Three Dogs Die in Boarding Kennel Employee’s Van in Nantes: Owners File Complaints

A Fatal Mistake

On June 14, 2025, what was meant to be a day of professional care turned into disaster. An employee of a canine education center, also running an independent boarding service under the name Un Brin de Compagnie, placed three client dogs, along with his own two, inside the back of a small van measuring barely 4 m².

According to the complaints, a storm broke out around 1:30 p.m., and the man decided to confine the animals to the vehicle for safety. With outside temperatures close to 30°C, the van quickly became a death trap.

Hours of Neglect

The employee reportedly removed his own two dogs about an hour later but left the three entrusted to him inside. He briefly checked on them around 5:30 p.m., then did not return until nearly two hours later.

By then, it was too late. Two dogs had already stopped breathing. Resuscitation attempts failed, and the third dog died later at an emergency veterinary clinic.

The victims—Vico, Django, and Vicky, a golden retriever—had been entrusted to him with confidence by their families, who are now demanding justice.

Grief, Anger, and Legal Action

Outrage quickly spread online. On Instagram, the bereaved owners shared a series of twenty posts denouncing the negligence that cost their companions’ lives.

Three official complaints have been filed. The police have opened an investigation, and the employee has been questioned.

Éducanine, the training center where the man was employed, publicly distanced itself from the case: “These dogs were kept at an independent boarding facility, not our center,” they wrote on Facebook. The center’s director admitted his despair: “The families’ anger, I understand. But nothing I say will bring the dogs back.”

The man himself has remained unreachable since the tragedy.

A Wake-Up Call for Animal Welfare

The heartbreaking deaths in Nantes highlight the dangers of leaving dogs confined in hot, enclosed spaces—even for short periods. Temperatures inside a van or car can soar well above outdoor levels, causing fatal heatstroke within minutes.

Animal protection advocates are now calling for stronger oversight and stricter standards for boarding facilities and their staff, to prevent such tragedies in the future.