Florida man, 61, posed as vet, operated on pregnant dog that later died: sheriff

A Florida man allegedly posed as a licensed veterinarian and operated on a pregnant canine that died days later as a result of problems from the botched surgical procedure, authorities mentioned.

Osvaldo Sanchez, 61, was arrested Friday and charged with animal abuse and working towards veterinary drugs with out a license following the dying of a six-pound Chihuahua named Sugar, the Collier County Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned.

Sugar was having issue delivering her puppies so her homeowners reached out to Sanchez, a licensed pet groomer who had been beforehand launched to the homeowners as a vet, the workplace mentioned.

The faux vet got here to their residence to look at the 6-year-old pooch on Could 18 after which took her to his cell workplace, a transformed ambulance, the place he carried out a C-section and spay operation on the canine, deputies mentioned.

Sanchez eliminated a stillborn pet from Sugar’s womb, then closed her up and charged her household $600 for the process.

Nevertheless, Sugar rapidly developed an an infection and grew severely in poor health. She spent the following week within the care of an precise licensed veterinarian however couldn’t be saved.

The Chihuahua was taken to a 24-hour emergency pet hospital on Could 25 for an ultrasound which revealed that her surgical incision was sewn up with thread — not the usual suture materials utilized by vets and docs — which might have precipitated her an infection, the sheriff’s workplace mentioned.

Sugar died later that evening from “a number of problems from the surgical procedure,” in accordance with the sheriff.

A veterinarian on the emergency pet hospital advised detectives that if a professional and licensed medical skilled had carried out the C-section, Sugar would possible nonetheless be alive.

“Pets’ lives are in danger if unlicensed people carry out surgical procedure, prescribe remedy and declare to supply wanted care,” Sheriff Kevin Rambosk mentioned. “Such people who imagine they’ll function outdoors the regulation might be arrested and held accountable – our devoted detectives will see to it.”

The sheriff’s workplace’s particular Animal Cruelty Investigations Alliance investigated Sugar’s dying and arrested Sanchez.