Family calls for justice after dog dies during visit to groomer

FAR EAST EL PASO COUNTY, Texas — A family is seeking justice after their 9-year-old English Bulldog died during a visit to a dog groomer in far east El Paso. 

Bevo, the English Bulldog, was taken to a groomer for a haircut before a scheduled surgery the next day. The owners tell ABC 7 Bevo was scheduled to have his testicles removed. After the owners dropped the dog off, they received a call from a nearby veterinarian saying that Bevo had died. 

The owners of the dog say the vet told them Bevo died from pulmonary edema and had fluid in his lungs and foam in his throat. According to North Carolina Veterinary Specialists, pulmonary edema can be caused by underlying health conditions, exposure to toxins, or trauma.

"There were no underlying conditions where you can explain him being OK and then two hours later he's gone," Monica Monarrez, the sister of the dog owner, explained to ABC 7.

Monarrez and her family believe something happened during the grooming visit. Monarrez says the owner of the grooming store never called the family after they took it to the vet.

ABC 7 went to the grooming store to speak with the owner. The owner said she did not want to speak to us, but said she may speak in the future.

A video was circulating on social media that depicted a bulldog being placed on a table. The bulldog appears to be in distress. The man in the video reaches for the dogs snout and the dog moves away. The man then pats the dog. It is surveillance video and only lasts for about 20 seconds.

"I don't want people to think that I'm going around saying, 'Oh, they grabbed him by the head and stuck him under water.' I know that's not what happened, but there was a mistreatment of some sort for Bevo to have stressed out like that. He was a calm dog," Monarrez explained.

Monarrez said the Sheriff's Office was investigating Bevo's death.