Henderson Family’s Shelter Dog Nearly Dies After “Spay” Paperwork Proven False

A routine adoption in Henderson spiralled into a medical nightmare when a family discovered their newly adopted dog — who came with paperwork stating she had been spayed — had, in fact, never undergone the surgery. The mistake left the dog fighting for her life and saddled her new owners with more than $7,000 in emergency veterinary bills, raising serious questions about shelter oversight and public trust.

What Happened

The dog, Faith, was adopted from a Henderson shelter with documents clearly listing her as already spayed. For weeks, her new family believed they had brought home a healthy, fixed pet. But everything changed when Faith suddenly fell gravely ill, prompting a frantic rush to an emergency veterinary clinic. It was there, in a shocking turn, that the veterinarian revealed Faith had never been spayed at all. The discovery left the family stunned, turning what should have been a joyful adoption into a frightening ordeal and an enormous financial burden.

Faith’s undocumented status exposed her to a life-threatening uterine infection that required immediate surgery to save her life. The unexpected operation and emergency care carried a staggering cost exceeding $7,000, highlighting how a single mistake in paperwork can lead to devastating consequences for adopters who rely on shelter records to make informed medical decisions.

Inside the Medical Crisis

Veterinarians determined Faith was suffering from what was likely pyometra, a dangerous bacterial infection of the uterus that affects unspayed female dogs without warning. The condition escalates rapidly, with symptoms such as fever, lethargy, vomiting, and excessive drinking progressing into sepsis, kidney failure, and death if left untreated. The window for survival can be as short as 24 to 48 hours. It’s a crisis most owners never see coming — particularly if they were told their dog had already been sterilised.

Pyometra is not a rare fluke, either. Nearly a quarter of unspayed female dogs develop the infection before age ten. Emergency surgery is often the only treatment, and the risks are greater and the costs significantly higher than a standard spay procedure. Faith’s ordeal underscores why spay and neuter procedures are considered essential preventive care and why accurate medical documentation is critical for every adoption.

A Failure of Responsibility

Under Henderson’s municipal codes, all adoptable animals must be spayed or neutered before leaving the shelter, with the adoption fee — including the standard $90 charge — covering the cost of the procedure. When adopters receive paperwork stating that surgery has been completed, they trust that the information is accurate and make medical and financial decisions accordingly.

Faith’s family, relying on the shelter’s documents, had no reason to second-guess her status or seek immediate confirmation from another veterinarian. They did not anticipate the possibility of a life-threatening crisis mere weeks after bringing her home. For many adopters, this kind of misrepresentation is not a simple clerical oversight — it’s a breach of the basic trust that underpins every adoption and a failure of duty by the organisations tasked with safeguarding animals and placing them into homes.

Why This Matters for Adopters

Faith’s ordeal reveals uncomfortable but essential lessons for anyone adopting from a shelter or rescue. Even when paperwork appears complete, it is critical to verify the animal’s medical status with an independent veterinarian within days of adoption. Physical confirmation of spay or neuter surgery is particularly important, as paperwork alone may not reflect the animal’s real condition.

Ensuring you have written documentation of all procedures, understanding local laws — such as Clark County’s requirement that all dogs and cats over four months old be sterilised — and recognising the signs of medical distress are all part of responsible pet ownership. Emergencies like lethargy, fever, and drastic changes in drinking habits should never be ignored, especially in recently adopted animals whose health histories may be incomplete.

Documentation also plays a vital role. If discrepancies arise, detailed adoption records, medical files, and correspondence become crucial for addressing errors and pursuing accountability.

What Shelters Must Do Better

Faith’s case shines a spotlight on operational shortcomings that no shelter can afford to tolerate. Accurate, transparent medical documentation must be a non-negotiable standard. Every surgical procedure — including spay and neuter — should be clearly recorded with dates, veterinary signatures, and verification before an animal is released to an adopter.

Pre-adoption checks must be rigorous and consistent. Staff should physically confirm that each promised procedure has been completed, ensuring no animal is adopted out under incorrect pretences. Clear, written disclosures about an animal’s medical status and history should be provided at adoption, with adopters signing to acknowledge receipt of all information.

Strong communication between shelters and their contracted veterinarians is equally essential. When surgeries are completed off-site, medical records must be updated promptly and accurately, leaving no doubt about what has — or hasn’t — been done.

Legal Questions Raised

Shelter adoption contracts often include liability waivers, but these do not grant absolute immunity. Courts have increasingly recognised adopters’ right to accurate information, particularly regarding an animal’s health and medical history. Misrepresentation, whether intentional or negligent, can open the door to legal consequences.

Jurisdictions like California have enacted laws requiring shelters to disclose critical information. While Nevada does not yet have a comprehensive statute governing adoption disclosures, general legal principles surrounding negligent misrepresentation still apply. A shelter may be held responsible if it provides incorrect medical information that results in financial harm or puts an animal’s life at risk.

For Faith’s family, the central question is whether the shelter’s inaccurate documentation created a legal responsibility for the emergency costs they were forced to bear.

The Animal Foundation Responds

The Animal Foundation, which handled Faith’s adoption, acknowledged the error in a statement issued to FOX5, admitting that the dog had been incorrectly recorded as spayed years before she ever left their care. The organisation confirmed that the mistake dated back to 2021, when staff mistakenly marked the dog as sterilised in their internal system — an error that was never verified before Faith was adopted out.

“In 2021, the dog was mistakenly marked as spayed in our system, and this was not verified before the animal left our care,” the statement said. “We are deeply sorry for our mistake and for the pain Sandra and her family went through. We’re happy the dog is recovering at home, and to help make things right, we are offering to cover the cost of the dog’s medical care.”

The shelter added that it has implemented new safeguards in the years since the mistake occurred. A licensed veterinary professional must now physically confirm that every animal has been spayed or neutered before leaving the facility. In cases where an animal shows a spay scar but lacks clear medical documentation, adopters are now given specific follow-up instructions to ensure accuracy.

The Bigger Picture

Faith’s situation is not an isolated incident. Across the country, adopters have encountered cases where animals were adopted out with incorrect or incomplete medical records — missing sterilisation procedures, incomplete vaccinations, or undisclosed illnesses. These errors erode public confidence at a time when shelters are already overwhelmed and struggling with rising intake numbers and limited resources.

Every adoption represents hope — a chance for an animal to start a new life and a facility to make space for another in need. But that hope depends on trust, accuracy, and care. Without those foundations, the system falters, and both pets and people suffer the consequences.