A Georgia family says they found out on Facebook that their pug had been taken home by a vet clinic worker instead of being put down. What allegedly happened after they spoke up made it even worse.
Rebecca Belote’s dog, Cha Cha, was only four years old when the vets at Senoia Animal Hospital in Coweta County told the family the pup was in organ failure caused by diabetic ketoacidosis. It’s a serious complication of diabetes, and the vets recommended putting her down.
The Belotes didn’t take the decision lightly, but in the end, they felt it was the kindest choice for Cha Cha. So they agreed, said their goodbyes and went home heartbroken.
They found Cha Cha on Facebook
Imagine their surprise, when months later while scrolling Facebook, they came across a picture of a pug that was the spitting image of Cha Cha. They had already grieved for her, and now they were staring at a dog who looked very much alive. They had to know if it was really her.
The family tracked down the person who posted the photo of Cha Cha’s doppelganger. To their shock and surprise, it turned out to be the family of a clinic employee. When they got in touch, the worker’s husband reportedly admitted they had Cha Cha. He said they had taken her home instead of having her euthanized, and that she had made a full recovery.
Rebecca reported it to the clinic, but things only got worse from there. The family claims the clinic took Cha Cha back from the employee’s home. But instead of returning her to the Belotes, staff allegedly put her down in March.
“The fact that they put a healthy dog down. That’s just sick,” Rebecca told Atlanta station WSB-TV. She believes the clinic did it to get rid of the evidence.
A complaint to the state board
The Belotes say the clinic has denied taking the dog or lying to them. “They have a lawyer. They won’t talk about it,” Rebecca said. Senoia Animal Hospital didn’t respond when the New York Post asked for comment, and the clinic hasn’t publicly shared its side of the story.
None of the family’s claims have been proven. According to WSB-TV, Rebecca has since filed a complaint with the Georgia State Board of Veterinary Medicine.
For the family, the loss is still raw. Rebecca said her 17-year-old son was especially close to Cha Cha. The two even had matching hoodies. “She hardly walked anywhere ’cause he carried her everywhere,” Rebecca said. “My son was really attached to the dog.”
Read more:
