Saturday, Jun. 27, 2009

Top-ranked Akita from Lebanon among show dogs that died in overheated van

A show dog from Lebanon, the top-ranked female Akita in the nation, was one of seven show dogs that died earlier this week in Arnold, Mo., when a handler left them in their kennels stacked in a van overnight Sunday.

Monica Colvin, of Gekko Akitas in rural Lebanon, owned the prize-winning dog, which was named Jersey. Colvin could not be reached for comment Friday.

According to Colvin's Web site, gekkoakitas.homestead.com, Jersey had attained the highest ranking among female Akitas and the fourth-highest among Akitas in the country in dog show competitions through May 31.

Missouri veterinarian Dr. Laura Ivan attempted to revive the dogs that were left by their handler, 24-year-old Mary Wild, of Arnold, Mo., in the van outside Wild's home. Seven of the eight died.

Authorities said Wild had left the dogs in their porta-kennels inside the van after traveling from a dog show in Iowa. When she checked on the animals later that morning, five were unresponsive but breathing, and three were in distress.

The eight dogs were transported to the veterinarian's office in House Springs, Mo., where Ivan attempted to save them. Seven died from apparent heat exposure, Ivan said, and the other was in critical condition as of Friday afternoon.

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said deputies initially responded to a call at Wild's home Tuesday and found the dogs had been left in the van with six electric fans blowing air. Capt. Ralph Brown said Wild had left the dogs at 1 a.m. Monday and checked on them about 6:30 a.m. The incident remains under investigation.

Ivan said transporting show dogs in porta-kennels stacked in a cargo van is not unusual, but she regrets that Wild kept the dogs in the van overnight with only electric fans to keep them cool. Ivan believes that given the conditions and the time the dogs were left in the van, temperatures in the van may have reached 120 degrees.

"It was certainly not an intentional or malicious act," Ivan said. "But it definitely was in poor judgment."

Ivan said she was acquainted with Wild, but not professionally. Ivan also said that she had worked with Wild's mother, whom she said she had known for 10 years.

"She was a very reputable and good dog handler," Ivan said.