A Brooklyn man is suing an animal hospital and veterinarian for $3 million, claiming the vet ignored his pregnant Pomeranian's distress during a 30-hour labor, ultimately leading to the death of the dog and her three unborn puppies. The lawsuit was filed in Brooklyn Supreme Court by Yiutung Lok against VEG ER for Pets and veterinarian Kayla Anderson.
Lok alleges that on April 15, his 3-year-old Pomeranian, Eva, began experiencing labor pains at home. Around five hours into labor, Eva began leaking a significant amount of green vaginal fluid, and one of her amniotic sacs had protruded and ruptured. Lok contacted Anderson, who he claims dismissed his concerns, stating the discharge was “perfectly normal” and advised Lok to let Eva continue laboring at home, predicting birth within the next 16 to 24 hours.
Lok reported that Eva’s condition worsened over the following hours, and she was unable to deliver any puppies. He contacted the animal hospital multiple times, but Anderson allegedly advised him to wait. Anderson only suggested bringing Eva back to the hospital after her shift concluded around 8 a.m. on April 16. Lok persisted and brought Eva in at 5:40 a.m. that morning.
According to the lawsuit, by the time Eva received medical attention, it was too late. She died on the examination table approximately 20 minutes later, along with her unborn puppies. Lok stated he had planned to sell the purebred puppies for approximately $5,000 each.
Lok is seeking $3 million in punitive damages, which his attorney, Peggy Collen, stated is intended to punish egregious conduct and deter future misconduct. Lok described Eva as a beloved pet who made his family laugh daily and expressed devastation over her loss.
A spokesperson for VEG ER for Pets, which has numerous locations across the U.S. and Canada, stated the hospital could not comment on the lawsuit due to client confidentiality but offered condolences to Mr. Lok. Veterinarian Kayla Anderson declined to comment on the case.