Owners eye lawsuit after dog dies
Bulldog drowns on hot day after couple told the resort their pet could not swim
A Scottsdale couple is preparing to take legal action after their beloved bulldog drowned at a pet resort on June 17.
Matthew and DeAnna Spott owned Matilda Grace, a bulldog named after Matthew Spott’s favorite childhood book.
The Spotts just celebrated their sixyear anniversary with Matilda, who had turned 6 about the same time.
With temperatures rising, they were looking for a place where Matilda could play because their first-choice pet resort had relocated.
They came across Always Unleashed Pet Resort in Scottsdale.
Matthew Spott took Matilda to Always Unleashed and said he made it clear she was unable to swim.
“I was extremely adamant about telling them she can’t swim,” he said. “And that she’s not afraid of water, so you have to be extra careful.”
The employees assured him there would be plenty of people around to monitor the dogs and that Matilda would be fine.
Less than two hours later, Spott received a call that Matilda had drowned.
“I thought it was someone playing a cruel joke,” he said. “I was in disbelief, and it turned out it wasn’t a joke.”
Always Unleashed posted a note about the death on its Facebook page, but later deleted the post, offering condolences but also trying to defend the resort.
“How do we expect the staff to keep an eye on [y]our dog every second when on this particular day there are 105 dogs???” a screenshot taken of the post said.
The resort said it is declining all interviews regarding the incident at this time, but an employee reached by telephone expressed his sorrow and condolences.
The couple has hired an attorney, but the lawsuit is in preliminary stages, Spott said. They have created a Facebook page with more information.
They plan to donate anything they receive in Matilda’s name to try to change the laws for stricter animal regulations and resort operations.
“It’s a shame places can be so unregulated to try and make a profit,” he said.
Spott said he and his wife always described Matilda as more of a human and less of a dog in that she was a member of their family in every way possible.
She was involved in everything the couple did and celebrated all kinds of events with them, including the Spotts’ own wedding.
Spott described Matilda’s personality as hysterical and said everybody who met her fell in love with her.
Matilda loved going to the park, watching television and would even wait to eat her own dinner until both the Spotts were home to eat with her.
“Nothing can ever bring her back,” Spott said.
“I was extremely adamant about telling them she can’t swim and that she’s not afraid of water, so you have to be extra careful.”