Pennsylvania authorities and the PSPCA are investigating RC Dog Care in Warminster after there were two dog deaths in the past month.
When Pauline Sazon and her husband James left for their honeymoon, they boarded their beloved dog, Bunny. They say they never saw her alive again.
"They never told us there was anything wrong with her until it was too late," said Pauline.
She says that about two weeks into the trip, they learned on a call that Bunny had not eaten for days and needed life-saving treatment.
"This all happened within minutes, and you know, we're on our honeymoon, we want to see our dog again. So we did try to have her transferred to the hospital. She didn't make it there," she said.
Bunny died of kidney failure. At first, the couple quietly grieved until they learned another dog died last week in the care of the same kennel.
"She was such a sweet dog and it breaks my heart to imagine how much pain she was in that last day," said Brooke Anderson, whose family dog, Phoebe, died last week.
Brooke was with her family down the shore. On Friday, she says the owner told them he was taking Phoebe to the vet. The next call was from the doctor.
"It was a nightmare of a call. I mean, they were saying, 'Phoebe is not OK.' They think she suffered a heat stroke; her temperature was 108.4," she said.
Phoebe died last Friday of heat stroke.
The owner of RC Dog Care tells us she was outside for no more than 20 minutes before her symptoms started.
A vet tells us depending on the size and health of the dog, it can be long enough.
Both families have since been in contact with the county dog warden, who did an unexpected inspection Thursday.
A spokesperson for RC Dog Care said in a statement in part, "We are fully cooperating with state authorities in their investigation and have formally requested permission to share the findings once the review is complete. We will be transparent in doing so, as it is our belief that open communication builds trust and accountability."
Still, both families want more answers after coming back from vacation to empty homes.
"We'll never know if it was something that could have been prevented, and she could still be with us today," said Pauline.
A spokesperson for RC Dog Care also extended condolences to the family, said the loss of both dogs is devastating, and is asking the public to stop threatening the center and its staff.
Read the full statement released on behalf of RC Dog Care:
"We want to take a moment to express our deep appreciation to those who have reached out directly to discuss recent events and share their concerns. We are grateful for the opportunity to speak with you openly and honestly.
At RC Dog Care, we understand the seriousness of the recent tragedies and the emotions they have understandably stirred. The loss of two dogs in our care has deeply affected our entire team, and we continue to extend our heartfelt condolences to the families involved. These incidents were devastating to us as caregivers, and we are committed to learning everything we can from what occurred.
We have always prioritized the safety, well-being, and enrichment of the dogs entrusted to us. We take that responsibility with the utmost seriousness, and we understand the trust our clients place in us.
We are fully cooperating with state authorities in their investigation and have formally requested permission to share the findings once the review is complete. We will be transparent in doing so, as it is our belief that open communication builds trust and accountability.
We also want to address the wave of threatening phone calls, emails, and social media messages that have come in over the past several days. While we respect everyone's right to voice their concerns, we ask that those conversations be conducted in a respectful and constructive manner. Harassment and threats-particularly toward our team members-do not support a productive dialogue and only deepen the hurt for all involved.
In the meantime, we are conducting a thorough internal review of all procedures, training protocols, and communications. We are also consulting with outside experts to further enhance the safety and transparency of our operations moving forward.
We remain committed to our mission: to provide a safe, loving, and enriching environment for every dog in our care. We appreciate the continued support and understanding from the community and will keep everyone informed as we work to move forward with honesty, responsibility, and care."