Politics · Pet-care accountabilityCalifornia pet bill: Dunkin’s Law seeks federal remedies after 117 dogs found deadAired October 28, 2026 at 2:05 AM UTCWritten October 28, 2026 at 2:13 AM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:07Investigators recovered the intact remains of one hundred and seventeen dogs from0:10burial sites at an animal rescue.0:12That discovery and a family dog's death helped drive Duncan's Law, a federal0:17proposal to strengthen accountability in animal care.0:19Owners could gain a new way to seek compensation when their pets are harmed or0:23killed.0:23What would turn that promise into an enforceable protection?0:27Duncan died after his owners left him at a Los Angeles training business.0:30Farther north, investigators excavated burial sites at Miranda's rescue in Fortuna,0:35Humboldt County.0:36Republican James Gallagher cited both cases in announcing the proposal.0:39Duncan's law would amend the Federal Animal Welfare Act.0:42Gallagher has presented the measure as introduced, but the public house draft still0:46has a placeholder bill number and a blank committee referral.0:49Owners can't assume its promise protections have taken effect.0:52The draft identifies the one hundred and nineteen Congress, second session, and the0:56House of Representatives.0:58Its stated purpose is protecting companion animals held or cared for at certain1:01facilities.1:02The proposal's reach depends on how those facilities and their obligations are1:06defined.1:06Owners whose pets are harmed or killed at boarding and similar facilities could1:10bring a civil action seeking damages and other lost expenses.1:13The proposal also calls for recognizing pets as sentient beings.1:17Gallagher wants stronger accountability for unlawful euthanasia at rescues and1:20shelters.1:21A family would still need to know whether a facility is covered and what losses the1:25law allows them to recover.1:26Those details will determine how much help the proposed remedy offers after an1:30animal's injury or death.1:31Gallagher said conversations with Duncan's owners help spur him to act, even though1:35they aren't his constituents.1:37They told him they felt they had no recourse.1:39He wants the consequences of mistreatment to discourage it before another animal1:42dies.1:43Gallagher said there need to be greater protections and teeth when something like1:46this happens.1:47He wants facilities to live up to their promises, with consequences strong enough to1:51change how they care for animals.1:53Duncan was a two-year-old Bernese mountain dog.1:56His owners are loud luxury DJ Andrew Fedick and fashion creator Madeline White2:00Fedick, professionally known as Madeline White.2:03The Studio City couple booked care for Duncan and their other dog, Poutine.2:06While traveling to Europe, Fedik said they found smart dogs training online and saw2:11many positive reviews.2:12The Los Angeles business is owned and operated by trainer Jeff Todd.2:16The couple thought basic leash training could help dogs they already considered2:19well-behaved.2:20Hours after they arrived in Europe, Fedek said, Todd called to say Duncan had died.2:24Fedik alleged Todd told him the dogs had played outside during a heat wave.2:28He said Todd described Duncan showing signs of heat exhaustion before dying during2:32transport to another boarding facility.2:34Fedik alleged Todd didn't take Duncan to a veterinarian.2:37Poutine survived and returned to the couple.2:39The owners accused Todd of negligence.2:41Duncan's final medical cause of death hasn't been announced.2:45The couple shared their account with a combined following of almost two point five2:48million.2:48Fedik said other people then contacted them with stories of similar experiences.2:53Todd declined to comment on Duncan's case in August and didn't respond to a further2:57request on October twenty-seven.2:58Los Angeles Animal Services said in August it was investigating Duncan's death.3:02Police withheld recent nine hundred and eleven call in police report records3:05relating to Todd's address.3:06Citing an open investigation, the agencies gave no immediate further comment on3:10October twenty-seven.3:12Investigators also spent months examining Miranda's rescue, owned by Shannon3:16Miranda.3:17Court record allegations surfaced in May that dogs had been shot and buried.3:21Sheriff's investigators uncovered burial sites in June during an animal, cruelty and3:25fraud investigation.3:26Investigators recovered intact remains of one hundred and seventeen dogs, along with3:30additional skeletal remains.3:32Preliminary examinations found evidence of gunshot wounds in some remains.3:36Those findings don't show how every dog died or whether every death involved3:39unlawful euthanasia.3:41State and federal investigators helped the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office with the3:44excavations, documented on June twenty-five.3:47Petaluma announced on July twenty, nine that it had supplied former Animal Services3:51records to support the active investigation.3:54On September twenty, seven, Friends of Oakland Animal Services said it had supplied3:58records and evidence and wasn't pursuing its own civil lawsuit against Miranda.4:02The investigation was described as nearly complete the next day when Miranda said4:06the rescue had resumed taking in dogs.4:08Presuming intakes didn't amount to official clearance.4:10Both cases still await announced final outcomes.4:13Gallagher's proposal would create a route toward greater accountability, while4:16investigators must determine what happened to the animals.4:19For owners, an enforceable new remedy still depends on federal legislative action4:23and clear rules about who can sue and recover what.4:26No hearing or vote date has been announced, and Duncan's laws promise protections4:30haven't become law.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSS
