Dog Dies After Attack at Unlicensed Boarding Facility in Redding

REDDING, CT — Commissioner Steven K. Reviczky of the Connecticut Department of Agriculture is warning pet owners to be vigilant about ensuring their animals are being cared for in a licensed facility inspected by the Department of Agriculture after a Havanese dog was killed at a Redding boarding facility.

Kathryn Stergue, owner of Katie’s Critter Care in Redding, was charged last week in connection to an incident in which one of her dogs attacked and killed a 15-pound Havanese that was being boarded at her business while its owners were on vacation.

Stergue was arrested by Animal Control Officers from the Department of Agriculture and charged with cruelty to animals, operating a commercial kennel without a license, failure to vaccinate a dog for rabies and failure to license a dog after the June 16 incident, according to the Department of Agriculture.

Stergue, 49, advertised her 562 Redding Road business on Facebook and claimed it was licensed and insured, but state records show the business was not licensed as a commercial kennel as required by law, which would have triggered inspections by the Department of Agriculture, Reviczky said.

Stergue, a dental hygienist, described herself on her Yellow Pages business profile page by saying that she has been handling animals all of her life. "No critter is too creepy for her. Katie has cared for animals such as cats, dogs, ferrets, rabbits, mice, snakes and many, many more." She also said that she exercises at the gym regularly to "keep in the best shape to care for your pets."

“This case shows the need for pet owners to be wary of home-based boarding businesses, many that are advertised on social media and national websites, and to do their own homework when it comes to trusting someone with the care of their pets,” said Ray Connors, supervisor of the department’s animal control division.

The owner of the dog that was killed, Suli Fassler, told officers that her family had boarded their two dogs with Stergue several other times without incident.

"Our entire family is devastated and has been ever since learning about the attack and killing of our dog," Fassler told Patch.

Her two dogs were dropped off for boarding on June 10 and were to be picked up on June 22, and the she learned of the dog’s death when she received a call from Stergue just before 10 p.m. on June 21, according to Department of Agriculture officials. The family immediately went to Stergue’s house and retrieved their deceased dog, “Romi,” as well as their other dog.

Stergue admitted to department officers that one of her “big dogs” was responsible for the death of Fassler's Havanese. Stergue told officers that her dog “Jacob,” a 4-year-old neutered mixed-breed male, was responsible for the attack and had been taken by a friend to be euthanized by a veterinarian.

Fassler said that Stergue had told her that Jacob did not do well with other dogs and would be kept away from her dogs while at the facility. She could not provide the name of the veterinarian, and officers have not been able to confirm that the dog was euthanized.

Stergue had bandages on one of her arms at the time stemming from bites she sustained in the incident. She was advised by officers to seek medical attention because she was bitten by a dog that should have been subsequently quarantined and tested for rabies. She could not provide documentation that Jacob or either of her other two dogs had received rabies vaccinations.

Stergue is free on $500 bond and is to appear in Danbury Superior Court on Aug. 25.

Potential customers can check if a pet boarding, “day care” or grooming facility is licensed by visiting https://www.elicense.ct.gov.

Photo by Rob MacIlreith via Flickr Creative Commons