A second pet owner has come forward with complaints against the previous owner of a Monmouth County animal clinic.
News 12 New Jersey previously reported that the former owner of the Briarwood Animal Hospital in Howell was under investigation after New Jersey resident Keri Levy found out that the dog she thought was put down was actually kept alive and living with a vet technician. Dr. George Menez allegedly allowed the technician to keep the dog and bring it home.
Another pet owner now tells News 12 that she previously had a bad experience with the doctor.
Kathy Tashjian says that she dropped her dog Gizmo off at the hospital in 2001 while she went on vacation. Tashjian says that when she returned, Gizmo was blind in both eyes. She says that she took Dr. Menez to court and won a $25,000 judgment in 2005.
Tashjian says that she came forward after hearing what happened to the Levy family.
“It just brought back all the memories of what Gizmo endured while he was there at Briarwood…the whole experience was just horrible.
Briarwood is now under new ownership.
The Monmouth County SPCA is investigating Dr. Menez and the vet tech to see if any criminal charges will be filed.