“But Sais left the vet’s office with Jack before he could be treated, authorities said.
Doctors could see the small dog convulsing as his owner carried him away, so they called Fontana Animal Services...”
That’s probably why the police were involved. If the owner hadn’t left before the dog could be treated, maybe the vet would not have called the po-po. Thank goodness the dog is OK...even if it is a little yapper. (Note - we have two yorkie-poo yappers.)
Most vets are hesitant to call animal services too because, as you have noted, they turn you in to the cops and you can have a felony charge. I know vets who have treated dogs who have been shot, in dog fights (as in dog fight rings), marijuana toxicity, cocaine, etc, who don’t turn them in. The problem will be that no one will seek treatment. No one will tell what they may have been exposed to. It interferes with the vet doing his job. The vet is not the police.
As a horseshoer, I do not turn people in for what I perceive as a violation. I simply turn down the job. If they are molesting kids I would, but that is probably the limit.