RHEA COUNTY, Tenn. — Some pet owners in Rhea County are concerned after they say their dogs died not long after being treated by a veterinarian.
Official documentation shows the vet has a clean record. But one pet owner is still moving forward with filing a state complaint.
“We were told she had to stay overnight. Like, no questions about it. She had to stay 24 hours for observation.”
Jacob Richards took his Great Dane, Azrael, to get spayed in May of 2024.
The next morning, Richards says…
“As soon as the doctor answered the phone, he came over and just said, ‘Azrael was found on the ground this morning, passed away.'”
Richards says he believed Azrael would be watched overnight, but claims Dr. Taylor told them the vet tech left around 9 p.m.
“He told my step dad that nobody was monitoring the dog.”
We reached out to Dr. Taylor and he told us they’ve never offered overnight monitoring.
Richards sent his dog off for a necropsy at the University of Tennessee.
That report says the cause of death was an abdominal hemorrhage and Richard’s dog lost 56 percent of her blood.
Ashley Varner also lost a pet after minor surgery.
“There was a dog here, and it bit her ear, and it split it down the middle about an inch and a half.”
Varner says she’s concerned with how her puppy was handled.
“He said that they tried to resuscitate her for an hour and a half. How would you do that with a little bitty puppy? Did they give her too much anesthesia?”
Dr. Taylor told us…
“Complications can arise with surgeries and animals can have adverse reactions to anesthesia.”
The Department of Health shows that Dr. Taylor has no history of disciplinary action.
Richards says he filed a complaint with the department, and received this response:
When asked if Varner would file a complaint as well, she said…
“Oh, yeah, I would for sure.”
Dr. Taylor also tells us that all owners do sign consent forms about understanding the risks involved.
He says the loss of an animal is heartbreaking to all involved, including their staff.
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