Petco suspends technician during Chesterfield dog death investigation

Chesterfield, Va. — (WWBT) A Petco technician is on suspension as the store investigates the death of a dog at its Midlothian location.

Petco is still investigating the death of 2-year-old Colby after a Powhatan woman who owned the dog says her beloved pet died in the store’s care. Allison Marks claims Petco employees told her that they found the dog dead in a drying cage and says a vet then told her he believed Colby died of a heat stroke.

“I can’t breathe. I feel like I’ve lost my best friend, Marks said about the loss. She says she dropped her Golden Retriever off for a grooming at the Petco in the Westchester Commons shopping center. However, Marks claims when she called to check in on her dog, she was put on hold for at least 15 minutes. Marks then says the person who answered the phone asked her to meet a Petco employee at a nearby animal clinic. When Marks entered the animal clinic, she says she was escorted into a room and told Colby was gone.