STUTTGART, Ark. (Legal Newsline) - Grandchildren are suing a veterinary practice after an allegedly botched attempt to give an English Bulldog his shots resulted in the death of their grandmother.
Varanda Robinson, Constance Napoleon and Joelle Jamison filed the lawsuit Jan. 11 in Arkansas County Circuit Court, on behalf of Gearline Johnson. The defendants are VIP Pet Care and Community Veterinary Clinics.
The defendants travel to stores like Tractor Supply to perform veterinary services, the suit says. At one such clinic in September 2020, Johnson took Mr. Charlie - and English Bulldog mixed with Pit Bull who was so well-behaved he played with Johnson's great grandchildren - in for his yearly shots, the suit says.
But the technician was afraid of being bit, and a muzzle was too small, the suit says. She wrapped a towel around Mr. Charlie's head to try to keep his jaws shot but only agitated the dog, it adds.
Johnson tried to rub Mr. Charlie's head to calm him down, but he shook his head and his jaw and teeth hit Johnson's hand, the suit says. She fell backwards, lost her footing and landed on the side of her head, the suit says.
She was taken to Baptist Medical Center in Stuttgart first, then a hospital in Little Rock via helicopter when her condition deteriorated. She had suffered swelling in her brain and was placed on life support the next day, eventually dying when she lost all brain function, the suit says.
The defendants were negligent "In attempting to use a large white towel to wrap around a large dog's head instead of using a muzzle or other restraining device," the suit says.
"The defendants' employee/agent also had the option of asking the family to return when they had the proper equipment to vaccinate Mr. Charlie."
The plaintiffs are represented by Jim Jackson of North Little Rock.