Lindsay Christ brought her dog Ludo home amid the pandemic after she went through a heartbreaking miscarriage. She said that they saved each other by instantly becoming best friends. Ludo never wanted to leave her side, but that ended up causing problems further down the road. The pup grew protective over his human, and he was especially wary of men. He bit her fiancé and her dad, so she considered rehoming him.
But then, Christ’s sister recommended a dog trainer that specializes in aggression and behavior issues. It seemed like her only option left, so she was willing to do whatever it took to correct Ludo’s behavior.
Ludo’s Last Resort
Christ brought Ludo to White Heart K9 Boarding and Training Facility in Florence, Arizona, which is run by Terry White. It has many good reviews, but Christ quickly felt that there were some personality conflicts between her and White. Yet, she followed through with it because she wanted to help Ludo in any way possible.
After Christ dropped Ludo off and paid the $2,000 fee, communication with White became spotty. White sent her a photo of Ludo, but when she asked to schedule a session with him, Christ said he couldn’t because he had to quarantine. He claimed he was still taking care of the dogs. However, when Ludo reached out again a few days later, she received horrific news.
“I went hysterical,” Christ said. “He says, ‘I’m really sorry to tell you, but Ludo passed away last night at 7, due to the heat.'”
When Christ’s fiancé asked about Ludo’s remains, White said Ludo’s body started decomposing. So, he burned the body at his relative’s home. He never gave Christ the dog’s ashes or even his collar. It’s unclear if Christ got a refund either.
What Really Happened?
Christ says that she doesn’t think White is being honest with her. He said he didn’t send her more messages because he hadn’t liked her tone. Christ later found out that another dog had gone missing from the facility earlier that month.
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Animal control visited White’s business but didn’t cite him. They believe that Ludo knocked over his water and later died from the heat. When a news reporter visited White, the trainer initially declined to explain himself. Then, he insisted that it was an accident and that he didn’t return the remains because he didn’t know why Christ would need them.
“That is all that I have to go off of, no photo received of the condition Ludo was in. No vet certificate of death, no notification until I reached out to him, no option to do with Ludo’s remains – I have no lock of hair, footprint, nothing,” Christ wrote on Facebook. “What is most concerning is I AM NOT ALONE – ANOTHER DOG ALLEGEDLY WENT MISSING IN MID-AUGUST TOO. HOW MANY MORE ARE THERE?”
Christ won’t give up until she has more answers and proof. She hopes Ludo is still alive somewhere, so she created a Facebook page to share updates. Animal advocates are also reminding dog parents that there aren’t many regulations for dog trainers in Arizona, so it’s important to be cautious when choosing one for your dog.
H/T: azfamily.com
Featured Image: Facebook
Toledo, United States.
