A FAMILY have been left furious after a mix-up meant a bungling vet lost their beloved dog's ashes.

Rosa and Francesca Gagliardi took Staffordshire bull terrier Buffy, into Wood Street Veterinary Surgery after she was hit by a car last Tuesday, March 5.

Despite efforts, doctors were unable to save her life so the family paid for a private cremation and were told to collect her remains in a few days later.

But the pet, who had been in the family for seven years, was accidentally cremated with other animals instead of alone - meaning her ashes cannot be found.

Ms Gagliardi, 48, said: “It is just awful. This has destroyed us as a family. It was Francesca's dog and she is devastated. If this was a human being, imagine what would happen - there would be a massive lawsuit.

“You care for a pet like a child, you nurture them and love them unconditionally, and she went everywhere with us.”

When they arrived home, they called the surgery again to ensure Buffy would be cremated on her own and they assured her this was the case.

But two weeks later, Ms Gagliardi was still waiting to find out when the ashes would be ready to pick up so called them again.

She added: “They didn't know where Buffy was. They then called me to say that ‘Pip’ had not been cremated on its own, and it was a misunderstanding on their part.

“I was furious, I let rip. Not only did she call my dog by a different name she referred to her as an it. We have lost the chance to say goodbye and it has devastated us. This was an incompetent error.

"If they genuinely cared about Buffy this process would have been handled in the correct manner. As it stands my daughter is mortified, as we all are.

"We were hoping for Buffy's ashes to return to us, so that she would be close to us, everyday. Now that has been taken away from us."

The family were also left disappointed by the way little Buffy was treated before she died.

They claim that while reception staff were sympathetic, a nurse who took Buffy into her arms was not experienced.

"Her little head was not even supported and was bobbing around." She added.

Tony White, a partner and veterinarian at Wood Green Veterinary said the dog was already dead when the Ms Gagliardi arrived at the practice.

But he did accept liability for what happened and apologised.

He said: “Ms Gagliardi asked for a single cremation, but unfortunately, a nurse labelled the matter incorrectly and Buffy was taken for a normal cremation.

“I called Ms Gagliardi to apologise, we are dreadfully dreadfully sorry about this. We made a mistake but we realise it won’t change anything.”

Ms Gagliardi said: “We were hoping for Buffy's ashes to return to us, so that she would be close to us, every day. Now that has been taken away from us.

“We never expected this, and we do not want this happening to someone else. I would never ever take a sick animal to Wood Street Veterinary surgery.”