Couple seeks answers after dog was killed at training facility.Photo:ABC7NY/Youtube
ABC7NY/Youtube
A couple is mourning the loss of their5-month-old puppyafter he died in the care of a dog training facility.
Miranda Wisell and Vincent Pedone of Bellmore, New York say their Italian greyhound named Obi died on Thanksgiving while left unattended and unmonitored overnight at a dog training facility, perABC 7.
Obi was enrolled in a three-week course atK9 Mania Dog Trainingin Deer Park on Long Island. However, after business hours, a flexi-hose ruptured, allowing frigid water to empty into Obi’s enclosure for approximately five hours. He was discovered dead the next day.
Wisell and Pedone, who are both Hofstra law students, tell PEOPLE that have representation and are considering taking legal action against K9 Mania Dog Training.
In a statement to PEOPLE on Saturday, Pedone and Wisell said their “5-month-old puppy was tortured with freezing cold water for hours straight."
K9 Mania Dog Training had cameras inside its facilities, but no one was monitoring the feed overnight. Surveillance footage showed a continuous stream of water being sprayed onto Obie kennel, which he was locked inside.
Pedone and Wisell described the incident as “sickening” and also accused the training facility and its owner, Elliot Rosenberg, of “sweeping [the situation] under the rug.”
dogs in the dog shelter – stock image.Getty
Getty
“It is ridiculous that it took the news and social media to even have the facility address what they have done,” Obi’s owners told PEOPLE. The couple also claimed that Rosenberg “sent us a personal $100 check for our ‘troubles,’” adding, “We aren’t doing anything with their insurance after that disrespect.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
PEOPLE also spoke with Rosenberg, who issued a statement “accepting full responsibility” for Obi’s death.
“We want to assure you that the incident with Obi was unintentional. Despite this, we accept full responsibility and are dedicated to learning from this experience to further improve our services,” Rosenberg said.
“We wish to express our profound regret for the incident. It has deeply affected our team of dedicated employees and their families, and for that, we sincerely apologize. The well-being of the dogs in our care is of paramount importance to us, and although we have numerous safety measures in place, we have taken immediate action to reinforce our protocols to ensure such an incident never occurs again,” he added.
Dogs in kennels – stock image.Getty
“K9 Mania has a proud history of successfully training over 4,000 dogs. Our passion for and commitment to enhancing the lives of dogs and their owners is evident in the countless positive reviews and referrals we receive daily,” the company told PEOPLE.
source: people.com
