Family demands answers after beloved dog dies at Nerang facility Elite K9 Resort

Concerned community members are demanding answers after a family’s beloved dog died during a stay at a Gold Coast kennel.

A Gold Coast family is mourning the loss of their dog, Meela.

Concerned community members are demanding answers after a family’s beloved dog died during a stay at a Gold Coast kennel.

The death allegedly occurred at Elite K9 Resort in Nerang.

Devastated Gold Coast woman Carlie Rose took to Facebook on Thursday saying her dog Meela died while at the Nerang facility.

Meela the dog sadly passed away. Picture: Facebook

“I’m after any information you may have regarding Elite K9 Resort on Gilston Rd,” she wrote.

“My darling pup passed away at the facility after only being there eight days and we are now awaiting autopsy results,” she claimed online.

“I got a phone call saying she had collapsed and was being taken to the emergency vet.

“But she was already gone on arrival which I have been told by the vet staff.

“Our family isn’t the same. RIP Meela.”

The Gold Coast woman has been contacted for comment.

Elite K9 Resort was contacted for response, but is yet to respond.

Carlie Rose's post on Facebook about her dog. Picture: Facebook

The Bulletin called the Elite K9 Resort in Nerang’s listed mobile number - and also texted questions about the Gold Coast dog’s death.

The woman’s post attracted a flood of comments from residents who raised concerns about barking dogs in the facility.

Division 5 Councillor Peter Young commented: “I am trying very hard to get a strong outcome from council on the use of the site due to the impacts on the local community, especially from constantly barking dogs”.

An RSPCA spokeswoman said facilities like this fell under council legislation.

“We have received previous complaints in relation to barking at the facility, but barking complaints are a Gold Coast City Council matter under their Animal Management Act,” she said.

Earlier this week, the Elite Performance K9 Sydney featured in an article on A Current Affair about the death of another dog, Winnie.

A Sydney family is mourning the loss of their dog, Winnie. Picture: A Current Affair

Elite K9 Resort in Nerang is run by the same director as Sydney’s Elite Performance K9.

In the Sydney instance, the family told A Current Affair they had paid $1515 for their dog to receive professional training, claiming Winnie was “completely healthy” when they took him to a vet a day before dropping him at the Elite Performance K9 facility.

A week into his stay they were told to go say their goodbyes to Winnie at a vet after Elite Performance K9 took him there. Winnie passed.

But a legal letter from head trainer Omar Obaido, which was published by A Current Affair, disputes the owners’ account alleging Winnie was presented at the kennel underweight.

No findings have been made about Winnie’s or Meela’s deaths and the Bulletin does not suggest either kennel caused the dogs’ deaths.

STATEMENT/LEGAL LETTER BY A LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR ELITE PERFORMANCE K9:

“Our client is a family business of “dog lovers” who for the entirety of their lives have dedicated care to dogs. This has culminated in their present business.

It is important, on balance, to note:

a. Winnie presented in an underweight state upon kenneling. We attach a photo provided by the owners;

b. When Winnie showed signs of illness, our client immediately advised the owners and without hesitation, having Winnie’s well-being at the forefront of their thinking, arranged (at their cost) to seek the intervention of a vet who provided treatment for Winnie;

c. Winnie was cared for in accordance with the express directions of the vet and the owners were fully informed;

d. A carer was dedicated to Winnie’s care, as that was our paramount concern;

e. After showing signs of some recovery, Winnie’s health again declined and the owners were, once again, fully advised;

f. Our clients, again at their cost, organised for Winnie to attend the vet who attended to him care and kept him in their care;

g. Sadly, Winnie passed away;

h. Our clients again then offered to assist the owners with assistance with after care including an autopsy of Winnie; and

i. The owners declined any further assistance.

In the main, allegations which are on social media are untrue as to how our client interacted with the owners and how they attended to Winnie’s care and to the extent that they are further published, our client would, of course, seek any and all remedies to address that wrong.

We note that we are instructed that the owners were granted a refund of their training fees based on compassionate grounds, such not forming any admission of wrongdoing by our client but rather as a sincere effort to support them and address their specific requests. Importantly, our client reiterated their willingness to cover the expenses associated with obtaining an autopsy and to facilitate a proper farewell for Winnie in accordance with the owners’ preferences.

Regrettably, the owners have not yet acknowledged communication regarding Winston. Until 4 July 2023, the owners had not provided written consent to Animal Referral Hospital, preventing them from releasing the invoice for the veterinary bills that our client covered. Furthermore, the owners have still not provided written consent to Animal Referral Hospital, thereby impeding their ability to engage in discussion with us and furnish any pertinent documentation, results, or reports. This hindrance significantly affects our client’s ability to investigate and comprehend the cause of death.

Allegations made in relation to our client’s conduct on Tik Tok and other social media are, regrettably, untrue. We understand that the owners would seek someone to blame and seek answers for the death of their dog, however, it is abundantly clear that speculation would not assist and an autopsy report would. Our client strenuously denies that they had any part to play in the death of Winnie and to the contrary, provided the best quality care, including medical care at their own cost, to assist Winnie and his owners.

Our client is more than willing to provide assistance to Winnie’s family at this difficult time, however in the interests of providing an accurate and factual representation of the matter as part of any story to be published by A Current Affair, we ask that no contact be made with respect to requesting any further comment or information from or on behalf of our client until such autopsy is conducted and the results are available both to Winnie’s owners and our client.

After the results of the autopsy, our client is more than willing to assist you further in an informed and balanced way.”