Bec Oakes
A couple have been left devastated after their dog passed away and was cremated by the kennel before they even told them he'd died.
Adam Gardner Mclean, Gemma Allan and son Cody left French Bulldog Pablo in the care of a kennel recommended by a friend whilst on holiday in Turkey.
But, when they left for their trip on 9 June, they didn't realise it'd be the last time they'd ever see the two-year-old pup.
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Eleven days into their holiday, Mclean received a gut-wrenching text from the kennel in Whitburn, Scotland.
The message from the kennel owner read: "Hi, I have been trying to contact you, but no connection.
"I am so sorry but Pabalo [sic] passed away this morning. I took him out for his walk about 5:30ish and fed him when we came back, I then seen to my own Dogs and went out to the Summer House to Groom 2 of my own Dogs, and when I came in at about 08:30 to take him back out for his other walk he had passed away."
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She said it 'looked as if [Pablo] had been sick' and had reportedly been 'sick on and off for a few days,' but he still played and went for walks so 'seemed fine.'
However, the kennel owner concluded that she ultimately didn't 'know what happened.'
If the news of Pablo's passing wasn't devastating enough for the family, it was also revealed that the French Bulldog had been cremated 10 hours before they were told he'd died.
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The kennel owner claimed she was 'in bits' over Pablo's passing and said she contacted 'icare in Whitburn' to 'take care of him.'
"I was going to wait until you came home, as I didn't want to spoil your Holiday," she said, "but Alec from icare thought that I should let you know just know. Again, I am so so sorry, but he seemed fine."
Mclean claims that the kennel owner hadn't contacted him when Pablo first got sick and didn't 'attempt to take him to the vet'.
"Gemma burst out crying as soon as she saw the text message," he says. "Then we had to explain to our son what had happened. It was horrible."
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The family returned home from their holiday 24 June and instead of collecting their precious pet, had to pick up his ashes.
They've since been unable to get in touch with the kennel owner, who's reportedly been ignoring their calls and visits to her house.
Mclean notes: "Maybe it was an accident, but something doesn't sit right.
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But, with no camera footage and Pablo being cremated, the family say they 'will never be able to prove anything'.
"I want to make sure other dog owners are aware of what happened to Pablo," Mclean says.
A spokesperson for the SPCA said: "The Scottish SPCA received a call regarding a dog that had died while in the care of an unregistered boarder while his owners were on holiday.
"We are looking into this case and have referred the matter to the local authority."
Rest in peace Pablo.