Anthem, AZ - Hannah, a 7 yr-old Maltese, went to the Animal Hospital at Anthem in early December for a dental procedure.
That same day, while still in the care of the animal hospital, Hannah was killed on a nearby highway.
Hannah belonged to Rachelle and Ian VanDerWyst - a couple with no human children. The loss of their beloved dog has shattered them both.
The couple is also angry.
Angry that they entrusted their dog to professionals and they failed to keep her safe.
Angry that Hannah had escaped and nobody from the hospital bothered to contact them to let them know.
Angry that Hannah's last moments alive were spent alone in the rain, still groggy from surgery.
According to the Animal Hospital, Hannah was taken outside, double-leashed, to go to the bathroom after her surgery. In a statement to ABC15 News, they allege that she somehow slipped away and ran.
The VanDerWysts find this hard to believe.
Hannah should have been groggy from the anesthesia which was administered during her surgery. And...when they found her body, there was no sign of a leash...or a harness.
The VanDerWysts allege that the clinic showed little to no remorse and that they offered the couple what equates to "hush" money.
The grieving couple contends that it isn't good enough. Hannah was more than a piece of property to them - she was family.
They have started a petition (click here) in an attempt to change Arizona law with respects to recognizing pet companions as having intrinsic value. They hope that through Hannah's Law, pets will come to be viewed as more than just "things".
The family has also started a Facebook page to help support Hannah's Law - click here to learn more.
Hannah's family does not want to see another dog die the way that she did. They want other owners to be aware of what happened and they hope that the hospital will make changes to ensure that mistakes like this will never happen again.
Rest in Peace Hannah.
Of note - I inquired to the Animal Hospital at Anthem about this specific situation. I asked if changes had been implemented and if they had an official statement to provide with regards to Hannah's death. I did not receive any response.
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