PADUCAH — A family is mourning the loss of their 14-year-old yorkie, Taz, after other dogs attacked him during a vet visit, ultimately killing him.
“She hasn’t stopped crying. She- I’m really concerned about her health and well-being. I don’t think she’ll ever recover from this,” said Jenna Carlson.
Carlson’s mother, Wilma Sheppard, took Taz to Ceglinski Animal Clinic in Paducah on Oct. 10 for a kidney disease treatment. According to Carson, during the visit, two large dogs attacked and killed Taz in the waiting room area of the facility.
Sheppard and her family are heartbroken.
“She just wants some answers… even though we know it’s not gonna bring him back, we just want accountability,” said Carlson.
After the incident, Carlson contacted McCracken County Animal Control to file a report. However, it took reaching out to other agencies first.
Carlson said after she got McCracken County Animal Control’s voicemail, she called Judge Craig Clymer’s office, which led her to dispatch and finally 911.
Photo of Taz, a Yorkie killed by other dogs at Ceglinski Animal Clinic.
Animal Control Officer James Holler said there should have been no issues trying to contact animal control on Oct. 10 and that the clinic was the first entity to reach out to him about the incident.
Holler added that he could not reveal any information as there is an ongoing investigation surrounding the incident. McCracken County Animal Control is investigating and talking with witnesses.
In a statement regarding Taz’s death, Veterinarian Dr. Rennie Church with Ceglinski Animal Clinic wrote:
“All of us here at Ceglinski Animal Clinic are deeply saddened by the tragic incident that occurred on Oct. 10, which resulted in the passing of a beloved pet, Taz. Our hearts go out to Ms. Shepherd and her family during this difficult time, and we share in their grief over this loss. We all adored Taz, and we loved working with him and his owner.
Our clinic’s mission has always been to provide compassionate care and support to every pet and family that walks through our doors. The bond between pets and their owners is something we cherish deeply, and we strive to make our clinic a safe and welcoming place for all. Yesterday’s incident involved an interaction between two clients and their pets in our lobby, which resulted in Taz’s injuries. Our team immediately took action, providing emergency care and doing everything possible to try to resuscitate and heal Taz. Despite these efforts, we were unable to save him, and we are heartbroken by the outcome.
We are committed to full transparency and are cooperating with local authorities to ensure a thorough review of what occurred. While we are unable to share specific details due to state laws and privacy policies, we want to assure the community that we are dedicated to doing everything we can to support the families involved and to learn from this incident.
At Ceglinski Animal Clinic, we care deeply about our community, and our priority is always the health, safety, and well-being of the pets entrusted to us. We will continue to be here for our clients and their pets with the same level of care and compassion that we have always provided.”
After Taz was killed, Carlson’s family tried to get more information regarding the animals that attacked Taz, as well as their owner.
Dr. Church said a Kentucky Statute prevents the clinic from releasing that information.
Wilma Sheppard recounted the attack to her daughter, and Carlson said she was concerned even for her mother’s health.
“These dogs were leashed, but they should be muzzled as well. And it concerns me that a dog that is apparently aggressive did not have a muzzle on,” said Carlson.
Carlson urges other pet owners to be watchful. For those who have aggressive dogs, she hopes they’ll be mindful of others’ safety and make them wear muzzles when needed.
“Keep your head on a swivel. You never know. They grabbed her dog out of her arms,” said Carlson.
Jenna Carlson’s grandson Kainan Marple holding Taz.
Carlson and her family miss Taz and hope to find closure. They also hope to see a change in procedures in veterinary waiting areas.
“Taz was a small Yorkie who never hurt anybody. He was so loving, and he brought so much joy to our family, and we just– we just want justice for him,” said Carlson.
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