Virginia Woman Demands Justice After Dog Dies at Petco Grooming Salon
A Virginia woman is demanding justice following the death of her dog during a routine grooming visit at Petco, reports ABC News.
Allison Marks took Colby, her 2-year-old Golden Retriever, to Petco in Midlothian, Virginia, on Friday morning. Marks told ABC News that she called Petco to find out if he was finished being groomed that afternoon. The employee told her to meet one of the Petco managers at a local animal hospital.
When Marks arrived at the animal hospital, she found Colby dead. The assistant manager explained that Petco employees found the dog unresponsive in a drying unit after the grooming technician left work to attend a graduation.
"I just started screaming," Marks told ABC. "Colby was my everything."
The Marks family said Colby had no health problems that could have contributed to his death.
According to Marks' veterinarian, Colby had been dead for 45 minutes. His temperature was still above 105 degrees at the time of the veterinarian's examination, ABC reports. The veterinarian believes Colby died of heat stroke while inside the drying cage.
"I don't know if they turned him over to another groomer and they dropped the ball or what," Marks said. "I know people walk back and forth past the dryers constantly because I have to take Colby back there myself with his anxiety."
Marks told WTVR-TV that Petco corporate offices assured her that the drying cages the pets are placed inside turn off after 15 minutes, but she does not believe that story.
"I said, 'Well, if they cut off after 15 minutes, how come his temperature is still so high?'" she said.
Petco released a statement on Monday assuring customers that a "thorough investigation" is ongoing.
"The groomers involved have been suspended while we complete a thorough investigation, and we are in contact with the pet parents and coordinating with local Animal Services to understand what happened in this terrible situation," Petco said in the statement.
Marks said that she is looking into pressing charges.
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