Vet kept supposedly euthanized dog alive - used it as blood donor

[Divernan]

Six months ago, a family in Texas was advised by a vet that their four year old dog was suffering from a degenerative spinal defect and needed to be put to sleep. Just last week, the family were contacted by a vet technician who told them she'd quit working at the clinic because animals were being abused, and that the family pet wasn't dead, but was being kept alive to be used as a blood donor for other dogs.

Marian and her husband immediately sprang into action and went to the vet to rescue Sid. While her husband distracted the receptionist and friends stood as lookouts, Marian hunted for their pup. He was found in a cage in a back room and happily jumped into her minivan.

The Harrises whisked Sid away to another animal hospital, where he was said to be fine. But the vet there noticed something: Sid showed signs of blood transfusions.

Jim Eggleston, the Harrises attorney, tells the Telegram that Sid was used as a blood donor and to test experimental treatments. He has heard that it may have happened to other dogs and some cats, too.

The vet has been arrested and other animals rescued from his facility.

Read more: http://blog.triblive.com/thisjustin/2014/04/30/family-says-dead-dog-alive-used-as-blood-donor/#ixzz30RGbteJi

Authorities raided a popular veterinary clinic Tuesday morning after a family’s shocking discovery that their pet that they thought was euthanized was kept alive.

The family alleges that a veterinarian at the Camp Bowie Animal Clinic kept their dog, Sid, alive for six months. Sid’s owner, Marian Harris said she gave Dr. Lou Tierce permission to put the four-year-old Leonberger down last October due to health problems. But eight days ago, Harris received a disturbing phone call from a former employee of the animal clinic. The employee told her that Sid was still alive, imprisoned in a cage.

“The betrayal is so incredibly intense that nothing you have prepares you for the emotions. There’s anger, there’s joy that you have your dog back, there’s betrayal of this intense trust. And so it’s just really hard to camp on one particular emotion,” said Harris.

Harris and her husband said they marched into the clinic and found Sid living inside a cage in a back room. “He was able to walk and jump in the back of my minivan so it was an excitement to be reunited,” said Harris.

Also, http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2014/04/29/dog-kept-alive-months-after-supposed-euthanization/

[roguevalley]

1. seriously, I would have shot them all dead for this if it were mine

i can't believe the evil in people sometimes.

[lillypaddle]

2. Unbelievably cruel

Hope he receives the maximum punishment allowed.

[ErikJ]

3. Poor doggy!

[Jesus Malverde]

4. Really sad, but a couple of thoughts

Who doesn't stay with their dog when it is euthanized. Wouldnt you get a second opinion before putting the dog down.

As I understood it the worker told them he had been used as a blood donor, not something the family noticed.

Seems like the family needs to take a little responsibility for what happened.

Is it common to drop off your pet and just walk away?

Seems the vet could argue he was rescuing an abandond dog.

The whole story is creepy and sad. I'm glad the dog was rescued.

[Flying Squirrel]

5. It's possible that the vet sedated the dog in front of them

Or they could have just not been emotionally prepared to watch the euthanization - it can be very difficult for people.

Here's a different link with more info:

http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/04/30/5780382/fort-worth-vet-says-accusations.html?rh=1

As far as the vet possibly being able to say he was rescuing an abandoned dog, that's just plain ridiculous.

[Jesus Malverde]

6. Thanks...that makes sense, so sad...nt

[Joe Shlabotnik]

7. Omg

How ghoulishly sinister of that vet.

[oneofthe99]

8. I don't want to hear about your fucking bills and why you kept quiet

If you let it happen a minute after you found out you are as guilty as the vet.

I would have walked in there with a fucking baseball bat

[Triana]

11. The allegedly disgruntled ex-employee and careless owners doesn't absolve the vet...

...the vet still:

1. lied to the owners about the health of their pet and the status of their pet (enabled by the owners' carelessness)
2. kept the dog after the owners thought it had been euthanized - for blood drawing and experimentation

The vet still committed unethical, immoral, if not illegal acts.

The employee should have reported it immediately.
The owners should have gotten a 2nd opinion and/or been there as the dog was put down.

The vet -- should IMO no longer have a license.

[hobbit709]

9. I don't think that vet would like what I would do to him.

[Triana]

10. And this vet still has a license -- why? n/t

[eShirl]

12. evil, fraudulent, unethical