By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – An Oro Valley woman said her dog suffered neck and eye injuries during a grooming appointment at Petco, leaving her family with a $3,000 medical bill.
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Stephanie Torres said her dog, Buttons, has been part of the family for three years.
“She is the baby of the family,” Torres said.
Buttons also serves as a service dog for Torres’ oldest son, Aizic.
“In the car and when we travel, she sits on his lap; it just, it provides comfort for him,” Torres said.
What happened at grooming appointment
Torres said she dropped Buttons off at Petco around 11:10 a.m.
“We get a call, I want to say it was about 11:50, that there was an incident with a blow dryer and her eye was swollen,” Torres said.
Torres said she was told Buttons needed to be taken to the vet for an eye injury. When she arrived, she said Buttons was soaking wet, and her eye was bloody and bulging out of her head.
The family took Buttons to the emergency room, where a doctor said Buttons had suffered trauma to her neck, likely due to strangulation.
“They came back and said that it didn’t look like an injury to the eye, but more like strangulation,” Torres said.
Family questions Petco’s explanation
Torres said she called Petco for an explanation and was told Buttons had fallen off the table while the groomer turned around, leaving her hanging from the leash by her neck.
“She went through something that she shouldn’t have went through. She was just supposed to get a haircut, and because somebody couldn’t take time to put her back in a kennel or down on the floor, she suffered,” Torres said.
According to the vet report, Buttons had fluid in her right lung, a partial tracheal collapse and an ulcer and hemorrhage in both eyes.
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Petco agreed to pay the $3,000 medical bill, but Torres said she still has questions.
“What protocols does Petco have in place for their staff when grooming? Why leave her on a table, why walk away?” Torres said.
Petco responds
13 News reached out to Petco for their response to the incident. Their full statement is below:
“At Petco, our commitment to the health and safety of the pets in our care is unwavering and a responsibility we take very seriously. We have high standards for animal care and safety across our operations, including grooming services, and any concern is immediately investigated — Buttons’ case is no exception. We conducted a thorough investigation into the circumstances around Buttons’ visit and, in addition to taking appropriate action internally, we have covered all veterinary expenses, and have been in contact with Buttons’ family to offer our support.”
Torres said she is grateful the costs were covered but wants to see more accountability and better training for Petco employees.
“Going forward, I definitely don’t think they should be working with animals, you know, not only did Buttons suffer, but our family suffered, in something that was really preventable,” Torres said.
Torres said Buttons is expected to make a full recovery from her injuries. She said she will continue to raise awareness about what happened.
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