A Florida woman is accusing Westgate Animal Clinic of failing to provide urgent care after she rushed her injured cat, Leo, to the clinic. She said Leo had reportedly been hit by a car, was bleeding and appeared paralyzed from the waist down. According to her account, she repeatedly asked staff for help but felt the situation was not treated with enough urgency.
The woman shared her account on her TikTok account, Justjasthingss, where the story drew an emotional response from viewers. She continued posting follow-up updates about the incident, including her claims about what happened at the clinic and her dispute with a veterinarian she identified as Mr. Westgate.
According to Justjasthingss, she arrived at Westgate Animal Clinic with Leo, who was badly injured. After an allegedly long wait, the clinic then presented her with a $700 bill to stabilize Leo before transferring him to an emergency hospital. After she disputed the charge, she said she was told she owed $200 for the visit. She paid the amount and took Leo to another veterinary clinic in Lehigh, Florida.
The TikToker claimed staff at the second clinic immediately gave Leo oxygen and prepared him for an emergency transfer. She said an emergency hospital later performed an X-ray and gave Leo IV fluids and pain medication within minutes of his arrival. However, she said his condition had already deteriorated, and the family eventually decided to euthanize him.
In a follow-up, the woman said Mr. Westgate denied her account and claimed he had video footage of the visit. She challenged him to release the footage, saying she would accept responsibility if it showed that he had acted with urgency and compassion. She is also seeking a full refund and said she plans to continue speaking publicly about the incident.
Florida Woman’s Cat Story Leaves Viewers Heartbroken
The story prompted many people to sympathize with the family and mourn Leo. One commenter shared a similar experience, writing, “The same thing happened to me! They legit wouldn’t touch my cat until I agreed to pay $800. My cat passed away as we were discussing the payment. It was extremely traumatizing and heartbreaking. I have no answers as to why my baby even died.”
Several commenters called for consequences against the clinic and described the alleged treatment as unprofessional and lacking compassion. Others said they believed the Florida woman’s account and criticized what they saw as the clinic’s handling of the situation.
However, not everyone blamed the clinic for Leo’s death. One commenter pointed out that Westgate Animal Clinic did not appear to be an emergency hospital and may have had limited options for treating a critically injured animal. They also suggested that Leo’s outcome might not have changed even if he had gone directly to an emergency facility.
For Leo’s family, the debate over what happened at the clinic came after the one outcome they could not change: bringing their cat home would no longer be possible.
