INGONISH, N.S. — Officials with the Nova Scotia Veterinary Medical Association say the panel investigating a complaint regarding a dog mistakenly euthanized by the Highland Animal Hospital in August, has finished reviewing the information associated with the complaint but has requested additional information.
“We are in the process of gathering that additional information for the panel,” said Brian MacInnis, assistant to the registrar, in an email response to questions. “At that point, the panel may wish to make a determination, or they may have more questions.
"After providing the panel members with the information they want to render a decision when the panel is ready they will move to the next phase,” he added.
MacInnis said there is no timeframe for the process but it seems long when someone is waiting. Panel members continue to work until they are satisfied with the outcome.
“My experience shows that complaints are processed from four months to a year, depending on the complications,” he explained.
Panels have a minimum of five members. Four of them are veterinarians and one is a public member. If a registered veterinary technician was involved, then there would be a mixture of veterinarians and RVT members on the panel.
On Thursday, MacInnis said it was doubtful there will be a conclusion in 2020.
On Aug. 4, Arlene Fougere of Meat Cove took her husky Cooper to a walk-in clinic the Highland Animal Hospital in Port Hawkesbury held in Ingonish, to have a sore leg checked. In an earlier story in the Post, Fougere said her dog was very healthy and that she had spoken to the veterinary assistant on several occasions regarding her dog’s leg.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions at the time, the veterinarian came out in the parking lot. Seeing the doctor carrying a rubber band, Fougere assumed he was going to draw blood for testing.
Without carrying a chart or saying a word she said the veterinarian gave her dog a needle euthanizing him, telling her there were three dogs there to be put down and he made a mistake.
In the story, Fougere was extremely distraught, stated she filed the complaint with the NSVMA as she wants the veterinarian to lose his license for killing her family’s beloved dog.
Sharon-Montgomery-Dupe is the enterprise reporter at the Cape Breton Post.
