Vet Faked Dog's Death!! OMG!
 

CNN article


ALLENTOWN, Pennsylvania (AP) -- A couple who thought they were watching their epileptic dog being euthanized actually witnessed a simple sedation procedure concocted so the veterinary clinic could later give the canine to another owner, their lawsuit alleges.

Dana and Gary Ganyer said they cried while watching what they thought was the death of Annie, a 2-year-old German shepherd that had increasingly frequent and debilitating seizures.

But in a lawsuit filed in Bucks County last week, they contend Annie was not euthanized in February 2005 at the Mill Pond Veterinary Clinic in Milford.

Instead, the lawsuit says, the dog was given a sedative to make it appear she was dead. The clinic then gave Annie to a new owner, Gene Rizzo of Northeast Philadelphia, who cared for the dog until he had her euthanized on November 2, according to the lawsuit.

"When I heard she was still alive, I literally screamed and went into hysterics, and I was in shock for three days," Dana Ganyer said. "My nerves were totally torn up that this vet could do this."

The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, accuses Mill Pond Veterinary Clinic, Mill Pond Kennels and three of its employees of fraud, negligence and defamation.

A lawyer for the veterinary clinic did not return a call Friday from The Associated Press.

In the lawsuit, the Ganyers say they were told by a former employee of the clinic that they were considered "heartless" and that a meeting was called the morning Annie was scheduled to be euthanized to devise a plan to "rescue" the dog.

The Ganyers contend they are loving owners who decided to put Annie down only after weeks of research and soul-searching.

On June 30, the Ganyers received a call from the former clinic employee, who told them Annie was still alive.

A few days later they drove to Rizzo's home. The Ganyers told Rizzo they were Annie's rightful owners, but he refused to give her back.

Rizzo said Annie had seizures every few weeks, but between them "she was perfectly normal."

Annie was euthanized after Rizzo said she lapsed into a coma-like state for two days, and his veterinarian told him the dog was "really suffering."

I am not going to comment on this article because I think many facts are missing but what I am going to tell you is that where I live anyone can drop off their animal at animal control and pay $$$ to have their perfectly healthy or elderly dog euthanized and no one can do anything about it. These people for what ever reason don't want the dog adopted by anyone else. Luckily we were allowed to steal some of these Yorkies out. Was this wrong? :confused:

OH MY GOSH!! How awful for the first owner :(

I wasn't going to comment but - was this dog being euthanized because its epileptic seizures were an inconvience to the couple? How would you feel if you were a vet and felt this animal could still have a quality of life? I realize the article went on to say the dog was finally put down but again, I think there is more to the story. I saw it too many times - people use the excuse it was being done in the best interest of the dog - when in fact it was done in the interest of the couple. Please don't be so quick to jump on the bandwagon here, not everyone cares about their animals on the same level.

I'm not jumping on a bandwagon, I agree with you. My only concern is why didn't the vet really talk to them instead of pretending to put the dog down? Or refuse to do it? Instead he faked it on a suffering dog? That is what I don't understand. I can't imagine what I would feel if my dog was suffering, I had made that decision, gone through all the emotions and then found out it was all fake?

I didn't post this article to debate it, I just found it interesting and alarming all at the same time.

WHAT???? Why????? :confused:

I feel so bad for the 1st owner I had a lab that had seizures everyday for 2 weeks put him on kinds of meds then all of a sudden they stopped he live for another 5 years. However he was never really the same and I searched my sole and I finally decided to have him put down it is the most heart breaking thing

Obviously the dog was really suffering. If it was an "inconvenience" don't you think they would have just sold the dog or gave him away instead of putting it down? Wouldn't that be easier?
What if the vet SOLD the dog to the other people to make money? Our dogs are VERY valuable. This reminds me of the movie Beethoven. Should have just refused to put the dog down or told the others his opinion on it. He could have even offered to buy the dog or find the dog another home if it was a "cost of care" issue. There are other things to do than to be so underhanded. When you are paid to do a service, you have to do it. You can always refuse service though if it is against what you believe in.

HMMM--I find it interesting that the first owners did not ask for the remains of their dog. Wonder what's up with that?

I agree about the debate - I just wanted people to think there might be another side to this we don't know about. Maybe the vet did talk to the people and say with medication this dog can live a good life. It is the original owner who said the dog was suffering and we don't know what the vet felt. Did the vet profit off of the other couple taking the dog? Did the other people breed the dog? The vet could have refused but he (maybe) knew these people would find someone else to euthanize the dog and he felt it deserved a chance to live. I haven't a clue who is right here but I just wanted people to know many people put their animals down due to costs of medicines, older, leaking bladder and some vets do it because of legal reasons but they know there is not a good reason to put the dog down. I applaud any vet who figures out a way to save an animal that they feel should live and they haven't become harden to the useless killing and they are not profiting off saving this animal. I can also tell you I will go to the ends of the earth to save an animal and have been guilty of devising plans to "rescue" a dog(s) who had time to live.

I hope you understand where I am coming from and yes I would be beyond grief if this happened to me but I can also tell you I have been with each dog we have had to put down and held them long after they were dead and felt their "living/spirit" leave their body. Each dog was then brought home for either cremation or burial.

I am sure if I didn't do rescue and see some of the things I see I would be shocked, outraged, madder than hell if I read this article because I would assume everyone cares about their animals as much as I do and would only do what is right for the dog.

im sorry but if its my dog and if i want it put down who is the vet to do that its not like it was a happy healthy puppy peeing in the house

I agree with this. The whole situation seems very sad to me. I mean think about what the dog went through.

I can totally understand your point of view. We definately need some more facts before really knowing what happened. If the couple was really torn up about having their dog put down, but felt that it was the best thing because he was suffering.... Then I think the Vet did a really horrible thing. If the couple found their dog to be an inconvenience, then I think the Vet was only trying to help the dog. Maybe both cases are true. The couple was trying to do what was best and the Vet was trying to do what was best. Who knows.... what a crazy case.

I had to have a cat euthanized. The vet set up an appointment during which we met and discussed the cat, the options, my reasons, and ONLY when he was satisfied did he agree to euthanize him.

I thought this was a remarkable vet (Animal Kind in Brooklyn, NY) and was totally impressed with their care and integrity. They even sent me a sympathy card for my cat. They're very pricey, so I use a similar type of vet which was highly recommended to me.

Judy

If anyone wants to know more about what really happened to this Dog Annie let me know. I worked there during that time and was taking care of Annie while they were looking for a home for her. I had no idea she was stolen.
And the owners did request the ashes and you will not beleive what happened then. No news reports will tell you what I know......By the way I do not work there any longer. This incident made me sick and I could not morally work there any more after that. I quit shortly after.

holy cow!!!!!!!

Wow I bet the couple was so upset about the whole situation. That is sick...

Wow, what a weird story! Don't leave us in suspense- what's the scoop?

I don't understand why the vet didn't just offer them a way to rehome the dog instead of them going thru the sadness of euthansia....It must be so hard for vets to see healthy dogs being put down for no apparant reason (not meaning THIS dog - but in general) but I don't understand why they can't offer a different solution ?

Well first of all there was 2 vets working there and the owner (vet #1) was not working at that time. She owns a home right next to her buisness. Vet #2 was on shift that night. Anne's owners come in and said God told them to put there dog down because the dog had violent seizures and they felt quality of life was not there. Ok, I think they have the right since they know there dog better then anyone. The dog was on Phenabarbatal for seizures. Ok, the owners did not want Annie adopted as they felt she was in a bad way. The Manager of Mill Pond then called Vet #1 on the phone to ok she have VET #2 fake the death. It was OK'd and Vet #2 did not feel that it was right and refused. In no uncertain terms the manager gave her the hint her job was being threatened so she did it. After the owners left Vet #2 was mad because she was forced to do this. Annie was brought to me for care. About 2 days later Annies owners called and wanted the ashes...Now what? How do they come up with ashes? The manager then called her husband and she went out with a shovel and scraped up ROAD KILL to aproximate Annies weight. They then sent it to the local creamatorium for animals in one of the official bags. The bag and all was creamated without opening it. They then charged Annies owners over 100 dollars for these ashes. I was one of 3 people absolutley nauseated over this when it went down. Anyone looking like they may talk was brought in with the manager for a pep talk to keep quiet. Annie was given a home and after a few days the new owners called about Annie having hours worth of seizures. The old owners where telling the truth. I left a few months later. few months after I left the manager quit over something unrelated and reported this event to the old owners as revenge. But she left out the part where she was the mastermind behind the whole thing including the road kill ashes.
As far as I know the owners got a settlment and it quieted down.
Any other questions feel free to ask. Its very sad and still makes me sick.
Solar

OMG ROADKILL!!!!:eek: And they CHARGED the owners for this?! That is really horrible. I can imagine that was a terrible position for you to be put in. Thanks for filling us in on the story. BTW, how did you find this thread?

sad
 

One of my vets techs told me some years ago that a woman dropped of a 4 yrs silver poodle to be put down. She was moving into a no pet condo and was positive no one would love her dog as she had...and she felt the dog would suffer without her.
My vet gave it to his mother...and it lived many years..BUT if he had been found out he could have been sued.

This is crazy! I can't believe this actually happened! :eek: Thanks for sharing.

I found this site checking to see if anything more came of this and whether people were still talking about it. I stumbled unto your site and you all seemed to have had alot of questions I knew I could answer. This is the first time I ever talked about it. I never was contacted by the the media because I could have burned both the vet clinic and the manager who reported it. Both were at fault.:embarasse

Would like additional information
 

I would like to get additional information about this situation. Thanks

check your PM

Wow, that's unusual. But after reading the thread a few days ago where someone had their dog PTS just because they didn't want it any more. I guess I can understand the vets point of view. My guess is, this is not the first time he did this.

So Very Sad
 

mosie,
Ok I resent another PM .....

I've gone to Animal Kind before and they are WONDERFUL. :thumbup: :thumbup: