Family says animal hospital worker took pug home after they paid for euthanasia

COWETA COUNTY, Ga. (WSB) — A Georgia family said they paid hundreds of dollars for an animal hospital to euthanize their 4-year-old pug, then learned months later the dog was still alive.

The family said they were shocked by the discovery. They believe a worker at the hospital took the dog home.

Dog became sick

Rebecca Belote said her 17-year-old son and the pug, named Cha Cha, wore matching hoodies.

“She hardly walked anywhere because he carried her everywhere,” Belote said.

Belote said Cha Cha then became sick. She said the family was told the dog was in organ failure and had diabetic ketoacidosis.

Belote said Senoia Animal Hospital recommended the dog be euthanized. She said the decision affected her son and her husband.

“They both took it kind of hard. My son was really attached to the dog,” Belote said.

Photo on Facebook

The family said Cha Cha was not euthanized in March as they believed and that a hospital worker took the dog home, keeping her for months.

Belote said she was on Facebook when she saw a picture of Cha Cha.

“I knew scrolling like, ‘That’s my dog,’” Belote said.

Belote said a former hospital worker confirmed a hospital employee took Cha Cha.

Hospital denies claim

Belote said the hospital denied the claim.

“They have a lawyer and they won’t talk about it. They just say it didn’t happen,” Belote said.

Belote said she spoke with the worker’s husband, who confirmed his wife had Cha Cha. She said he told her the pug was in good health.

Belote said the hospital eventually put Cha Cha down. She said she thinks the hospital did so to hide what happened.

“The fact that they put a healthy dog down. That’s just sick,” Belote said.

The animal hospital did not respond with a statement.