LAKELAND, Fla. – A Lakeland woman is behind bars after federal agents intercepted a shipment of veterinary sedatives from India, uncovering what Polk County detectives describe as a black-market surgical operation for dogs.
The investigation began when U.S. Customs officials in New York flagged a package addressed to a home on North Socrum Loop Road. Inside the box, authorities found eight containers of liquid Xylazine, a powerful sedative often called “tranq” when diverted for illegal street use. In total, the shipment contained 240 grams of the substance.
On February 26, 2026, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, alongside Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, served a search warrant at the residence. There, they met 35-year-old Ashley Wimbrow.
According to investigators, Wimbrow admitted she had been performing surgeries on dogs for about a year despite having no medical training. She told deputies she used the Xylazine to sedate animals for cosmetic procedures like ear cropping and tail docking. Wimbrow reportedly charged owners between $10 and $100 per session, depending on the size of the dog.
When questioned about her credentials, Wimbrow told deputies she did not have a license to practice veterinary medicine and claimed she was unaware that one was required. State records confirmed she is not a licensed veterinarian.
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The scene inside the home raised further alarms for animal control officers. Deputies reported finding five “pocket bullies”—a smaller variation of the pit bull breed—kept in separate, filthy crates. The room was filled with the smell of ammonia, and the crates were reportedly covered in fresh and dried feces and urine.
“Fortunately, we found no evidence of ‘tranq/fentanyl’ trafficking,” Sheriff Grady Judd said. “Unfortunately, we discovered that animals were being subject to unsafe surgeries and dogs were being confined in an unhealthy environment. No one should be performing medical procedures on animals without proper training or licensing.”
Wimbrow signed over custody of the five dogs to the Sheriff’s Office. The animals were taken to Polk County Animal Control for medical evaluations and are expected to be placed with a reputable rescue for adoption. Officials noted there was no evidence the dogs were being used for fighting.
Wimbrow now faces multiple charges, including possession of a controlled substance, practicing veterinary medicine without a license, animal neglect, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
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