Rapper DMX Dies, Once Tied to Dispute With Rhode Island Vet Over Pit Bull
Friday, April 09, 2021
DMX, a leading American rapper, has died, his family announced in a statement. He was 50.
In 2017, GoLocal broke the story of how DMX and a Rhode Island veterinary facility got into a dispute about the care and fate of one of DMX's pit bulls.
"We are deeply saddened to announce today that our loved one, DMX, birth name of Earl Simmons, passed away at 50-years-old at White Plains Hospital with his family by his side after being placed on life support for the past few days," family's statement read in part.
The artist had been hospitalized since last week when he suffered a heart attack at his home in New York, according to his longtime attorney, Murray Richman.
DMX (Dark Man X) began rapping in the early 1990s and released his debut album, "It's Dark and Hell Is Hot," in 1998.
As GoLocal first reported in January of 2017:
A Rhode Island animal hospital and boarding facility is in a battle with rapper DMX over unpaid kennel bills for DMX’s pit bull, who has been boarded at the facility since August — but has not paid since October.
Four Paws Pet Resort owner Chad Callanan said that DMX is a “good guy,” and just wants to help the rapper out.
“He’s a good guy, he was a good paying client until October, when he stopped paying us. He’s been in here, we all know who he is,” said Callanan, of DMX’s pit bull, which he said is “intact.”
Battle Over Billing
“So I reach out to him on November 27 on my cell phone, not the business phone, and he picked up,” said Callanan. “We had a long discussion — I said you can’t keep animals in suspended animation with no end date. I said you owe us this [amount], it’s not good for the dog’s health, and if you can’t deal with him, you should really relinquish ownership.” The total outstanding bill is estimated at $1,600 by Callanan.
“I told him I’d help him out - a shelter’s a virtual death sentence,” said Callanan. “He said he’d get back to me, and he didn’t. A month later, we don’t hear from him, so we sent him a certified letter, to please relinquish control of the animal. The dog’s been there since August.”
Callanan said he just wanted to help the rapper out.
“It’s not completely unusual, people who have had say house fires might have to board a dog for a while," said Callanan. "We just want to help."
