Woman wants justice after dog dies during grooming at Petco

Mary Bowerman | USA TODAY Network

A Virginia woman said she wants "justice" after her dog died of a possible heat stroke during a routine grooming at Petco.

Allison Marks dropped her 2-year-old golden retriever off at a Petco in Midlothian, Va., on Friday morning, ABC News reported. Marks said she called Petco to check on Colby that afternoon and was told to meet one of the Petco managers at a local animal shelter.

When she arrived, Colby was dead. Marks said the assistant manager told her that employees found Colby in a drying unit after the technician who was working on the dog left to go to a graduation.

"I just started screaming," Marks told ABC. "Colby was my everything."

She says the veterinarian told her that Colby had been dead for 45 minutes, and his temperature was still above 105 degrees, ABC reports.

"I don't know if they turned him over to another groomer and they dropped the ball or what," Marks told ABC. "I know people walk back and forth past the dryers constantly because I have to take Colby back there myself with his anxiety."

Marks said that Petco corporate offices assured her that the drying units that dogs are placed in turn off after 15 minutes, but she isn't buying that story, according to WTVR-TV, a local CBS station in Richmond, Va.

"I said, 'Well, if they cut off after 15 minutes, how come his temperature is still so high?'" she told WTVR.

Petco released a statement on Monday addressing the situation. The company said a "thorough investigation" is ongoing: "The groomers involved have been suspended while we complete a thorough investigation, and we are in contact with the pet parents and coordinating with local Animal Services to understand what happened in this terrible situation."

Marks says she is looking into pressing charges.

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