On January 11th, 2026, I brought my dog, Chuchi, a 13-year-old sweet and beloved companion, to Colonial Animal Hospital for an emergency visit after she experienced a seizure while sleeping. She had no prior history of seizures or known medical issues and had been seen less than nine months earlier by another veterinarian out of state. Upon arrival at approximately 4:00 PM, Chuchi was taken to the back immediately. My fiancé and I were not permitted to see her for the entirety of the visit, which lasted until approximately 8:30 PM.

During this time, we received minimal communication and were ultimately told there was nothing further we could do and that we needed to leave, without ever seeing our dog. Dr. W. Dane Foxwell pulled my fiancé and me aside from the waiting area and verbally quoted an estimated cost of approximately $2,400 without providing any written estimate, calculations, or itemized breakdown. When I requested clarification or a breakdown of the charges, Dr. Foxwell declined, stating that we needed to “focus on stabilizing” our dog and that financial discussions were not appropriate at that time.

We were not presented with meaningful alternatives to hospitalization and were led to believe that keeping Chuchi hospitalized for three days was the only option. When I later called to inquire about possible payment arrangements or financial options for the remaining balance, I was again told that financial concerns should wait and that stabilization needed to be prioritized, despite the significant cost involved.

During Chuchi’s stay, we were informed that the services performed included three rounds of subcutaneous fluids, three blood tests, and two X-ray images. We were told only that her BUN and creatinine levels were elevated. No explanation was provided regarding the severity of these findings, the presence of other abnormal laboratory values, her prognosis, or potential diagnoses.

Dr. Foxwell also stated that Chuchi would be placed on anti-seizure medication. However, upon discharge, no anti-seizure medication had been prescribed or administered. Instead, we were sent home with needles, subcutaneous fluids, and canned food. No seizure management plan, emergency medication, or neurological follow-up instructions were provided.

After hospitalization, we were told that Chuchi was stable, that nothing was wrong, and that she was ready for discharge. However, upon seeing her, she was visibly lethargic, wobbly, excessively sleepy, and not behaving normally. Following discharge, Chuchi continued to experience seizures. In total, she suffered eight seizures in one day prior to her death.

After these additional seizures, we sought care at another veterinary hospital. After reviewing the laboratory results obtained at Colonial Animal Hospital, the second veterinarian informed us that Chuchi had stage 3 kidney disease, that multiple laboratory values were critically abnormal, and that her condition was severe and life-threatening. This information had not been disclosed to us during her care at Colonial Animal Hospital. We were also informed that Chuchi had suffered brain stem damage as a result of uncontrolled seizures.

Due to the absence of anti-seizure medication, the lack of disclosure regarding the severity of her condition, and the reassurance we were given that she was stable, Chuchi’s condition deteriorated rapidly. As a result, we were ultimately forced to make the heartbreaking decision to euthanize our dog of 13 years.

Based on my experience, I believe this outcome may be directly related to deficiencies in her care, including the failure to provide seizure management, the lack of clear medical disclosure, and the information we were given regarding her condition. Additionally, when attempting to retrieve Chuchi, we were informed that she would not be released until the remaining balance of approximately $800 was paid, despite having already paid approximately $1,600 and despite the extreme emotional distress surrounding her condition.

Based on my experience and my review of publicly available complaints and reviews from other pet owners, I am concerned about a possible pattern of inadequate medical disclosure, failure to provide appropriate treatment, coercive financial pressure, and unprofessional conduct at Colonial Animal Hospital under the care of Dr. W. Dane Foxwell.

I respectfully request that the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation review this matter to determine whether any ethical, professional, or regulatory standards were violated, both in my case and more broadly at this establishment.

Chuchi’s life was entrusted to Dr. W. Dane Foxwell, a licensed veterinarian, whom we believed would provide the appropriate care and compassion she deserved. Tragically, her condition worsened, and she passed away shortly after this treatment.

This experience has had a profound impact on me. Pets are family, and they deserve clear communication, transparency, and competent medical care. Unfortunately, I do not believe that standard was met in our situation.

To ensure the well-being of other pets in our community and to uphold the standards of veterinary care, I believe it is important that this matter be thoroughly investigated by the appropriate licensing authority. Any appropriate corrective or disciplinary action should be taken if violations are found.

I urge those who care about animal welfare and accountable veterinary practices to support a full and impartial review of this matter so that similar situations may be prevented in the future.

Sincerely,
Zoe Perez & Angel Pineda-Villegas
Change4Chuchi@gmail.com