California Republican Rep. James Gallagher has introduced 'Dunkin’s Law', a bill expanding the state’s Animal Welfare Act to hold pet boarding and training facilities legally accountable for harm or death of companion animals. The legislation follows the death of Dunkin, a 2-year-old Bernese mountain dog owned by influencer couple Madeline White and DJ Andrew Fedyk, who died in August while boarded at a Los Angeles training facility.
The bill, introduced on Tuesday, classifies pets as 'sentient beings' and allows owners to seek damages from facilities where negligence or misconduct occurred. Gallagher stated in a release that the legislation aims to prevent future incidents, stating, 'There needs to be greater protections and teeth when something like this happens.'
Key provisions of the bill include:
- Expanding the Animal Welfare Act to cover commercial care facilities, rescues, and shelters.
- Classifying pets as sentient beings, enabling owners to sue for damages.
- Strengthening accountability for unlawful euthanasia at shelters and rescues.
The legislation was prompted by two incidents Gallagher cited in his announcement. The first involved the discovery of 117 intact dog remains and skeletal evidence of gunshot wounds at a Northern California animal rescue facility in Humboldt County. The second was the death of Dunkin, who was boarded at Smart Dogs Dog Training in Los Angeles. According to statements from White and Fedyk, Dunkin died of heatstroke after being left in care for roughly 36 hours without veterinary attention.
Gallagher emphasized the bill’s goal to deter negligence, stating, 'Hopefully, what it ultimately leads to is this doesn’t happen, that the disincentives are so strong that these guys really up their game and we don’t have bad actors.'
Reaction and next steps
Gallagher’s office has not yet provided a timeline for the bill’s progression through the legislature. Newsweek reached out to representatives for White, Fedyk, and Smart Dogs Dog Training for comment but has not received a response as of publication.
The bill’s text specifies that it would apply to facilities 'held or cared for at certain facilities,' though the exact scope of covered operations remains unspecified in available summaries. Gallagher’s office did not respond to requests for clarification on whether the law would apply retroactively to past incidents.
Background: The case of Dunkin’s death
White and Fedyk entrusted Dunkin to Smart Dogs Dog Training for four weeks of boarding while they traveled to Europe with their newborn daughter. They were informed of Dunkin’s death via a call reporting heatstroke. The couple has since called for accountability, stating in social media posts that they 'expected him to be safe.'
The bill’s introduction follows heightened scrutiny of pet care facilities in California, including investigations into alleged mistreatment at shelters and training centers. Gallagher’s legislation seeks to formalize legal recourse for pet owners and establish clearer standards for animal welfare enforcement across the state.