Justice for Molly - Help Fight Vet Neglect of AAECP

My dog Molly was my best friend. Molly did not die from a disease or old age. She died after a routine checkup at AAECP went horribly wrong. I believe Animal AM-Emergency Clinic is responsible.

Where you take your pets for treatment and care is a choice. I am fighting this fight transparently so no one else has to go through the same devastation and pain that Molly and I did.

This entire situation was entirely avoidable. My greatest fear is that this has happened to someone else, or that it will happen to someone again. I have records documenting every visit to explain in greater detail what we went through — both Molly physically and us financially.

Nothing will bring my best friend back. I’m asking for your support so no other family has to go through this devastation. All donations go directly to lawyer fees and protest supplies.

THE TIMELINE - WHAT HAPPENED TO MOLLY?

Justice for Molly Website

December 8, 2023

I took my dog Molly to get a recheck of her blood work and a vaccine at Animal AM-Emergency Clinic (Pasadena, CA). She walked from my car, through the parking lot, up the stairs, and into the lobby where a vet tech took her from me. She was walking fine.

15 minutes later, a different vet tech brought her to my car. Her hind area was covered in urine. He told me she peed on herself because she was nervous. This was odd — Molly never behaved like that during bloodwork. I told him this, and that is when I noticed Molly could barely stand and was stumbling. Her paws curled under as she tried to walk. I asked the vet tech what was wrong with her. He stared at me, silent. Again, I asked what was wrong with her. When he didn’t answer, I asked if someone had dropped her. He looked away. I knew something was terribly wrong.

He said that we should go back in and talk to the doctor, pulling her by her leash. She was obviously struggling. I picked her up and carried her into a waiting room.

Dr. Mo, who we had seen many times before, came into the room looking just as confused as I was. He said he had no idea what happened. I was crying. I told him how she and the tech arrived at my car, including that the tech was pulling her behind him. I told him that she was completely fine when I brought her in for her appointment and handed her off. At that point, Molly could no longer stand. Dr. Mo looked at her on the floor and said that she was not walking fine when she arrived. I told him that was not true. When I’d dropped her off, she was excited, wagging her tail. She wasn’t struggling at all. As we sat in that room, Molly was laying on the floor, whining, unable to get up. After we went back and forth, he agreed and said that she was 10x worse than when she walked in and said he wanted to know what was going on and wanted to do X-rays.

He then got a stretcher to carry her to the back, as she was still unable to stand.

When Dr. Mo brought her back in, he showed me the X-rays. He said that he could not turn her on her back for the X-Rays because she was in pain, so he took them on her side. He then brought up that she had back issues already. I said I know her history, but once again she walked in here fine. She was not struggling, she climbed the stairs, she was not limping. This is a dog that plays fetch and takes long walks, loves to run and jump. Why is she like this in just 15 minutes after getting routine bloodwork?

He claimed Molly must have been struggling, and during that struggle she must have tweaked her back. He then said that they put her on her back to collect urine. I was surprised, since this was only to be a recheck of her blood work. Immediately, I was concerned. This was never something I was told would be happening. No one informed me of this procedure, or the that they would be poking a needle into her bladder to extract it. I would have never allowed this procedure had I have known, because this procedure was too high risk.

Molly had a history of MRSP, which Dr. Mo knew. Dr. Mo and this vet office are the ones who sent in the cultures and it came back as MRSP. This was well documented. Having needles poked into her with any risk of her intestines or colon being punctured is never something I would risk. There were other ways to collect urine, and this was a routine visit.

At this point, Dr. Mo said she needs to be on complete rest for three weeks with pain management and anti-inflammatories. He gave her a pain shot. I brought up the vet tech who had dragged her out to the car. Dr. Mo said that he talked with him and then — with a smile — said, “Kids these days.”

The receptionists came into the room with a credit card machine. I paid. Dr. Mo and another tech brought her to my car on a stretcher and we went home.

When we got home, we put Molly into a gated area with her bed and blankets. I tried to help her use the restroom, but she was whining and could hardly move. Immediately I called an emergency hospital (VCA Animal Specialty Group) and explained what was happening. They told us to bring her in right away. As we loaded Molly into the car, I looked over the receipt from Animal AM. The pain shot Dr. Mo administered wasn’t listed. I knew ASG would need that information, so I called Animal AM, and the receptionist looked in Molly’s file and said that there was no mention of a pain med. I told her that was incorrect.

The receptionist put me on hold. She came back and said that the tech assured her there had been no pain medication, just her flu shot. I told her that I was in the room with Dr. Mo, and that we discussed the pain med and I watched him administer it. She told me that Dr. Mo was not in and that I would have to wait until Sunday for clarification. I told her that I needed this information now as I was on the way to an emergency hospital. I asked her to call Dr. Mo. She refused twice. I told her that once we got to the hospital, I would have VCA call and ask. She said that she would tell them the same thing.

I asked to speak to a manager. She put me on hold for about 15 minutes. I hung up and called back. We argued. She said she could not help me because she did not have Dr. Mo’s number. I was outraged. Dr. Mo is the owner. I didn’t understand how he wasn’t able to be contacted. She put me on hold again, and a woman came to the phone. She was the one who put Mollys X-rays up for the doctor. She remembered me. I told her what was happening, and she said she would take care of it. 10 minutes later, She got the information from Dr. Mo directly, since it was never written down.

When we arrived at VCA ASG, they took her in the back and assessed her. After about 30 minutes, the doctor came into the room. She said they wanted to keep her since she was in pain and wanted to do an MRI. They said she would be seen by the resident in Neurology the next day, but it was not certain if she would get an MRI that day. We left her with VCA.

December 9, 2023

We saw the resident neurologist. He said that after checking her and reviewing her X-Rays, Molly did have some type of acute trauma. His examination showed the same symptoms we had seen. He said that as the day went by, she was able to take some steps and use the restroom.

Based on their findings, they suspected Molly had sustained a spinal cord injury, likely secondary to an acute on chronic disc herniation.

We were allowed to take her home and keep her on complete rest and medications until her scheduled MRI.

December 12,2023

I brought Molly in for her MRI. They said she would need to stay overnight as well to recover.

December 13, 2023

I met with the neurologist. We went over the MRI. It showed Molly has chronic back issues, as well as acute injuries. We talked about how mobile Molly has always been. We talked about how active she has always been and how she had been able to play and jump for her ball and frisbee. The doctor confirmed that something acute happened.

During her examination, VCA had found a mass in her abdomen. The mass had not been there on Friday when she was brought in, which VCA acknowledged. Unsure what it was, they were able to take a sample of it and send it out. They said it could be a few things, but that it might be an infection. They explained that when the urine was taken using the Cystocentesis, it is possible that when they went through the bladder with the needle, the intestine could have been poked, letting bacteria out. They talked about urine leaking out from the procedure. It was possible she could have a mass of infection from this event.

We took her home with more instructions of strict rest and medications. At this point, Molly was able to slowly walk with the assistance of a sling and my body to support her so that she could use the restroom.

December 14, 2023

I got a call from VCA ASG. I was told to bring her in immediately for emergency surgery. The results were back: she had an infection and was septic.

December 15, 2023

Molly was hospitalized to recover from surgery.

December 16, 2023

Molly remained hospitalized to recover from surgery.

December 17, 2023

Molly was released from the hospital and returned home on bedrest.

December 18, 2023

Molly returned to VCA ASG to receive her Amikacin injection, along with subcutaneous fluids to protect her kidneys, as a major side effect from this antibiotic is kidney damage. She was receiving this antibiotic to treat MRSP. She was to come in daily for this antibiotic.

December 19, 2023

Molly returned to hospital for her Amikacin injection with subcutaneous fluids. At that time, the doctor switched to another antibiotic, Chloramphenicol, as Molly was showing signs of kidney issues. She was urinating frequently and on herself.

December 20, 2023

Molly remained home.

December 21, 2023

Molly was having difficulty breathing. Her respiratory rate was in the 50s. We went to VCA ASG. She was admitted and placed in an oxygen chamber.

December 22, 2023

Molly remained in the hospital.

December 23, 2023

Molly was released from the hospital. VCA believed she either had pneumonia or blood clots in her lungs. She was sent home with medication and care instructions in case she had pneumonia. She was to have multiple steam treatments at home to try to clear her lungs.

December 24-28, 2023

Molly remained home and continued home treatments. At this point, Molly was taking some sort of medication six times a day. The antibiotic was dangerous to humans and has been shown to cause anemia if touched. Gloves needed to be worn.

Through all of this, I was unable to work, as Molly was needing 24/7 care.

December 28, 2023

Molly went in for an evaluation and more X-rays. The lung that had shown evidence of pneumonia no longer appeared affected, but the other lung did. The doctor recommended an echocardiogram.

December 29, 2023

Molly remained home and continued with home treatments.

December 30, 2023

Molly went to VCA West Los Angeles for an echocardiogram.

The finding showed she did not have any significant heart issues. She did not have pulmonary hypertension, which had been the concern.

December 30, 2023

Molly remained home. Her breathing was labored on and off. Any progress she made with her walking before surgery was gone. She had to be carried and supported at all times. She completed her antibiotic. As Gabapentin was not helping the inflammation or pain, she began Carprofen.

December 31, 2023

Molly declined further. It was becoming more difficult for her to breathe.

January 1, 2023

Molly was still having labored breathing.

January 2, 2023

Molly was still having labored breathing.

January 3, 2023

Molly’s breathing was extremely labored. She was hospitalized again with VCA ASG and placed on oxygen. After more ultrasounds and X-rays, they discovered her lungs were filling with fluid. The fear was that she had clots in her lungs. She would not survive going under anesthesia for treatment. With no humane options remaining, she was euthanized to end her suffering.

Molly died in my arms. I am forever changed.