A woman said she "couldn't even cry" after seeing CCTV footage that appears to show her late dog, Lou Lou, being suspended and carried by the neck.
Wendy Thomas, from Great Sutton, said she "couldn't even cry" out of "shock" after she watched a CCTV video that surfaced earlier this month. The video appeared to show her dog, Lou Lou, "squeal in pain" after being lifted and carried by the neck.
The video is believed to have been taken at the Home from Home Dog Retreat in Ellesmere Port, run by Amanda Le Bretton. Le Bretton has since had her licence to run a dog home, boarding or day care business revoked by Cheshire West and Chester Council.
READ MORE: Dog sitter loses licence as RSPCA investigate video of pets being 'hit and kicked'
An investigation was started by the RSCPA into the alleged mistreatment of dogs at the dog retreat. This investigation has now been handed over to Cheshire West and Chester Council and is ongoing.
Wendy, who said she left two dogs, Lou Lou and Poppy, at Home from Home Dog Retreat over the past "six-plus" years, told the ECHO : "My husband has still not seen [the video].
"He can't even watch it, he said to me don't even tell me what's in it because he can't bear it.
"It was just horrific, absolutely horrific. I couldn't even cry at the time. I didn't cry for about a day and a half, because it's like shock- I was numb.
"My husband kept saying it feels like it's not real. It's like its something that you hear about but has nothing to do with you.
"I realised in the video that the more Lou Lou is called the more the caller becomes irate because Lou Lou turns and runs from the voice.
"But [the woman in the video] didn't realise the little dog couldn't see. She was blind, she was trying to find a way to the voice".
Wendy said that Lou Lou passed away "not more than eight weeks ago", which made the video particularly unbearable. Lou Lou's death was not linked to her treatment at Home from Home Dog Retreat.
She said that Lou Lou was the second dog she had kept at Home from Home Dog Retreat, the first being Poppy, a 14-year-old Chihuahua-Maltese cross who died "within two days" of being collected from the dog retreat.
Wendy says Poppy died after getting a chest infection which could have been a result of her stay at Home from Home Dog Retreat.
She said: "I lost a little dog shortly after bringing them home from Home from Home. I have been using another dog sitter this year so I'd already stopped using [the boarding service] when the videos came out.
"She was called Poppy and she was almost 14. Poppy had a chest infection when I came back home.
"I just wasn't happy that Poppy went there bouncing and full of health, then came back and within two days of picking her up I'd lost her".
When approached by the ECHO, Amanda Le Bretton did not wish to comment.
Cheshire West and Chester Council's deputy leader, Cllr Karen Shore said: "We take all complaints about our licensed animal boarding premises very seriously. We urge owners to always check that any home boarder they use is licensed by the Council as this ensures that regular checks are made on the business and that officers have the powers to fully investigate any allegations made"
The council told the ECHO they are unable to comment further on an ongoing investigation.
Any concerned dog owners who have used Home from Home Dog Retreat are asked to contact the Council at: regulatoryservices@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
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