Last August, a dog hotel in Rioseco de Valladolid was the scene of a tragic event: a pit bull, weighing about 30 kilos, managed to break through the barrier of its cabin and fatally attacked a Maltese bichon named Toby, who barely weighed five kilos. The small canine, who was hiding under his bed out of fear, had no escape from the pit bull’s strength.
The hotel, which boasted of offering individual rooms for pets, equipped with padded beds, feeding bowls, terraces and surveillance camera systems active 24 hours a day, could not foresee or prevent this unfortunate event. As reported by Diario de Valladolid, the recordings show that the pit bull tirelessly bit the bars that separated both spaces until gaining access to the Maltese bichon’s cabin.
Toby’s owners, who had decided to trust the dog hotel while on vacation in the United States, received the devastating news just three days after leaving their pet at the establishment. They had chosen this place for its facilities that seemed to guarantee safety and comfort. Furthermore, on previous visits, Toby had already been to the Hotel Canino Rioseco, so there was no reason to suspect that anything could go wrong.
And furthermore, the bichon’s family had made a specific request to the hotel: that Toby not be around large dogs due to his fear of them. The pit bull’s owner had even warned those responsible about the aggressive nature of his pet and suggested that he be left muzzled so that he would not have any confrontations with anyone.
If we stop to consider the incident, it is evident that the pit bull showed aggressive and persistent behavior, managing to break the bars of its cabin and gain access to the Maltese bichon’s space. However, if the pit bull had been muzzled, as its owner had requested, its strength and ability to bite and break the bars would have been significantly reduced. In other words, the muzzle could have prevented the little dog’s death.
Toby’s owners have expressed their pain and frustration, not only over the loss of their beloved dog, but also over the inconsistencies in accounts of how the attack occurred. As a result of this event, which they have described as “a murder”, they have filed a complaint with the Civil Guard. Furthermore, they point out that they have not been reimbursed for the amount paid for their stay, which amounts to more than 200 euros.
In parallel, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development of Castilla y León, after reviewing the case, has decided to open a disciplinary file against the dog hotel.