Readers may recall a “Lost Dog” ad in our March 13, 2024, edition of the paper, asking anyone for information that could lead to the finding of Peppa, at black and tan Beagle mix.

Eira Jackson, Peppa’s owner and ‘mom’ is a resident of Dallas, Texas who decided to use a pet sitting app called Rover to find someone to take care of Peppa while she went on a 6-night trip to Florida, from February 28th through March 5th.

According to Miss Jackson, the sitter’s Rover account stated that she had been a practicing veterinarian for 5 years as well as a dog trainer. The photos posted displayed a well-kept yard that was safe and well secured, preventing the possibility of escape.

Miss Jackson states that on the Rover account, the sitter’s location was listed as Bishop Arts, which is located near downtown Dallas. Upon making reservations, she was informed that the location was actually in Wilmer, Texas, about 20 minutes from her home. Though strange, she decided that it would be ok since it wasn’t too far away.

At about 11:00 a.m. on the morning of February 28th, the sitter arrived at Miss Jackson’s home in Dallas to pick up Peppa for her stay.

Miss Jackson flew to Florida and arrived around 9:00 p.m. that evening; and at about 9:40 p.m., she reached out to the sitter to see how things were going. She received a response about an hour later, stating that Peppa had escaped from the home and into the backyard sometime that afternoon, but that she was fine in the yard and was being watched and tended to.

The next morning, around 11:15 a.m., the sitter contacted Miss Jackson stating that she had last seen Peppa at about 9:00 a.m. that morning and she believed the dog had escaped from the property.

Miss Jackson immediately cut her trip short, booked a flight back to Dallas, and arrived in the early afternoon of March 1st. She contacted the sitter to inform her that she would be coming to the property to search for Peppa.

It was at this point the sitter informed Miss Jackson that the location was in fact NOT in or around Dallas, but rather just East of Fairfield, Texas around County Roads 540 and 536.

“Had I known this, I would not have proceeded with the booking,” Miss Jackson explains. “My heart was broken. Peppa is my baby and means the world to me!”

After many back-and-forth trips from Dallas to Fairfield and back, continuous searching, and a few conflicts with the sitter, Peppa was finally located on March 16th.

Unfortunately, she was found injured. According to Miss Jackson, Peppa was taken to an animal hospital with paralysis in her back end, but she is otherwise ok.

While Miss Jackson is very happy to have her dog returned, she feels that the sitter should be held accountable for what she says is “a clear and direct result of extreme negligence and deceit.”

The moral of the story? Do as much research as possible when entrusting your furry family members to someone else’s care. Ask lots of questions and be very cautious before booking a sitter or facility.

The ‘Times’ will continue to follow this story should anything new develop.

Reporting by Nicole S.

 

Dog Boarding Checklist
From the American Kennel Club
(www.akc.org)

–Contact the kennel or dog sitter well in advance of your trip to schedule a visit for you and your dog.

–Do due diligence. If you’re looking at a commercial dog boarding kennel, find out if they are certified or members of a professional organization. If you’re interviewing an individual, find out how long the person has been dog sitting and how many repeat customers they’ve had. Also, check a few references.

–Find out about immunization requirements. Many kennels will require a Bordetella shot, along with rabies, distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. Are dogs also screened for fleas and ticks?

–Keep an eye out for clean, secure, and sanitary conditions. There should be adequate, securely-fenced exercise areas and sleeping areas with comfortable non-slip surfaces. Are you welcome to visit all areas of the kennel or home that the dog will have access to? Are they secure and free of harmful chemicals?

–Meet the caretakers and observe how they interact with your dog. How many dogs will they care for at one time? How much exercise do the dogs get, and how often are they taken out to eliminate? What type of animal care education and training does the provider have?

–Take stock of provisions made for the comfort of boarders. This includes fresh drinking water, temperature control, ventilation, and shelter.

–Find out what happens if your dog has any healthcare needs or emergencies requiring medication and/or veterinary services. Determine if the pet care provider is certified in pet first-aid.

–Evaluate the staffing situation. Are there proper staff on the premises 24-hours-a-day? Is there an evacuation plan in case of an emergency?

–Observe the handling of the dogs. Is any interaction allowed with other dogs? How well is this supervised?