A vet said a family’s beloved ‘Cha Cha’ had to be euthanized. Then they spotted pug living with worker months later

A Georgia family, who was told their beloved pug needed to be euthanized at a veterinary clinic, allegedly later discovered she was healthy and living with a member of staff — only for her to be put down when the cover-up was discovered.

Cha Cha was taken to Senoia Animal Hospital in March 2026 after she fell ill, owner Rebecca Belote told WSB-TV.

The family was told by staff at the clinic that the dog was in organ failure and diabetic ketoacidosis, and recommended she be euthanized. It was a heartbreaking blow for the entire family, especially Belote’s 17-year-old son.

“They had matching clothes. Like matching hoodies that they would wear,” Belote said. “She hardly walked anywhere ‘cause he carried her everywhere.”

She added: “My son was really attached to the dog.”

The family paid hundreds of dollars to have Cha Cha put down, Belote said.

Earlier this month, the mom was scrolling on Facebook and came across a new photo of her dog that had been shared by someone else. “I knew scrolling like that’s my dog,” she said.

Belote said a former Senoia Animal Hospital worker confirmed to her that Cha Cha was never euthanized and instead taken home by a female employee. The devastated dog owner alerted the vet clinic but said the hospital denied the allegations, according to WSB-TV.

“They have a lawyer,” Belote said. “They won’t talk about it.”

Eventually, the staff member’s husband confirmed to Belote that his wife had kept Cha Cha for months, and said the pug was in good health.

Belote said the hospital subsequently put Cha Cha down to cover up what happened. “The fact that they put a healthy dog down to hide [it]….That’s sick,” she said.

The Independent has contacted Senoia Animal Hospital for comment on the family’s allegations.

This does this appear to be the first incident. WSB-TV previously reported that a different family, who believed their 19-year-old cat had been euthanized at the animal hospital, later learned the pet was still alive and living with someone else.

Senoia Police Department said it would not file criminal charges against employees involved in the two incidents, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.

Belote said the Coweta County Solicitor is investigating the incident, and that she has filed a complaint with the Georgia State Board of Veterinary Medicine. The Independent has contacted the county solicitor for more information.