A Long Island family's routine boarding arrangement has spiralled into a nightmare, triggering a police investigation and raising serious questions about pet care standards. The incident centres on Romeo, a beloved family dog who did not survive a short stay at a local kennel.
The distressing sequence of events began when the Drozdov family collected their four-year-old Shih Tzu from the Shake a Paw facility in Lindenhurst. They were immediately handed a carrier with their pet's lifeless body inside. The kennel's explanation—that Romeo had simply failed to wake up from a nap—was met with disbelief and horror.
A Trail of Mismanagement and Evasion
Upon receiving the devastating news, the family's grief quickly turned to suspicion. The kennel's staff reportedly offered no immediate explanation or apology. Even more alarmingly, the facility could not provide any documentation or details about a veterinarian being contacted at the time of the incident.
Further deepening the mystery, the family discovered that the kennel had listed their phone number incorrectly in its records, suggesting a critical administrative failure. This error meant they could not be notified of any emergency while Romeo was in the facility's care.
Post-Mortem Reveals Shocking Truth
Seeking answers, the Drozdov family had a necropsy performed on Romeo. The results were damning. The report indicated that the dog had been deceased for several hours before the family was notified, directly contradicting the kennel's version of events.
Furthermore, the examination found Romeo's stomach to be completely empty, pointing towards a prolonged period without food. These findings have become the cornerstone of a potential criminal case, with the Suffolk County Police Department's Animal Cruelty Investigation Unit now leading a probe into the matter.
Kennel's Response and Ongoing Fallout
In the wake of the incident, Shake a Paw Lindenhurst has publicly stated that it is conducting its own internal investigation. The company has emphasised that the individual employees involved are no longer with the organisation.
However, for the Drozdov family, these actions are too little, too late. They are channelling their grief into advocacy, determined to ensure no other pet owner endures a similar tragedy. Their case has ignited a broader conversation about regulation and oversight within the pet boarding industry, highlighting a critical need for transparency and accountability.
