Florida woman returns from vacation to find pet cat Buddy euthanized by mistake

July 29, 7:24 PMTampa Headlines ExaminerDanette Pelletier

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The writer's own pampered felines, Moxie and Marino

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When Maria Velez left for vacation, she couldn't have imagined that she'd return to find her beloved cat Buddy dead due to a careless error by an Animal Services worker.

The Spring Hill mother had left the family feline in the care of her friend, Debra Yarzab. After several days of visiting the Velez home to feed and care for Buddy, Debra was suddenly bitten by the lonely pet. The bite didn't appear serious, but when the wound swelled days later, Debra sought treatment from her doctor.

Because Buddy had not been vaccinated for rabies, Debra's bite was reported to the health department, which required Debra to take Buddy to Animal Services for quarantine. Buddy was given a bill of good health from the department on July 15th, but when an Animal Services worker picked up the phone to call Debra and ask if she wanted to pick Buddy up, the employee mistakenly called another woman instead. The woman on the other end of the line had also dropped off a cat with similar markings, but she did not want to keep it, instead giving permission to have the animal euthanized. Due to the miscommunication, Velez's cat Buddy was euthanized by mistake.

Unfortunately, the errors didn't end there. When Velez returned from her trip and went to pick up her furry friend, Animal Services workers brought her the other cat. Although it had similar coloring, this cat was thinner and had no tail. Only after Maria Velez complained did she learn the awful truth: Buddy, although healthy, loved, and wanted, had been senselessly destroyed due to a careless mistake.

Velez was offended by the lack of empathy and compassion she received from Animal Services personnel. Debra Yarzab says she was told that other animals had also been mistakenly put down in the past, and coldly informed, "It happens. We don't live in a perfect world, and Buddy paid the ultimate price.''

Velez decided to go public with her story in the hope that this type of mistake won't happen to another pet owner. "I know there is no bringing back my baby,'' she told the St. Petersburg Times. "I just want changes so this never happens again.''

Velez had raised Buddy since he was a kitten. Buddy was only five years old.