DJ Demands Answers After Dog Dies
Andrew Fedyk, one half of the electronic music duo Loud Luxury, is demanding answers after his 2 year old Bernese Mountain Dog died while in the care of a Los Angeles dog trainer.
The death of Fedyk’s dog, Dunkin, has triggered an investigation by Los Angeles Animal Services. Fedyk says he wants to know exactly what happened to his dog and whether proper precautions were taken while Dunkin was being boarded and trained.
A Costly Training Program
Fedyk and his wife, Madeleine White, placed their two Bernese Mountain Dogs in a board and train program as they prepared to travel to Europe following the birth of their first child.
The couple reportedly paid about $10,000 for the four week program through Smart Dogs Training Academy, a Los Angeles area dog training business operated by Jeff Todd.
Fedyk said he researched the company before making the decision and met with the trainer. He expected the dogs to receive behavioral and obedience training while staying under professional supervision.
Instead, the family received devastating news shortly after the dogs entered the program.
Dunkin Died Shortly After Entering Training
According to Fedyk, Dunkin had been in the trainer’s care for only about 36 to 48 hours when he was told the dog had died.
Fedyk has alleged that the dogs were taken outside during a period of extreme heat, with temperatures approaching 100 degrees in the Los Angeles area.
He said the dogs were taken to a park in Sherman Oaks before staff decided the heat was too intense and began transporting them to another location.
During the transportation, Fedyk said, Dunkin began experiencing signs consistent with heat exhaustion and ultimately died.
The circumstances have left Fedyk questioning why the dog was not immediately taken to a veterinarian if staff believed he was suffering from a potentially life threatening heat related condition.
Family Wants To Know What Happened
Fedyk has said he was not satisfied with the explanation he received about Dunkin’s death.
He has questioned how long Dunkin was exposed to the heat, what temperatures the dog experienced, what emergency measures were taken and why veterinary care was apparently not sought immediately.
The family plans to have Dunkin undergo a necropsy in an effort to determine the cause of death.
Fedyk has also contacted law enforcement and animal welfare officials as he seeks an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.
Other Dog Owners Raise Concerns
The situation became more complicated after Fedyk said other dog owners contacted him with allegations involving the same trainer.
According to reports, several families came forward claiming their dogs had died in circumstances they considered concerning while under the company’s care.
Those allegations have not been independently proven, and there has been no official finding establishing that the reported deaths were connected.
Still, the number of people who contacted Fedyk has added urgency to his calls for authorities to examine the business and its practices.
Animal Services Investigates
Los Angeles Animal Services has confirmed that it is investigating a complaint involving Dunkin’s death.
The agency has not publicly determined whether wrongdoing occurred, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Animal welfare officials generally advise pet owners to inspect boarding facilities before leaving their animals in someone’s care. That includes asking about supervision, emergency procedures, veterinary access and how animals are protected during periods of extreme weather.
For dogs particularly vulnerable to heat, those precautions can be critical.
No Criminal Charges Announced
There have been no announced criminal charges against the trainer in connection with Dunkin’s death.
The trainer and Smart Dogs Training Academy have also faced questions about the allegations. Reports have indicated that attempts to obtain a response from the business were unsuccessful.
At this stage, the investigation and any forthcoming necropsy could provide important answers about what caused Dunkin’s death and whether the care he received contributed to it.
For Fedyk and his family, however, the investigation is also about accountability.
Dunkin was not simply a dog they had hired someone to train. He was a member of their family, and they are now asking why a program that cost thousands of dollars ended with their dog dead.
The allegations remain under investigation, and no finding of wrongdoing has been established against the trainer or business.
