Social media activity surrounding the Cape Cod Dog Center in Mashpee is surging, with voices speaking out with concerns regarding the business at Evergreen Circle.
After a Newfoundland dog named Mo died at the center during Labor Day weekend, clients and former employees began speaking out about alleged neglect and abuse that they or their pets have faced at the boarding facility.
Two investigations relating to complaints received have been launched by Mashpee Animal Control Officer Donald G. Chiccione; one which has been finalized and another that is still underway.
“There was one initial investigation into the death of the dog Mo, the Newfoundland. …the initial complaint was made and then what ended up happening was a lot of people started calling in,” said Mashpee Police Chief Scott Carline in an interview this week. “There was a big social media push.”
Police Find No Wrongdoing
Chief Carline said that the police department received many calls both supporting the dog center and stating concerns with the dog center. The investigation into Mo’s death has been finalized, he said, and no criminal activity or negligence was found in that investigation.
“The entire investigation with Mo, I assigned this to Detective Sergeant Michael Cook. He works a number of sexual assaults; he’s covering stabbings. This was one of his cases as well,” Chief Carline said. “He did numerous interviews. And not only did he review it, I reviewed it. The entire team here reviewed it. We forwarded this to the District Attorney’s office for their review. We sent this to the MSPCA for their review. We are very confident there is nothing there criminally—which, again, is the only aspect we have when it comes to this.”
Mo, an 8-year old Newfoundland, died at Cape Cod Dog Center when owners Cassie and Peter Lemire were traveling during Labor Day weekend. According to Dr. Jonathan Leach of Leach Animal Hospital, Mo died from gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), or bloat. Bloat is a medical condition in dogs of larger breeds in which a dog’s stomach fills with gas, food and fluids until their stomach twists.
According to Ms. Lemire, Mo was showing signs of distress throughout the day that went unnoticed by employees, including excessive panting and pacing. By 4 AM, Mo’s stomach flipped and he died at the dog center at a time when there were no overnight employees.
“He was so anxious, overheated and exhausted,” Ms. Lemire told the Enterprise over the phone last Thursday, December 5. “His behavior was exhibiting direct signs of distress. His stomach was full of gasses from being dehydrated and overheated, and being anxious and alone for nine hours in a kennel.”
Ms. Lemire said that her only rule in turning over her two Newfoundlands to Cape Cod Dog Center owner Kailey Cullin for boarding that Labor Day weekend was that her dogs not be kenneled for any reason. After Mo’s death, Ms. Lemire said, she watched—at her home with Ms. Cullin present—the 10-hour video footage of Mo leading up to his death at the center.
“We’ve cared for hundreds, if not thousands of dogs over 10 years at this point being in business, and this has never happened before,” Ms. Cullin said during a phone interview on Wednesday, December 4. “It was an unfortunate timing situation where the dog was after-hours in a boarding facility and he passed away when no one was there to see if he was having any symptoms.”
Ms. Cullen said that she reported Mo’s death to Mashpee’s animal control officer, and an investigation was immediately launched. The investigation took about two months.
“We were found not negligent and of no criminal activity,” Ms. Cullen said. “We did nothing wrong. It was just a really unfortunate thing.”
Ms. Cullin said that Cape Cod Dog Center has passed all inspections conducted by Mashpee’s Department of Health and Mr. Chiccione, and that both officials conducted their inspections on the business unannounced. She added that her insurance has also stated that Mo’s death was not a result of the dog center.
“The owner will claim a lot of things, such as we don’t have training, we’re negligent or we’re ignorant, but none of that is true. We run a really transparent business,” Ms. Cullin said over the phone. “This is my career. This is everything that I do. It’s just a really unfortunate situation that exploded into a very emotional public situation. That would not have been my preference but, you know, we’re here now. I’ll stand up for my business, try to make things more transparent so that people in the community can see for themselves and make their own determinations.”
The Public Weighs In
In addition to being the subject of public comment at a recent Mashpee Select Board meeting, the situation has garnered attention online—specifically Facebook, where Ms. Lemire told her story and other users shared the Enterprise’s coverage of the select board meeting to local resident groups. The posts have garnered several comments, some of which include patrons’ stories and pictures allegedly taken inside the facility.
Ms. Cullin said that her employees are afraid of losing their jobs after seeing everything on social media. She said that she does not feel safe at the current moment either, telling the Enterprise that she has been receiving threats and phone calls from people she does not know.
“My employees are scared. They’re terrified. They’re wondering, ‘Are we really going to go out of business? What’s happening? Are they shutting us down?’” Ms. Cullin said. “No; the town has not made any indication of any of that because nothing that we’re doing is criminal or illegal or wrong. It’s just based on assumptions and a couple of people’s perspectives who haven’t been in my building in two years.”
Former employees, though, have also shared their concerns about the dog center, both publicly and to the Enterprise through emails and phone calls.
“Every single employee that works there, all of their views are valid, and my experiences are no more or less valid than theirs,” said former employee Katie Valentine over the phone on Thursday, December 12. “For me, the big thing that I want to point out is that I’m in the industry. I am a dog trainer. I have been in the industry for almost a decade. I have a degree in animal care; I have certification. This isn’t something that, for me, is lighthearted or a summer job. This is my life. For me, there is a moral/ethical standard for the industry that becomes an issue.”
Ms. Valentine said that she worked at Cape Cod Dog Center for eight months in 2023, and ultimately left after a dog fight happened while she was taking care of animals at the facility. Ms. Valentine also stated her concerns about the dog center at the November 18 select board meeting, during which several individuals, including Ms. Cullin, shared their stories with the board.
“One of my biggest concerns is that it’s not like there’s all of these worries and issues that are going under the radar. The owner is well aware,” Ms. Valentine said. “My emails to her [Ms. Cullin] all express similar concerns and bring up the names of certain dogs multiple times. Each time I did feel heard, but nothing was ever done to a point where I could say, ‘Oh, okay, this is no longer a concern.’”
Ms. Valentine’s concerns, she said, included a lack of staff training, high dog-to-staff ratios, lack of transparency and communication with pet parents, and the taking-on of several dogs unsuited for daycare.
Ms. Valentine further alleged that dog center clients only spoke with employees in the welcome entrance area of the room, rather than those directly dealing with the dogs. Managers only looped-in employees working with the dogs, she said, when incidents happened.
License Renewal Draws Near
Cape Cod Dog Center faces a kennel license renewal before the start of the new year. Mashpee Health Agent Zackary Seabury said that a kennel license renewal happens every year, with licenses expiring annually on December 31. Mashpee’s animal control officer, health agent and town clerk determine the renewal.
“Animal control, the health department, and the clerk’s office have to sign off on the license,” Mr. Seabury told the Enterprise on Wednesday, December 11. “They (Cape Cod Dog Center) get a full inspection. …We go through with the fire department and animal control. We check for alarm systems, food storage, kennels and check everything for sanitation reasons. Any deficiencies will hold up the process, but we usually don’t find anything. It is a very clean facility.”
Mr. Seabury said that there has not been a decision for the renewal at this time.
The town’s attorney is currently conducting a review of the process to determine why kennel licenses must go through the town clerk’s office. Statewide, town clerks are typically responsible for approving license renewals; what the Mashpee town counsel is looking into, however, is to determine whether that is the result of an actual law or was adopted by towns as a more traditional practice.
Mr. Seabury oversees the town’s kennel license regulations. He said that the health department is looking to amend the regulations to include a set ratio between employees and dogs, and to codify whether or not employees should be required to work overnight. The Mashpee Fire Department is working with Mr. Seabury to establish what is safe for the building.
If there is a fire overnight in the building, and the regulations state that there are no overnight employees, then firefighters are only required to check the back of the building, where the dogs are located. Amending the regulations to include overnight employees changes those fire hazards, Mr. Seabury said.
Once the kennel license regulations are amended, they will then be reviewed by town counsel.
Additional Complaints Linger
Of the two complaints filed in relation to Cape Cod Dog Center, one is still pending.
“Ms. Lemire was the first complaint. There is a second complaint still pending.” Town Manager Rodney Collins said at Mashpee Town Hall last Thursday, December 5. “No charges have been appropriate to file. Cassie sat down with the police department officials. At that time, she had her attorney with her.”
Mr. Collins said that he has met with Mashpee’s Town Clerk Deborah F. Kaye, Mr. Seabury and Mr. Chicoine to determine action relative to reviewing kennel regulations. Mr. Collins said that town bylaws pertaining to kennels are also under review.
“There have been a lot of social media pictures, most of them are old and coming from a disgruntled employee, all of which are being depicted from the past,” Mr. Collins said. “What I’m encouraging people to do, rather than going on social media, is to report it.”
Chief Carline, Mr. Collins and Mr. Seabury said that the MSPCA reviews investigations as well. MSPCA Deputy Director James Hanlon and First Assistant District Attorney Jess Elumba both found no criminal activity or negligence in reviewing the completed investigation, Chief Carline said in a recent press release.
“On October 24, a second incident of possible cruelty to animals was reported to the Mashpee Police Department. This matter is under investigation by the Animal Control Officer and the Mashpee Police Department Detective Bureau,” Chief Carline wrote in the press release. “The investigation is also centered on Cape Cod Dog Center and more information will be provided once it becomes available.”
