Petco Killed Dog Claims Heartbroken Family: How Did The Animal Die? [Video]
One Virginia family is in mourning over the loss of its beloved dog—and says a trip to Petco is what sealed the animal’s fate. Allison Marks dropped a golden retriever named Colby off at the Petco in Chesterfield County, Va. on Friday. The dog reportedly had no health issues prior to being taken to the Westchester Commons location, and the Marks family had no reason to expect the worst.
But the worst is exactly what happened.
When Petco failed contact Allison Marks about her dog, she grew concerned. When she contacted the store, Marks was advised to come meet the store’s manager at a local animal hospital. It was then that she got the shocking news that Colby had suffered a fatal heat stroke.
Dog Dies After Being Left in Petco Dryer, Owner Says http://t.co/40iEkSg1Wc
— Michelle Radz (@MichelleRadz) June 1, 2015
Although the dog was taken for a simple grooming, the Petco groomer left the dog in a drying cage accidentally so that they could attend a graduation party. The animal was, in Marks’ words “literally cooked to death” due to Petco’s negligence. Apparently, the poor dog’s temperature was 105 degrees over an hour after his death.
Allison Marks has posted a series of images showing her life with Colby; the dog has been with the family since it was a puppy. There has been an outpouring of support as the story spreads across the Internet. In the days since the tragic accident, the Marks family has expressed a combination of shock and anger.
“It sickens me that they could just let something like this happen. How could he not suffer? He was in a cage for God knows how long.”
Petco released a statement on Sunday in response to the incident.
“All of us at Petco are heartbroken by Colby’s passing. The health and safety of pets is always our top priority and we take full responsibility for all animals under our care. We are taking immediate action to investigate and understand the situation. Our thoughts are with Colby’s family at this difficult time.”
Melody Newman, daughter of Allison Marks, said that friends and family are in “complete shock” that something like this could happen. She described the golden retriever as a “playful puppy”; the dog was only 2-years-old when it died.
According to WTKR, the groomer who left the dog in a drying cage has since been suspended. Whether any further punishment from Petco is to be expected is unknown at this time.
[Image Credit: Magnus Bråth, Allison Marks/Facebook]
