Saturday, October 27, 2012

9/21/12: Reno man charged with animal cruelty after two puppies die from botched surgery

NEVADA -- A 34-year-old Reno man has been charged related to a botched surgery he allegedly performed on a pregnant pet where his handiwork killed two unborn puppies and nearly killed their mother, court documents allege.

Joshua Lee Vestal was arrested this week on a warrant charging him with practicing veterinary medicine without a license and two counts of animal cruelty.

Joshua Lee Vestal
He was released from the Washoe County Jail after posting bail. No court date had yet been scheduled. It was not known Friday if he obtained an attorney.

Vestal is accused of performing an emergency Cesarean Section in January on his daughter's pregnant Chihuahua, who had been in labor for two days.

Authorities said he stitched the dog's wounds with sewing thread.

Court documents say Vestal then took the dog and five puppies he removed from the animal to a Reno veterinary office. He also brought two puppies that he removed, that died.

A veterinary doctor told authorities the Chihuahua needed life-saving surgery after Vestal's procedure, and said the two puppies bled to death after Vestal cut their birth sacs, according to a criminal complaint.

A relative told police Vestal performed the C-Section because he didn't have money to pay an animal doctor, the document said.

The veterinary doctor told police the dog was in pain and overheated following the incident. The live puppies were cold and barely moving.

The conditions of the dogs and her pups were not immediately known Friday.

(RGJ.com - Sept 21, 2012)