Fort Worth Vet Accused of Keeping Dog Alive for Transfusions

[superpatriotman]

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Fort-Worth-Vet-Accused-of-Keeping-Dog-Alive-for-Transfusions-257225231.html

video at link

A popular Fort Worth veterinary clinic is under investigation after a family says instead of euthanizing their sick pet the vet secretly kept the dog alive for blood transfusions.

Fort Worth police, the city of Fort Worth and state investigators are involved in the investigation that started when a client of the Camp Bowie Animal Clinic found out his beloved pet, believed to have been euthanized, was alive.

snip

Six months later, the Harrises said they received a call from a veterinarian technician, Mary Brewer, who told them Sid was alive and being used for blood transfusions while being kept in a cage most of the day, surrounded by his urine and feces.

"I told her, 'He's still here,' and she's like, 'Can he walk?' and I said, 'Yeah, he's here waiting on you. If you came today, he'd walk out and jump in your car,'" said Brewer.

"It was like getting punched in the stomach and then some," said Marian Harris. "This has rocked our world. My kids are like, 'How does somebody do this?' How does this happen?"

more at link

[meti57b]

1. So wrongful ..... there are no words........

It is important to sit in on your pet's euthanasia and make certain it has been done.

Even then, I wonder if it is possible to always know whether the pooch or kitty actually died or is only under heavy sedation.

[magical thyme]

2. in this case, it's actually lucky that they didn't sit in on it

Their boy had been incorrectly diagnosed and there was no reason to euthanize him.

Apparently this isn't the only dog that had been imprisoned and abused by this vet; another article says the state removed several animals from there as evidence. They are now at an animal shelter.

[meti57b]

3. Lucky in this case... true, but in general, it's important to sit in.

[magical thyme]

6. after reading about this, I definitely agree.

I do stay with my babies to the bitter end. Always have and always will. I don't fault people who don't, though. I recommend that they do; as hard as it is, it is also comforting to see that they do not appear to suffer at all and especially comforting in the long run to know you were there for them.

[meti57b]

8. I agree. In addition to sitting in, my vet lets me hold my kitty for awhile afterwards.....

Holding him or her afterwards, gives a real sense that it is no longer my cat. My cat has gone. ...to sit on the laps of angels.

You can prolly tell I had to give up my cat this last week, ...... as we all eventually have to do.

[Sunlei]

7. read the Lawyers report. The owners had to go there, sneek in and rescue their dog themselves.

If not for the Vet tech. that dog would have been gone. She even got threatened and punched in the face!

link http://media.nbcbayarea.com/documents/The+Story+of+Sid.pdf

Someone should check out the VETs home situation the mentioned 'farm', if they have kids or pets there, they may need help.

[magical thyme]

9. I'm surprised the police would not assist

but I guess things vary from locale to locale.

It's not a civil matter if somebody has stolen your dog and it's not a civil matter is somebody has abused your dog; those are both crimes. And they are what that vet did.

Absolutely shocking. I wonder that the vet tech (or anybody) worked there as long as they did without reporting him.

How fortunate that this vet tech loved Sid enough to notify the owners. Too bad none of them loved the others enough (or had enough integrity) to get the police involved immediately.

[KurtNYC]

4. This isn't an isolated case

This has happened to other people who thought their dogs were being put down:

http://www.animalleague.org/expert-advice/legal/q-as/dog-was-not-euthanized.html

Looks like this vet saw this larger dog, possibly with a very compatible blood type, as an ATM. I would think a civil suit is possible even if the local authorities forgo charges.

Who could look in that sweet creatures eyes and not give a crap about his condition? With "best friends" like this vet who need enemies.

[Sunlei]

5. poor dog, it was kept in filthy conditions & several other animals were seized by police.