A Florida man is facing multiple charges after allegedly pretending to be a veterinarian and refusing to return a dog that died under his care, USA Today reports.
Kenneth D. Wade Jr., 33, was arrested on Thursday and charged with grand theft and practising veterinary medicine without a licence, according to court documents filed in Leon County, USA Today confirmed.
The investigation began when a woman called the Tallahassee Police Department on August 27, 2023, to report that Wade had refused to return her pit bull, Gucci. She had taken the dog to Wade after it fell ill, following a recommendation from a friend who had seen Wade’s social media posts about his work with animals. The dog's owner initially took Gucci to Quincy Animal Hospital, where it was diagnosed with a stomach obstruction requiring surgery. Unable to afford the surgery, she sought Wade's help, according to USA Today.
Wade, known as “PitGod Wade” on social media, offered to treat the dog for $350, with an upfront payment of $175. The woman dropped off her dog at Wade's home on August 17, 2023, leaving it with a kennel, food bowls, and a leash. Wade assured her he would provide updates and initially claimed the dog was suffering from parvo disease, a serious infection. However, after a few days of inconsistent updates, Wade informed the woman that the dog's condition had worsened and it was on life support, USA Today reports.
Communication from Wade became sporadic, and he eventually claimed the dog had died. When the woman went to retrieve her pet, Wade sent her a video of the deceased dog but refused to return the body, claiming he had buried it. Wade also falsely stated he worked at Oakwood Animal Hospital, which the police later confirmed was untrue, according to USA Today.
During the investigation, Wade admitted to not working at the veterinary clinic and revealed he had taken the dog to a friend's house for treatment. He also admitted to burying the dog on his family's property in Gadsden County. Wade was known to boast about his veterinary skills online, even claiming to sell homemade parvo medicine to clinics in 30 states, USA Today reports.
Wade was released under the condition that he stays away from the victim and refrains from offering veterinary services online. He is also prohibited from owning animals. As of Friday afternoon, no attorney had been assigned to Wade’s case yet, according to the Leon County Clerk of Court’s office.
