HOWELL, NJ (WPIX/CNN) - Authorities are investigating after a New Jersey woman says her dog she took in to be euthanized five months ago was never put down.
Keri Levy, of Freehold, was the owner of Ceaser, a 15-year-old mini pinscher.
She thought her dog had been put down after Ceaser was diagnosed with an illness that would kill him.
"She came back, she picked up the collar and actually paid her bill and received, even, a letter from the veterinary offices stating their condolences on the loss of her pet," said Chief Ross Licitra, with the Monmouth County SPCA.
But Ceaser was never put down. Instead, a vet tech took the dog home to live with her.
"She received an anonymous tip from someone that told her that her dog was still alive and in the care of a vet tech that worked at the hospital," Licitra said.
Levy confronted the vet. Dr. George Menez used to own the Briarwood Veterinary Hospital but has since sold the practice.
"We don't believe it was done in a sinister way, but at the end of the day we have a victim who now has to double grieve," Licitra said.
Levy was reunited with her family dog one last time before Ceaser was euthanized.
Police were there for the exchange.
"The vet tech seemed to be very emotionally attached to this dog," said Howell Police Chief Andrew Kudrick. "The previous owner probably had some mixed emotions thinking that the dog had been put down and now was seeing that dog once again."
The SPCA said the vet and employee involved no longer work at the hospital. Possible charges of theft and animal cruelty are being investigated.
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