The Zylks of Utah say their Yorkshire Terrier, Lilly, received a euthanasia drug instead of an allergy shot during a Sept. 15 visit to Southern Utah Animal Hospital, resulting in her death. Clinic staff say a cat scheduled for euthanasia never arrived and shots were confused while the vet was in surgery. The veterinarian apologized and called the mistake extraordinary; the family is considering legal action to seek accountability and prevent similar errors.
Utah Couple Says Vet Gave Yorkie Euthanasia Drug Instead of Allergy Shot, Dog Dies
Cody Zylks/Facebook
A Utah couple is grieving after what they say was a catastrophic medication mix-up at Southern Utah Animal Hospital left their Yorkshire Terrier, Lilly, dead. Cody and Amy Zylks brought Lilly in on Sept. 15 for a routine allergy injection — while also finalizing cremation arrangements for another recently deceased family dog.
Cody Zylks/Facebook
What Happened
According to statements to ABC4, clinic staff had a cat scheduled for euthanasia that day that never arrived. The veterinarian, Dr. Zachary Francisco, says that while he was in surgery a staff member informed him a pet was waiting to be euthanized. He said he assumed they were referring to Lilly and administered what he believed to be a euthanasia injection.
Cody Zylks/Facebook
Immediate Aftermath
Cody Zylks told reporters he watched Lilly go limp and immediately asked what had happened; staff then realized the shots had been mixed up. He described collapsing to the floor in shock and grief and called the veterinarian’s initial reaction cold. Cody says Dr. Francisco told them, "Well, we can't fix it now, we can just buy you a new dog." Amy added, "It was like he ruined our shirt, not just took our dog."
"We can't fix it now, we can just buy you a new dog." — According to Cody Zylks, something said by the veterinarian after the error.
Clinic Response And Next Steps
In a statement to ABC4, Dr. Francisco apologized to the Zylks family, called the incident an extraordinary error and said the clinic is taking responsibility and reviewing procedures to prevent a recurrence. The Zylks family says they are considering legal action to ensure accountability and to reduce the risk of a similar tragedy happening to another family.
Why This Matters
Veterinary medication errors are rare but devastating. This case highlights the importance of clear protocols, communication, and verification procedures in clinics — especially when multiple patients and sensitive procedures (like euthanasia) are scheduled on the same day.
Help us improve.
