A couple has told of their heartbreak after their Dalmatian puppy was killed at a doggy daycare earlier this year.
Emma Gee, 34, and her husband fell in love with their Liverspot Dalmatian Taylor and said she was their "baby" who was "loved to the ends of the earth".
On January 27, Emma received a call from Heronswood Canine Retreat, also known as A&T Trained Dogs, in Lancaster that their 10-month-old puppy had been killed in their care.
They were told Taylor was involved in an incident with an older dog which resulted in the death of their puppy.
She told LancsLive : "Despite CCTV cameras being dotted round; when officially asked by myself I was told there was no footage."
The Lounge Doggy Day-Care is the largest dog care facility in the North West and is for owners who may be "out at work all day".
Dogs are dropped off in the morning and then picked up in the evening.
Emma said: "Taylor was a Liverspot Dalmatian puppy. She was our little girl and our very best friend. She came everywhere with us and life revolved around her and spending time together.
"e don’t have children, she was our baby - loved to the ends of the earth and she wanted for nothing."
She continued: "We have patiently and painfully waited and now Lancaster City Council has concluded its investigations.
"We really appreciate how seriously they have taken it."
She explained: "We do not wish any other fur baby mummy and daddies to go through what we have suffered over the last six months.
"Our hearts are broken - the worst experience of our lives and something which I do not think either of us will ever get over.
"Dog owners make wiser choices than the one we made - don’t be fooled by marketing campaigns or buildings that appear fancy. We love you, Taylor."
Emma said that on July 28 the council's licensing committee concluded several conditions of the day care's licence had been breached.
A spokesperson for A&T Trained Dogs said: "A&T Trained Dogs notes the decision of Lancaster County Council of 28 July 2022 under which six out of nine specific allegations of breaches of Conditions were accepted by the Council as not proven.
"A&T Trained Dogs admitted that there had been an inadvertent breach of one technical condition. The council found on the balance of probabilities that two further conditions had been breached. Whilst A&T Trained Dogs dispute the findings in respect of those two conditions, they do not intend to pursue the matter further.
"A&T Trained Dogs do not accept that the Council imposed formal sanctions, rather the Council imposed additional conditions on the licence that confirmed measures that were already in place at their business.
"A&T Trained Dogs and their staff members were devastated at the tragic accident that occurred on 27 January 2022. They do not accept that the breach of the condition was in any way connected to the tragic events in which a dog was injured. They do not seek to apportion blame for this tragic accident and their thoughts are with the owners of the animals involved.
"With award-winning facilities and the highest animal welfare standards, A&T Trained Dogs look forward to working with the Council, their loyal customers and their animals in the development of their business."
Councillor Colin Hartley, chair of the licensing committee, told The Mirror: “This was a tragic case and our sympathies go to Mr and Mrs Gee for the loss they have suffered.
"Following a lengthy investigation, a report was considered by the council’s licensing committee, who decided to issue a warning to the licence holder and strengthen the licensing conditions.
"A requirement was also imposed that will require that when renewal of the operator licences becomes due, this will need to be considered by the committee rather than licencing officers.
"To check licensing conditions are being complied with, the committee also agreed that unannounced visits by officers should take place on the establishment every three months for the next 12 months.”
The Mirror contacted A&T Trained Dogs for a comment.
