07/11/2026
If you aren’t already aware, Kaityln Resner, a Southern California dog trainer, has killed at least two dogs.
The first dog, Benny, she killed about a month ago, by leaving him unattended and tethered on a slip leash. He choked himself out and died. was the owner. I am so, so sorry for your loss.
The second dog, Romeo, was boarded with her on the Fourth of July weekend, and also died, but as far as I know his cause of death isn’t known to the public yet (including myself).
There are no words to describe how sorry I am to the owners who are suffering because of another piece of s**t “dog trainer”. There’s already a lot of discourse going on about this, but I just wanted to add my own perspective on something.
As a dog trainer, dog walker, or pet sitter, your IMMEDIATE reaction to hearing this news, after the initial shock and sadness, should be : is there anything *I* can do, to upgrade my safety protocols and the way that I do things?
If that is not your immediate response, to me, that is a red flag. Your first thought after the shock should not be, how am I going to cover my own ass. It shouldn’t be, well, that’s something I would never do so I’m in the clear. Even if you that’s true, which I know it is for me.
Working with animals requires an enormous amount of self reflection, adjustment, willingness to change, willingness to look yourself in the mirror and think: “even if I’ve been doing XYZ for a really long time, is there a better way? “
And I’m not just talking about something as stupid, idiotic, and negligent as tethering a dog on a slip lead unattended. I mean when it comes to all your safety protocols, the way you train dogs, the way you TREAT dogs.
Don’t surround yourself with people who agree with you. If you want to grow as a professional, you need to expand your horizons and learn from people you DISAGREE with.
(PART 2 in comments)
