Irate Woman at Warwick Animal Hospital Arrested on Warrant

Warwick, RI – A woman upset over the cost of treating her sick pit bull was arrested Aug. 17 when a Warwick Police officer called to remove her from The Warwick Animal Hospital discovered she had an outstanding warrant for missing court on a shoplifting charge.

Officer John Zaborski arrived at the 1950 Elmwood Ave. address at 8:57 p.m., speaking with the woman, Carla Vieira, 40, of 21 Mary St., Apt. 3rd, Pawtucket, who told him hospital staff informed her that her pit bull had parvo virus and needed immediate treatment, according to the officer’s report.

Parvo virus, according to pets.webmd.com, is a highly contagious disease contracted from other dogs through contact with infected feces. The virus attacks dogs’ intestinal tract, causing vomiting, diarrhea, and life-threatening dehydration.

Vieira said she became “very upset” when the staff failed to inform her about the $500 cost of the treatment until after the dog was in the back, Zaborski reported. The treatment included a dose of medicine administered intravenously and x-rays, according to the report.

Vieira later learned the full treatment, which would include a four-day stay at the hospital, with an estimated cost of $1,900.Vieira told Zaborski she became irate and intended to pursue legal action against the animal hospital, according to the officer’s report.

Zaborski checked bothVieira and her boyfriend, who was present at the hospital, for outstanding warrants, finding a Sixth District Court warrant onVieira for failure to pay on a shoplifting charge from the Providence Police Department.

Zaborski advisedVieira and the Warwick Animal Hospital staff that the dispute over the bill is a civil matter that will need to be resolved in court.

The officer arrested Vieira on the warrant and transported her to Warwick Police headquarters at 99 Veterans Memorial Drive, where she was held on $530 bail.