WASHINGTON 鈥� A聽 Virginia woman blames a Petco groomer for聽her dog’s untimely death.
Allison Marks of聽Powhatan聽dropped her dog, Colby, a 2-year-old golden retriever off at a Petco in Chesterfield County on聽Friday for a routine grooming.
Marks became concerned when she hadn’t heard back from the store after a couple of hours since dropping off her dog.聽She then called the store and that鈥檚 when she was told to meet the store鈥檚 assistant manager at an area animal hospital.聽When she arrived, she says the store鈥檚 assistant manager told her Colby was accidentally left in a heated drying cage for too long.
鈥淭his is her exact words: your groomer had to go because she had a graduation to go to,鈥� Marks tells in Richmond.
Petco鈥檚 corporate office聽told Marks聽that the drying cages cut off after 15 minutes. However,聽a veterinarian told聽Marks that Colby likely died of heat stroke. More than an hour after Colby鈥檚 death, the dog鈥檚 internal temperature still registered more than 105 degrees.
Marks聽says聽Petco鈥檚 management team was聽kind during the ordeal but that she wants justice. She says the assistant manager was weeping along with her at the vet鈥檚 office.
“You can’t replace a dog like that. He was the most lovable dog ever. It sickens me that they could just let something like this happen,” says Marks adding Colby’s passing on Friday was the worst day since her husband died.
Relatives of Marks say聽the dog聽had no pre-existing health problems.
