Wheeling pet care business halts van service following dog’s death
A Wheeling pet care business has temporarily stopped its chauffeur service following the death of a client’s dog.
Waggles Pet Resort intends to “evaluate steps to help prevent a tragedy like this from ever happening again,” the company announced in a prepared statement. “This should never have happened.”
The company’s owner, 44-year-old Ross Neihaus of Chicago, is facing a misdemeanor animal cruelty charge for the death of Miller, a 6-year-old black Labrador retriever, last Wednesday in a company van.
Miller had been picked up at home that morning. His family reportedly was notified in the afternoon of his death. Outdoor temperatures reached the mid-90s in the Chicago area that day.
Waggles, which operates in an industrial area at 419 Harvester Court, offers dog training, boarding, daycare and other services.
It started in 1998 under a different owner and name, according to Wheeling officials. Neihaus purchased the operation in 2019 and then relocated it to Harvester Court and renamed it Waggles in 2020.
Waggles has cared for thousands of dogs since launching in 2020, the company’s statement reads.
“Waggles was founded out of a love for dogs and a commitment to enriching their lives,” the statement reads. “The trust families place in us is something we have never taken for granted, which makes this tragedy especially devastating.”
In addition to the police investigation, village officials are exploring whether Waggles broke any local building or business codes.
Neihaus is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 25. If convicted, he faces up to one year in jail, probation of up to two years, fines or other penalties.
rlissau@dailyherald.com