Florida man posed as veterinarian, operated on dog, says sheriff

A Florida man lied about being a veterinarian and performed a surgery on a pregnant Chihuahua that died from complications caused by the procedure, authorities said Friday.

Osvaldo Sanchez, 61, was arrested Friday. He held a license as a pet groomer, but did not have the proper credentials to perform a surgery, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office said.

Sanchez was charged with animal abuse and practicing veterinary medicine without a license following an investigation by our Animal Cruelty Investigations Alliance,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.

A man by Sanchez’s name operates a pet grooming business in Naples, a Florida Gulf Coast city that is the biggest municipality in Collier County, public records show.

Sanchez’s legal troubles began when the owners of a pregnant 6-year-old Chihuahua named Sugar noticed signs of distress as she began to deliver puppies, the sheriff’s department said.

Sanchez — who was previously introduced to Sugar’s owners as a qualified veterinarian — went to the owners’ residence on May 18, where he tried to perform a Caesarean section on the dog, the sheriff’s office said. He allegedly charged the owners a $600 fee.

After the surgery, Sugar’s health deteriorated, and she developed an infection, her owners said.

They took her to an emergency pet hospital on May 25, where veterinary personnel discovered that the incision had been closed using string or thread rather than proper suture material — a factor they said likely contributed to her infection.

Sugar returned to the hospital clinic later that same day, and died from complications of the initial surgery.

Doctors at the pet hospital informed law enforcement that C-sections are not uncommon surgeries for dogs, and that if a licensed professional had performed the operation, Sugar probably would have survived.

“Pets’ lives are at risk if unlicensed individuals perform surgery, prescribe medication and claim to provide needed care,” said Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk.

“Such individuals who believe they can operate outside the law will be arrested and held accountable — our dedicated detectives will see to it,” he added.

With News Wire Services