Congressman Introduces Bill to Hold Pet Boarding Facilities Accountable

Pet owners in California may soon have the legal right to sue boarding and training facilities if their animals are harmed or killed while in their care. Representative James Gallagher introduced a bill on Tuesday that would change how the state handles these cases. The measure responds to a specific incident that gained national attention and a separate investigation in Northern California.

The bill, titled Dunkin’s Law, is named after a Bernese mountain dog that died in August. The legislation expands the state’s Animal Welfare Act. It explicitly classifies pets held at certain facilities as sentient beings. Under the new rules, owners could bring legal action to recover damages and other lost expenses. The law would also apply to facilities that care for companion animals.

Gallagher, a Republican from California, cited two events that prompted the introduction of the bill. The first was a discovery in June by Humboldt County sheriff’s investigators. They found mass burial sites at an animal rescue facility in Northern California. Officials recovered the intact remains of 117 dogs. Skeletal remains of other animals were also found. Preliminary examinations of some of the dogs showed evidence of gunshot wounds.

The second event involved the couple Andrew Fedyk and Madeleine White Fedyk. In August, they reported that their dog Dunkin died at Smart Dogs Training in Los Angeles. The facility is owned and operated by trainer Jeff Todd. The couple had left their two dogs there for basic leash training while they vacationed in Europe. Todd told Fedyk that Dunkin died after showing signs of heat exhaustion. He said the dogs had been playing outside during a heat wave.

Fedyk stated that Todd did not take Dunkin to a veterinarian. The other dog, Poutine, was returned to the family unharmed. The couple has nearly 2.5 million followers on social media. They shared Dunkin’s story, which led to numerous reports from other owners describing similar experiences at pet care facilities. Fedyk said he spoke with Gallagher about the lack of recourse available to them.

Gallagher said the bill aims to create strong disincentives for bad actors in the industry. He wants to ensure that no-kill shelters do not euthanize animals in what he described as horrific ways. The representative stated that the law would give owners a path to seek justice. It would also strengthen accountability for unlawful euthanasia at rescues and shelters.

Los Angeles Animal Services began investigating the incident involving Dunkin in August. The agency did not respond to a request for more information on Tuesday. Los Angeles police declined to provide recent records for 911 calls and police reports related to Todd’s address. They cited an open investigation. Todd did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. He had previously declined to comment on the case in August.