Dog Hit By Car And Killed During Grooming Appointment At Coon Rapids Petco
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A Twin Cities dog owner wants to warn others after a deadly accident happened in an unlikely place.
Coon Rapids resident Danna Shannon dropped off her 3-year-old black lab Shiloh to be groomed at a Petco store in Coon Rapids on Monday. Within minutes, the dog was able to run outside and was eventually hit and killed by a car.
"I just wanted to take care of her and I wanted her to have a good home," Shannon said.
From the moment she rescued a timid and anxious Shiloh, it was clear to Shannon the dog had been through a lot.
"The rescue told me they got a bunch of animals from a hoarder's home," she said.
Over the years, Shannon says the family pet added so much happiness to their home.
"People say they're just dogs, but she was like a kid to me," she said. "I did everything I could for her to make her life good."
Shannon expected her dog would be safe at a Coon Rapids Petco, but she was horrified to learn her dog had been killed after running out of the store.
"It was a nightmare," she said. "How could this happen?"
Coon Rapids police reports show Shiloh was hit by a car along Highway 10 near the Petco and then taken to a nearby emergency veterinarian where the dog was pronounced dead.
"It was one of the worst moments of my life," Shannon said.
Shannon says she believes a nervous Shiloh got out from a propped open door that leads right outside from the grooming center.
"It's like taking a dog to daycare, or a child," she said. "You have to trust they will take care of that loved one, and it didn't happen."
Shannon hopes the grooming section can be moved to the back of the store and wants owners to ask questions and pay close attention to surroundings when dropping off pets anywhere.
"They are family, they become family very quickly," Shannon said.
Shannon said Petco paid the veterinary costs for emergency care and for an urn for Shiloh.
Petco Corporate Communications Manager Lisa Stark released the following statement to WCCO:
"At Petco, we groom thousands of pets every day and our commitment to the health and safety of animals in our care is at the forefront of all we do. We're heartbroken over what happened to Shiloh. After a thorough investigation, we've determined that our animal care protocols were not followed while she was in our store and, as of today, the individual directly involved is no longer part of our company. We take full responsibility for this tragic incident and understand there is no way to make up for the loss of a pet. Our thoughts are with Shiloh's family during this difficult time."
