Los Angeles Animal Services is investigating the death of a 2-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog after its owner, Los Angeles DJ Andrew Fedyk, raised questions about what happened while the dog was enrolled in a board-and-train program at Smart Dogs Training Academy in Studio City.
Fedyk said he and his wife, influencer Madeleine White, had placed their two dogs in the roughly four-week training program while they were away. The couple said they paid $10,000 for basic leash and behavior training after researching the business and meeting with trainer Jeff Todd.
Less than two days after the dogs were dropped off, Fedyk said he was told that their dog Dunkin had died.
According to Fedyk, staff told him the dogs had been taken to a park during a period of extreme heat. When temperatures became too high, he said, the dogs were being transported to another boarding location in Hollywood when Dunkin died.
Fedyk said the couple had not been informed that their dogs would be moved to another facility.
He also questioned why Dunkin was not taken to a veterinarian during the incident. CBS Los Angeles reported that Fedyk said he was told the dog had suffered heat exhaustion and that no emergency veterinary treatment was provided before his death.
The circumstances surrounding Dunkin’s death have not been independently established, and his exact cause of death remains unclear.
Fedyk said he plans to have a necropsy performed to determine what caused Dunkin’s death. He has also contacted the Los Angeles Police Department and asked authorities to investigate.
Other dog owners come forward
The case has drawn additional attention after Fedyk said other dog owners contacted him following his public posts about Dunkin.
Fedyk has said that seven families have described situations in which their dogs allegedly died while under the care of Smart Dogs Training Academy. Those accounts have not been independently verified, and details surrounding the reported deaths remain unclear.
CBS Los Angeles also reported that several other owners had contacted Fedyk with similar allegations, including claims involving dogs that died while in the company’s care. The station said it was unable to obtain a response from Todd despite repeated attempts to reach him.
The allegations have increased scrutiny of the Studio City training business, but no criminal charges have been announced in connection with Dunkin’s death.
Animal Services confirms investigation
Los Angeles Animal Services confirmed on Aug. 28 that it had received a complaint from Dunkin’s owner and opened an investigation.
The agency said the matter remains under investigation and that it could not provide additional information at this stage.
Animal Services also urged pet owners to personally inspect boarding facilities before leaving their animals there. The agency recommends touring the property, checking kennel cleanliness and security, looking at exercise areas, and asking staff about supervision and emergency medical procedures.
The investigation could provide more information about the circumstances surrounding Dunkin’s death and whether additional complaints are connected to the business.
For now, Fedyk is waiting for the necropsy results while seeking answers about what happened to his dog.
“He was my best friend,” Fedyk said. “We miss him so much.”
Smart Dogs Training Academy and Jeff Todd have been contacted for comment about the allegations. No response had been publicly reported as of the latest available coverage.
