Detectives in Florida arrested a 61-year-old man Friday after they say he posed as a veterinarian and performed surgery on a pregnant dog that later died.
Osvaldo Sanchez, 61, is charged with animal abuse and practicing veterinary medicine without a license following an investigation by Collier County Sheriff’s Office Animal Cruelty Investigations Alliance.
Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk praised detectives for their diligence in bringing about an arrest. He urged the public to do their research and only entrust their pet to a licensed veterinarian.
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“Pets’ lives are at risk if unlicensed individuals perform surgery, prescribe medication and claim to provide needed care,” Sheriff Rambosk said. “Such individuals who believe they can operate outside the law will be arrested and held accountable – our dedicated detectives will see to it.”
Detectives were alerted after a 6-year-old, six-pound Chihuahua named Sugar died following an illicit surgery performed by Sanchez on May 18.
Sugar’s owners contacted Sanchez because the tiny dog appeared to be having difficulty delivering her puppies. Sanchez had been previously introduced to the couple as a veterinarian.
Sanchez came to their home to examine Sugar and performed a C-section and spay procedure on the dog in his mobile office, a converted ambulance. He removed a stillborn puppy during the procedure. Sanchez charged Sugar’s owners $600 for the procedure.
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Sugar subsequently became ill from infection as a result of the surgery and spent the following week in the care of a licensed veterinary clinic in dire shape.
On May 25, Sugar was taken to a 24-hour emergency pet hospital for an ultrasound. The doctors noted Sugar’s surgical incision was closed with string or thread and not the standard suture material which could have contributed to her infection.
Sugar returned to the veterinary clinic the same day and died later that night from multiple complications from the surgery.
A doctor at the emergency pet hospital told detectives a C-Section is not an uncommon surgery on pregnant dogs and that had a qualified veterinarian performed the procedure on Sugar she likely would have survived.
Further investigation revealed Sanchez is a licensed pet groomer, but he is not a licensed veterinarian.
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