Pet Legal Q&A

I brought my sick dog to the vet on Saturday. Different treatment options were discussed, including hospitalization, IV therapy, and testing. I made it clear that I wanted my dog to be saved and told the vet to do whatever it took. The vet explained that treatment could cost thousands of dollars, but I agreed to move forward. We also briefly discussed euthanasia, but I did not want my dog euthanized. There were financial options available, including insurance that I had recently obtained, although I later had to cancel it because of this unexpected situation. We agreed that the vet would perform tests and eventually hospitalize my dog. However, when I was later called into the room, I discovered that they had euthanized my dog without my approval...

If a groomer gets angry with you and purposely cuts your dog’s hair differently than instructed, and also shaves parts of the dog’s neck down to the pink skin, can I sue? If so, how much could I sue for? Since the grooming incident, my dog has been staying close to me all day, every day.

My wife and I took our dog to a groomer in Loveland, Colorado, where my daughter lives, as we reside in Nebraska. During the grooming session, my wife received a phone call stating that there had been an incident, but the groomer would not provide details until she arrived. When my wife arrived, our dog was still on the grooming table being groomed, and there was a significant amount of blood coming from his mouth. The owner explained that he had accidentally been cut on the tongue but was unsure whether we wanted to take him to a vet. The owner stated that they would cover the veterinary bills and that there would be no charge for the grooming. The groomer appeared very remorseful and was in tears over what had happened. Due to the amount of blood, my wife immediately picked up our dog and rushed him to a veterinary hospital. The vet took him in right away and performed surgery, placing 14 stitches in his tongue. We were told that the cut was serious and that it was fortunate we brought him in when we did, as he could have bled to death. Although the groomer paid the veterinary bills, our dog is now very traumatized. We are having difficulty getting him groomed again because he is scared. We had to hand-feed him for three days after the surgery, and he now runs away whenever he sees a grooming table. My question is, even though the groomer paid the vet bills, I believe there was negligence in not recognizing the seriousness of the injury and reporting it immediately. We also believe there should be compensation for pain and suffering.