'Perfectly healthy' cat dies suddenly at pet grooming center - and staff cremates it BEFORE owner can find out why it died

CALIFORNIA -- A heartbroken cat owner arrived at a grooming parlor to collect her cat and was told that the pet had died and already been cremated - and staff refused to hand over the ashes.

Vanessa Rodriguez-McQuade said she was heartbroken over the loss of her beloved pet Sandy, who was 'perfectly healthy' when she dropped her off at VIP Pets in Sacremento.

But hours later, VIP Pets told Vanessa that Sandy had simply become unresponsive and died - but the fact she had already been cremated led her to wonder 'what really happened'.

 

 

'I miss her so much. She was just so hyper, so happy,' Vanessa told CBS Sacremento.

'She was a perfectly healthy two-year-old cat.

'You’re not going to know until you have an autopsy done.'

Vet Dr Jyl Rubin told CBS Sacremento that a necropsy - and autopsy for an animal - wasn't possible because she had already been cremated.

Emma Chen, owner of VIP Pets claimed they brought the cat to a vets who told her Sandy died of a heart attack or a blood clot.

But CBS Sacremento checked with the vet office in question who said they had never seen the cat.
VIP Pets claim they asked Vanessa if she wanted a necropsy but she refused and made sure she knew where the cat was taken for cremation.

But Vanessa claims they specifically asked for one.

 

VIP Pets have now handed over the ashes and paid for an urn which has Sandy's name engraved on the top and is now in display at Vanessa's house.

'I’m sure she’s probably happy to be home', Vanessa said.

And Dr Rubin advised pet owners to stay with their animals for grooming as it can be a stressful scenario which can lead to unexpected health problems and even death.

(Daily Mail - May 19, 2015)