A PET warning has been issued after a groomer "killed a pregnant chihuahua after posing as a vet to perform surgery and stitched the wound with string".
Osvaldo Sanchez, 61, from Florida, was later arrested after carrying out the fatal procedure that ultimately killed the dog.
The accused man was charged with animal abuse and practising veterinary medicine without a license.
He was taken into custody by officers with the Collier County Sheriff's Office on August 11 following an investigation by the Animal Cruelty Investigations Alliance.
Detectives were alerted after a six-year-old, six-pound Chihuahua named Sugar died following an illicit surgery performed by Sanchez on May 18, according to the Sheriff's Office.
The pup's owners took it to Sanchez after he had previously been introduced to them as a vet.
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He performed a deadly C-section and a spay procedure on the tiny Chihuahua that appeared to be having difficulty delivering her puppies.
He removed a stillborn puppy during the procedure that he performed in his mobile office, a converted ambulance.
Sanchez later charged the owners £473 for the surgery that left Sugar with a severe infection.
The dog reportedly had to spend the following week in the care of a licensed veterinary clinic.
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An ultrasound – carried out on May 25 – revealed Sugar's surgical incision was closed with string or thread and not the standard suture material.
Doctors told her owners this was what likely led to the bad infection.
A few hours later, Sugar died from multiple complications from the surgery.
A doctor at the emergency pet hospital told detectives that Sugar would have survived if a qualified vet performed the C-section, a surgery that is quite common with pregnant dogs.
Police then arrested Sanchez, who later turned out to be a pet groomer and was not licensed as a vet.
Sheriff Kevin Rambosk praised detectives for their diligence and urged the public to do their research and only entrust their pet to a licensed veterinarian.
He said in a statement: "Pets' lives are at risk if unlicensed individuals perform surgery, prescribe medication and claim to provide needed care.
"Such individuals who believe they can operate outside the law will be arrested and held accountable – our dedicated detectives will see to it."
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