Families Devastated After 21 Dogs Die At Local Boarding Facility

3 days ago 7

Community Mourns After 21 Dogs Die at New York Boarding Facility

Families across Upstate New York are grieving after a devastating tragedy at Anastasia’s Acres Dog Boarding Facility in Argyle. Authorities confirmed that 21 dogs lost their lives this past weekend while staying at the facility, leaving only one survivor who was rushed to a local veterinary clinic for emergency care.

Among the heartbroken families are Leah and Robert Brown, who had left their eight-month-old pup, Rex, in the facility’s care before taking a short trip to New Hampshire. Just one day later, they received a call from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office telling them Rex was among the dogs who had died. Fighting back tears, Leah described her loss: “He was such a good boy, he was only eight months old. It’s like losing a child.”

Investigators have not yet confirmed the cause of death, but the Browns were told that a possible central air system malfunction may have led to suffocation during the night. The news was particularly painful for their daughter, Melanie Scoville, who had arranged the trip for her parents. She explained that her mother had hesitated to get another dog for years because of the grief of losing pets in the past—making this tragedy even harder to bear.

The Browns said they had paid extra for daily photo updates of Rex. They received one on Saturday, but when no update came on Sunday, Leah grew uneasy. Her worst fears were realized when she learned what had happened. Now their home is filled with reminders of Rex—his toys, his bed, and his playful spirit—making the loss feel unbearable.

The facility, once praised in customer reviews, has announced on Facebook that it will remain closed until further notice. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the owners are cooperating with the investigation. Authorities are asking anyone with information to come forward as they work to determine exactly what went wrong.

The Browns now plan to cremate Rex and honor his memory, though the pain of his absence weighs heavily on them. Leah described the hardest part: “The hardest part is going home and all his stuff is there. All his toys. Everything.”

For families across Argyle and beyond, this tragedy serves as a sobering reminder of how deeply pets are woven into family life—and how devastating it is when they are suddenly taken away.

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