A couple who says their dog died while in the care of pet sitters hopes their story will save other dogs.

Linda and Jim Dwyer of Nokomis recently left their two dogs, K'lah and Gracie, in the care of Peter Pam's Puppies Pet Sitting and Boarding in Bradenton. The couple boarded their dogs because they were going on a cruise.

Upon their return, the Dwyers were informed that K'lah had died after being attacked by two larger dogs at the pet sitter.

The Dwyers insist they researched Peter Pam's Puppies Pet Sitting thoroughly. They say they were also told that K'lah and Gracie would not be near any larger dogs.

“I thought the person we left them with had a real good knowledge of dogs and behavior,” Linda Dwyer said. “Obviously, if she put our two little dogs with two 90-pound dogs, you’re asking for trouble.”

According to Don Pinaud, an attorney representing the owners of Peter Pam's, the owner feels the Dwyers' loss but disputes some of their claims about what happened.

“Obviously, they lost their dog, and [the owners] are very sorry,” Pinaud said. “It was a sad situation, and they’re very sad it happened.”

Pinaud said the owner told the Dwyers she watches both larger and smaller dogs interact together.

According to Pinaud, for the first four days of K'lah and Gracie's stay, everything went fine. Then, a larger dog bit K'lah once. K'lah was taken to an emergency pet clinic for care, and it was there that a Dwyer family member decided it would be best that K'lah be put down.

The Dwyers plan to take no legal action against Peter Pam's Puppies Pet Sitting.

Their other dog, Gracie, was not injured during her stay.