The owner of a northwest suburban doggy daycare is facing charges after a family’s beloved 6-year-old black lab died when he was left inside the company’s van on a scorching day.
Ross Niehaus, the owner of Wheeling-based Waggles Pet Resort, was charged with one count of cruel treatment of animals on Thursday after police received a report that a dog had died in his company’s van, authorities said.
Miller was a 110 pound “perfect” black lab and a “phenomenal family dog,” his owner, Steve Serota, said. “He was happy, exuberant, a ton of energy and loved to snuggle.”
Serota said he got a call from Waggles around 4 p.m. on Wednesday, 7 hours after Miller was picked up by the company he was a regular with for all but the first year of his life.
Waggles’ chauffeur service picks pets up and takes them to the company’s facility, located at 419 Harvester Court in Wheeling, that is described as veterinary recommended “premiere resort for pets,” with private suite overnight care, training and dog grooming services.
“Part of our goal at Waggles is to make life easier for pet parents,” the resort website said. “That’s why we offer a safe and convenient chauffeur service to and from your home and our resort. Our temperature-controlled transport van is spacious, secure and comfortable. Let us chauffeur your pet in style.”
Serota said on the call he was told that Miller was left in the sweltering van all day. Wheeling was under a heat advisory as temperatures rose into the 90s and heat indices into the triple digits while Miller was left inside.
“Knowing what it must’ve been like for him to be in there is absolutely heartbreaking,” Serota said. “Dogs depend on you to protect them.”
Especially given Miller’s size, Serota said he still doesn’t understand how he could have been left behind and for so long.
“He’s loud. He’s big, he’s right at your eye level. And the fact of the matter, if they missed him there, how did they not know he was not there the whole day?” Serota said. “It does not make sense how something like this could happen. When I walked up to that van, the first thing you see, he is in the first crate. He is literally the first thing you see when you open that up. It doesn’t compute as to how someone could leave him there. And leave him there for hours.”
Serota said the “only thing” he cares about now is to ensure other families don’t endure the same heartbreak his has.
“There was a gross amount of negligence here that could ever allow something like this to happen, from my perspective those safeguards need to be implemented immediately to ensure that nothing like this could ever happen again,” he said.
Miller was an “integral” part of the Serota family, so much so that they even have a pillow in his shape that the Serota kids take to camp.
“The only thing I really care about here is making sure people are aware that things like this can happen, so they never happen again,” Serota said.
Niehaus’ next court appearance is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 25.
Waggles Pet Resort told NBC Chicago it had no comment when asked on Thursday evening.
Hence then, the article about owner of suburban pet daycare faces charges after dog left in scorching van dies was published today ( ) and is available on NBC Chicago ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Owner of suburban pet daycare faces charges after dog left in scorching van dies )
Also on site :
- Louis Partridge & Anson Boon Set For British Coming-Of-Age Film ‘Andy & Orson’; MetFilm Launches Sales For TIFF Market
- Anna Foglietta on Working With Alba Rohrwacher on Venice Drama ‘A Common Story’ ‘You Have to Have the Guts to Show Yourself Exactly as You Are’ — Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)
- Migrants accused of beating baby dolphin to death in Spain (VIDEO)