A California family is demanding answers after their dog died of heatstroke while in the care of a pet sitter. Robert and Kimberly Gebalas were vacationing in Hawaii when they learned that their five-year-old Australian shepherd, Herschel, had died in the care of Critical Thinking Dog Services.
The Gebalas had previously used the pet care facility without incident and considered the owner a friend. However, their suspicions were raised when the owner contacted them mid-vacation requesting payment earlier than expected. Kimberly Gebalas experienced a panic attack upon hearing of Herschel's death.
The family believes Herschel may have died significantly before the owner contacted them for payment. Herschel died from cardiac arrest, attributed to heatstroke, in Chino Hills, California. Temperatures in the area reached a high of 97 degrees Fahrenheit on the day of the dog's death.
Eddie Peña, the owner of Critical Thinking Dog Services, stated that he cared for Herschel as if he were his own pet and claimed he was not running a business but rather providing a service for friends. He reported that Herschel was in his mother's house with fans running when he died.
Critical Thinking Dog Services is now listed as permanently closed on Google, and its Instagram page has been removed. The Daily Mail has reached out to a representative for Critical Thinking Dog Services for further comment.