COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — A North Idaho dog kennel is shuttered as police investigate possible abuse and neglect. The sign outside Faithful K9 Trainer in Coeur d'Alene gives part of the story, telling visitors the kennel and dog training facility is closed. The city has also pulled its business license after a dog died from heat, according to Coeur d'Alene Police.
The loss is still surreal for Tiffaney Price-Eddington's family.
"Definitely part of the family," she said Tuesday, pointing out pictures of their 13-year-old retriever mix, Bellatrix.
She remembers the dog that didn't chase their backyard rabbits, but would get the "zoomies."
"She was still really vibrant, still very much alive," Price-Eddington said.
Thursday, July 18, she says they dropped off their three dogs at Faithful K9, same as they often did over a weekend. The family had boarded their three dogs there several times since they moved to north Idaho in March 2022; Price-Eddington said they'd never had an issue before.
That Saturday they picked up the dogs and noticed something was wrong.
Price-Eddington said the woman who brought the dogs out mentioned the dogs were hot and old. She says two of the dogs were panting hard, but when Bellatrix was brought out it was obvious she was in distress.
“She was in really bad condition, she was past panting. Already labored breathing, could barely walk," Price-Eddington said. "I already knew she was starting to pass.”
Bellatrix passed at home hours later surrounded by her people.
Tiffaney called the vet, who told her to call police.
Animal control visited the kennel July 24 and found some concerning issues.
KREM 2 obtained the police report, which cites several suggested charges including for violating ordinances for food and water, sanitation, and the standards of the facility inside and out.
"Based on the symptoms Tiffaney described to me that her dogs had experienced, I had immediate concerns for the dogs remaining at the facility," one animal control officer writes. "They failed to provide the dogs within the indoor and outdoor kennels access to clean and drinkable water. The outdoor runs did not have adequate shelter from the weather, because of this the animals in the outdoor runs were digging holes in the dirt attempting to seek cooler ground."
Two animal control officers visited the kennel later that day after telling staff to provide water and shelter for the dogs; they found while dogs had been brought inside, there was still little water left out for them.
The kennel was shut down the next day; animal control officers noted several issues were still not addressed.
"One dog in particular, a female beagle who still appeared lethargic. (Oftentimes when we approach dogs who are contained in a kennel they will stand up and bark aggressively as we are strangers to them) I bent down to ensure the beagle was not in need of medical attention and after several seconds I was able to get her to lift her head up. I verified she had no access to water still, and this was over 24 hours since I had seen her last," the officer wrote.
KREM 2 could not reach the kennel owners for comment.
"She was always there for him," Price-Eddington said as she pointed out a picture of Bellatrix comforting her son after a lost baseball game. "Yeah, that was his dog.”
For Tiffaney, the loss is even harder because the family’s spontaneous trip was to say goodbye to her sons' dying grandmother.
"Had her for 13 years. He’s only 17 so he doesn’t have a memory without her," she said. "I mean, that was his Bell Bell and for the boys to lose their grandma that Friday and their dog the next day, it’s just been really hard.”
Photos and memories are all that can comfort now, along with the faith that justice may come too.
"I just want someone to be held accountable for the neglect," Price-Eddington said. "I didn’t understand. I still don’t understand how they could neglect a dog that’s beyond panting. I just don’t understand.”