Robin Lawson and Chris Galliher filed their complaint against Good Shepherd Veterinary Hospital and Sarah W. Stephenson, DVM, on April 27 in Kanawha Circuit Court.
In the complaint, the plaintiffs say their dog Shiloh, an eight-month-old Miniature Red Merle Australian Shepherd, was scheduled to be spayed at the hospital on Jan. 25.
They say that on multiple occasions, they asked that Shiloh not be released from her cage or be taken outside after surgery. Instead, they asked for Shiloh to have a pee pad in her cage.
“After surgery, defendants or its agents took Shiloh outside to use the bathroom,” the complaint states. “While outside, Shiloh’s leash was dropped and she ran away. At this point, Shiloh had sutures in her belly and still was under the influence of pain medication.”
On Jan. 27, they say Shiloh’s body was found on railroad tracks after she had been struck and killed by a passing train. The plaintiffs says they searched for the dog nonstop during those three days.
On a Facebook page called Justice for Shiloh, a post says Shiloh and the veterinarian’s dog were outside together. Shiloh still was under anesthesia and on pain medication when the vet’s dog allegedly broke loose. Shiloh’s leash was dropped and the “vet tech took off after her boss’s dog.” The other dog was captured, according to the page.
The plaintiffs claim the defendants’ negligence and recklessness was to blame for Shiloh’s death. They seek compensatory damages as well as pre- and post-judgment interest, court costs, attorney fees and other relief.
They are being represented by South Charleston attorney Mark S. Plants of Plants Law Offices.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number 17-C-597