EAST LONGMEADOW, Mass. - Amy Baxter, a resident of Longmeadow, said she wants to be an advocate for dogs.
She is hopeful the state can pass legislation that will protect them at kennels and daycares. This all comes after her own experience,which led her to realize how legislative oversight could potentially save a dogs life.
Baxter and her daughter got Ollie, an eight-month-old labradoodle, when he was just eight weeks old.
"Ollie is an exuberant puppy and loves to play so we brought him to doggy daycare," Baxter said.
Baxter said her vet recommended it for their pup and thought it would be a good idea. She brought Ollie to Pampered Pets Doggy Daycare and Spa in East Longmeadow.
Baxter said she got a text from a staff member letting her know Ollie was injured.
"He was bitten, ripped apart, broken bones," she said. "He narrowly survived his injuries."
Ollie has been in the hospital for six weeks now and has underwent multiple surgeries. Baxter described Ollie as a fighter, so now Baxter is fighting for a change. She wants to advocate for all the dogs in Massachusetts. She hopes by doing this, it will prevent what happened to Ollie, from happening to another dog.
"What I have come to find out through Ollie's nightmare is that there is no legislative oversight of day cares or kennels and I think if perhaps if there had been regulations in place, it would have spared Ollie," said Baxter.
Baxter went on to say, though that is not guaranteed, more needs to be done now.
"There's a minimal requirement of a kennel license from the town, but that is it," said Baxter.
Spectrum News 1 reached out to the East Longmeadow Town Manager, Mary McNally, who confirmed the only license provided to Pampered Pets was a permit to use the premises. McNally said the special permit was issued by the Planning Department which grants the business access to use their space as a business.
Spectrum News 1 also spoke with Pam Peebles, the director of Thomas J O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center. Peebles said though she can't speak t this particular incident, having legislative oversight of these types of facilities can only help.
"Even in the best regulated and best managed facilities, there will be accidents sadly so we are looking to minimize the risk, bring it down by ensuring each daycare or each groomer is implementing best practices and best standards possible," said Peebles.
A few bills in Senate could do just that. A Senate bill is sponsored by Senator Patrick O'Connor. Representative Brian Ashe is also on board with passing these bills. Senate Bill 510 would require employees to be trained in dog behavior, a staff-to-dog ratio, and other protections for dogs. Baxter said these laws are something she will keep fighting for.
And for Ollie, he still has a long way to go, but is making tremendous progress on. his recovery.
"We are hopeful he will come home soon," said Baxter.