On the morning of May 9, 2025, our lives changed forever. Our beloved cat Lily–our little Lil Bug—passed away at a year and eight months, after what should have been a routine dental cleaning at Banfield Pet Hospital inside PetSmart at Downey Landing (CA). What happened instead was a tragic, preventable loss caused by negligence, poor judgment, and a heartbreaking lack of compassion.

We dropped Lily off that morning at 7:40 a.m. for her scheduled procedure. Around 10:30 a.m.—nearly three hours later—we received a call informing us that Lily had suffered a critical emergency. They told us she had been administered anesthesia when suddenly her tongue turned blue, she went into shock, and her heart stopped. They performed CPR and gave her stimulants, reviving her heartbeat, but she had already been in a coma for over an hour before we were even notified.

We rushed to the hospital only to be met with confusion and coldness. The attending veterinarian, Dr. Chen, offered no real explanation—just that “he didn’t even finish administering the anesthesia” and that he had “never seen this before.” He refused to allow us to transport Lily to an emergency animal hospital, claiming she “wouldn’t survive the ride.” When we asked questions, we were dismissed. When we pleaded for options, we were told none existed. We saw staff whispering, avoiding our eyes, as if they knew more than they were saying.

The most painful part? Dr. Chen gave us false hope. He claimed Lily’s vitals were improving and that she “just needed to wake up”—as he literally shook her, trying to rouse her. We stayed by her side, praying for a miracle, watching the minutes pass in agony. But that miracle never came. Hours later, with no chance left, we were forced to make the impossible decision. Our little girl never woke up. We said goodbye to Lily in the same building we trusted to keep her safe.

We are shattered. Lily was not just a pet—she was a part of our family. Our baby. She brought joy into our every day lives. She deserved better. She deserved a fighting chance. She deserved to come home.

Now we are fighting for her. We are committed to pursuing answers, justice, and accountability—not just for Lily, but for every family who has trusted their loved one to this facility. We’ve already begun collecting evidence, speaking with other affected families, and reaching out to legal professionals—but we cannot do it alone.

We are asking for your support to help cover the legal fees and costs associated with bringing this case forward. Any amount helps—truly. And even if you’re not able to donate, sharing our story can help prevent this from happening to another beloved pet.

We miss Lily every second of every day. But we will not rest until her voice is heard. Until her life that was taken way too soon, makes a difference.

From the bottom of our hearts—thank you for reading, for caring, and for standing with us.

With love and hope,

The Castaneda Family.

In Loving Memory of Lily, forever in our hearts.