Full Breakdown
Police Investigation Triggers Temporary Shutdown of Roanoke’s City Dogs Boarding & Playcare
7/11/2026, 1:24:08 PM
Investigation and Closure
On July 5, 2026, Roanoke Police Department Animal Protection and Services officers executed a search warrant at City Dogs Boarding & Playcare after receiving reports of animal cruelty. The affidavit cited an employee who reported a dog showing heat-stroke symptoms—convulsions and vomiting—while the owner was unreachable and no veterinary care had been provided. Investigators observed additional dogs displaying heat distress in kennels where ground temperatures reached roughly 85 °F, and noted the absence of visible drinking water in a warehouse holding dozens of dogs. The warrant also described unsanitary conditions, including sewage water and open trays of cigarette butts accessible to the animals. The police presence prompted the facility to ask owners to retrieve their pets, leading to a weekend shutdown.
Owner and Facility Response
City Dogs owner Lynda Knezovich denied the allegations, calling many circulating statements “entirely false or… highly misleading.” She asserted that clean drinking water is “always accessible” and that the facility is cooperating with investigators. The business posted a Facebook statement on July 5, thanking the community for its “outpouring of support, kindness, and encouragement” and expressing regret for the stress caused to customers. City Dogs clarified it had not been ordered to close and planned to resume normal services by Wednesday, July 10, after a brief pause in daycare and new boarding drop-offs.
Official Statements & Responses
The police affidavit documented that dogs appeared “in significant emotional distress” and that employees were “visibly dripping in sweat” as the feels-like temperature rose into the upper 90s. Animal Warden Beaman was noted as already familiar with the facility from a prior investigation into hazardous conditions for animals.
Criticism & Opposition
Critics of the police action point to the facility’s long-standing operation—13 years—and the lack of publicly released details about the specific trigger for the investigation. Owner Griffin Brown described the law-enforcement presence as “four animal control vehicles, three or four cop cars and a van,” suggesting the response may have been disproportionate.
Verbatim Quotes
- “many of the statements currently circulating are either entirely false or have been presented in a highly misleading context.” — Lynda Knezovich, Owner, City Dogs
- “I just drove up, and there were four animal control vehicles, three or four cop cars and a van,” — Griffin Brown, Pet Owner
- “Before anything else, I want to sincerely thank each and every one of you who reached out for the incredible outpouring of support, kindness, and encouragement we have received today,” — City Dogs, Facebook statement
- “We understand that today’s events and the immediate public attention surrounding them have caused concern and stress for many of our customers, and for that, we are truly sorry,” — City Dogs, Facebook statement
