NEED TO KNOW
- A family is grieving their dog after he escaped from a veterinary clinic
- A dog named Diesel broke loose from a team member during a routine visit at Cahaba Valley Animal Clinic in Birmingham, Ala., and was later found dead on the side of a busy highway
- “To lose him in such a tragic and unexpected way has really devastated us and the boys,” said Diesel’s owner Katie
A family is grieving their dog after he escaped from a veterinary clinic.
A dog named Diesel broke loose from a team member during a routine visit on May 21 at Cahaba Valley Animal Clinic in Birmingham, Ala., and was later found dead on the side of a busy highway.
The clinic issued a statement on May 24, writing, “At Cahaba Valley Animal Clinic, we are deeply committed to the well-being of every animal entrusted to our care. It is with heavy hearts that we acknowledge a tragic accident that occurred on May 21, 2025, resulting in the loss of a beloved pet.”
Cahaba Valley Animal Clinic claimed that Diesel escaped during a “relief break” and “managed to slip out of his collar.” The entire staff allegedly searched for the dog on foot and by car. When they were unable to locate the canine, they sought help from off-duty staff and even hired a professional tracker to begin a search the following morning.
“Tragically, the dog was found before the expanded search could resume,” the animal clinic wrote.
“Our patients are family, and their safety is our highest priority,” the statement continued. “We are devastated by this loss and extend our deepest sympathies to the pet’s family. We understand the profound grief that accompanies such a tragedy.”
The veterinary clinic said they are reviewing their protocols and procedures to prevent the incident from happening again. “Our commitment to the health, safety, and care of every pet remains unwavering,” they wrote.
Diesel’s owners, Dominic and Katie Santoro, have also opened up about the incident.
“Diesel was the sweetest dog,” Dominic recalled in a May 23 Facebook post. “So nervous around anyone but his family. His last hours on earth, he was scared and suffered the unthinkable to end it all.”
Katie also remembered her late pup in a social media post, calling him “an incredible family dog.” She continued, “We adopted him from the Humane Society at 6 weeks old, and he lived 5 beautiful years with us. To lose him in such a tragic and unexpected way has really devastated us and the boys.”
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WBRC reported that Diesel was 5 years old and weighed about 60 pounds.
The couple told the news outlet that their three children were able to say goodbye to their family pet after he was brought to a nearby veterinary clinic for cremation.
The family has since adopted a 2.5-month-old puppy named Ellie, who is also deaf, according to a recent Facebook post.
“We honored our buddy, Diesel, today by saving the life of this sweet deaf puppy and freed up a kennel to save another life,” Katie captioned the post. “Our family will miss Diesel forever, but this baby girl will absolutely bring some happiness back to our house.”
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