FL Man Posed As Veterinarian, Operated On Pregnant Dog Who Died: CCSO

COLLIER COUNTY, FL — A Collier County man who pretended to be a veterinarian faces charges after operating on a pregnant dog who later died, authorities said.

Osvaldo Sanchez, 61, was charged with animal abuse and practicing veterinary medicine without a license, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. The case was investigated by the agency’s Animal Cruelty Investigations Alliance.

Sugar, a 6-year-old, six-pound chihuahua, died following an illicit surgery performed by Sanchez, a licensed pet groomer, not a licensed veterinarian, on May 18.

Sugar’s owners initially contacted him because the small dog seemed to have difficulty delivering her puppies. He had been introduced to the couple as a veterinarian.

He went to their home to examine the dog and performed a C-section and spayed her in his mobile office, a converted ambulance, the sheriff’s office said. He charged Sugar’s owners $600 for the procedure.

Sugar’s surgical wound became infected and the pet spent a week “in dire shape” being cared for by a licensed veterinary clinic, the sheriff’s office said.

She was taken to a 24-hour emergency pet hospital for an ultrasound on May 25. Doctors at the hospital found that her incision was closed with string or thread, rather than standard suture material, which could have contributed to the infection, the agency said.

Sugar was brought back to the clinic that same day and died later that night from complications from the surgery.

A doctor at the emergency pet hospital told detectives that 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.

Sheriff Kevin Rambosk praised detectives for the arrest of Sanchez and urged the public to only take their pet to a licensed veterinarian.

“Pets’ lives are at risk if unlicensed individuals perform surgery, prescribe medication and claim to provide needed care,” he said. “Such individuals who believe they can operate outside the law will be arrested and held accountable — our dedicated detectives will see to it.”