however, are NOT part of the business. Hence my saying, I am OVER protective. I know accidents can happen but I do my best to keep the odds in my favor. Safety first.

 

[kacaju]

I have to agree with txcollies here. My Aunt showed Labs years ago and her dogs never came in my parents house. If she came down our way for a show the dogs were always in her van. Yes, even overnight.
It is very common and honestly, if the report that it was overnight is correct, then I would not think twice about it.