A Maryland couple is suing a kennel after one of their toy
poodles was killed by a much larger dog.
The Klionskys of Bethesda boarded their toy poodle puppies
Pumpkin and his apricot-colored sister Peanut at Life of Riley in Rockville in
November to take a trip to Paris. They returned two days later when they
learned their 5-pound Peanut was dead.
“I was totally devastated,” Yumi Klionsky said. “I couldn't
eat for a week. I cried every single day.”
“She still cries,” said her husband, Mark.
The couple was told their little dogs would be kept
separate from big dogs, Mark Klionsky said.
“They let the small dogs out into the same area as the
large dogs to relieve themselves,” he said. “During that time, our puppy Peanut
was attacked and killed by a hundred-pound bull mastiff.”
Life of Riley owner Paul Abbott said they dedicate their
lives to taking care of animals but had an incident and want to make it right.
The Klionskys are suing the kennel for $17,600 in damages
-- the money from their lost trip and previous medical bills for Peanut. They
said they are suing for negligence; the money isn't important.
They want all dog owners who send their dogs to the
facility to know about the tragedy.
At first, Yumi Klionsky couldn't think about replacing
Peanut, but then the breeder heard about the loss of Peanut and allowed the
Klionskys to adopt her sister from the same litter, Pinot.
“She's a small version of Peanut,” Yumi Klionsky said. “She
has her own character, and I would like to respect and take proper care and
give lots of love.”
