A Georgia family who paid an animal clinic to put down their sick pug claims they later discovered the dog was alive and living with a clinic employee.
Rebecca Belote brought her 4-year-old pug, Cha Cha, to Senoia Animal Hospital in Senoia, Georgia, after the dog developed severe diabetes symptoms, according to reporting by WSB-TV. Doctors recommended euthanasia, which the family agreed to and paid for in March.
Months later, Belote spotted a photo on Facebook that appeared to show Cha Cha alive, per coverage from FOX 5 Atlanta. Investigators learned a veterinary technician had secretly taken the pug home and was managing the dog’s medical care privately.
Belote filed an official complaint with the Georgia State Board of Veterinary Medicine, according to PEOPLE. While police reviewed similar allegations involving a cat at the same clinic, local authorities concluded the employees’ actions did not violate criminal law, referring the matter to state licensing boards for ethical review.
