Veterinarian admits beating dogs

ourmaine ^

[chance33_98]

Veterinarian admits beating dogs

LEBANON, Maine (AP) A veterinarian faces a possible revocation of his license after he admitted beating four dogs that he treated.

John Carmody, who works at Lebanon's Forest View Veterinary Clinic, told the state Board of Veterinary Medicine in August that he abused the animals.

He signed a document admitting striking a German shepherd in the face, restraining and kicking a black Labrador retriever, striking an Italian greyhound, and repeatedly kicking a second German shepherd.

Carmody could have his veterinary completely revoked, or have it revoked for a period of time and face a fine, according to Anne Head, director of the state's Office of Licensing and Registration.

The veterinary board has scheduled a disciplinary hearing for Oct. 3.

Carmody, who is on vacation this week, could not be reached for comment, but his lawyer said the veterinarian regrets his actions.

''He is truly sorry for such conduct and has undertaken measures and procedures to assure such conduct shall not be repeated in the future,'' said Paul McElhinney, Carmody's lawyer.

Carmody's veterinary partner at Forest View expressed his full support.

''We're behind John 100 percent,'' said Craig Holbrook. ''He has acknowledged some mistakes and is aware of the seriousness of his actions and is taking some steps to correct the problem as best he can.''

Beth Breton, a former employee of the clinic, said she reported the abuse in March after learning that the greyhound, named Tara, died under Carmody's care.

''That dog did not deserve to get hit, and it died,'' Breton said. ''These are vets. They take an oath, and it means nothing in there.''

Dot Murphy, who owned Tara, said she never knew her dog was struck the day it died.

''I'm thinking I lost her twice,'' she said. ''It's like she just died again today.''

[pabianice]

The summer of 1964, while I was in pre-vet in college, I worked in a large Boston public animal hospital. Of the four vets on staff there, one was an active alcoholic and two others were crazy. Bad odds, man.

The drunk would come back from lunch smelling of booze and sucking on candies to hide the odor. Sometimes in the OR he would hit a scared, struggling animal, and say, "Stop it, bitch!" (although he always seemed sorry afterwards). The second one marched up and down the halls with a WWI hat, blowing a bugle and screaming at me that I was "cannon fodder!" and that I'd be getting shipped to Vietnam. At lunchtime he melted lead fishing weights down into musket balls in the XRay room and then played with them.

The third of four seemed schizophrenic -- she'd often stop in mid-sentence or motion and listen to something none of the rest of us could hear. It was quite a crew and did not give me a warm feeling about becoming a veterinarian.

However, this must certainly be the exception. Vets I have known since are top-notch people and friends. Must have been something in the Boston water...

[HairOfTheDog]

I suspect something akin to your "Stop it, bitch!" Vet is happening here. A vet with a kennel full of unhappy, sick dogs to treat, who has run out of patience with those that don't cooperate immediately. He sees the dog as getting in the way of his work, and he has forgotten that the dog is his work.

[Razz Barry]

As the former owner of an Italian greyhound, I am outraged to read that this vet struck one in his care. Of course, none of the dogs should have been abused but what on earth could have made him hit an IG? I can't help but think it was nothing more than wanton abuse. They are the most gentle, timid, loving dogs, little dogs, who cower VERY easily, are submissive by nature, very pleasing, and I can't begin to imagine what could have warranted a vet to abuse one in any way at all.

I'm sitting my grandbaby IG this weekend. Sapphire is a very sweet dog, and will keep you warm as toast in bed, but she's dumb as a rock. My husband says she's worthless and can't understand why anyone would have one. I told him women keep them for the same reason we keep men. To have something to baby and laugh at.

[ZULU]

I agree with your suggestion. Great idea!!!

[ZULU]

In my book, people who abuse animals are in the same category as left-wing liberals and other social flakes.

[hunyb]

Is there EVER a REASON to BEAT an animal? come on.

[BossLady]

"admitting striking a German shepherd in the face, restraining and kicking a black Labrador retriever, striking an Italian greyhound, and repeatedly kicking a second German shepherd. "

Notice there were no Rottweilers or Pit Bulls involved...

[HairOfTheDog]

I am not justifying it, only trying to determine the nature of the problem. Impatience with an uncooperative patient is a different problem altogether from a vet who is just a generally mean person.

The first indicates perhaps the guy is really burned out and needs a long vacation. The second indicates something more serious.

Look, I have had to deal with uncooperative animals that are not my own. I am stunned at how unruly and untrained some peoples dogs are. He gets those too. It is not inhuman to lose one's temper, but it might be time for him to take a break for awhile.

I just think most people don't go to vet school just to have an opportunity to beat dogs, so upon thinking about it, I am looking for explanations for it.

[Liberal Classic]

I've taken the belt to my dog before, but I haven't had to since she got past a couple of years old. As for punching a German Shepard in the face, all I can say is that's a bad idea.

[Inge_CAV]

I agree! Vets are under a lot of stress.

[Desdemona]

This is one vet my Lab will never go to see.

Although, every vet who has ever met her, says she's better behaved than 95% of all dogs.

Beating is not how to get a dog to trust. And to be anything but cautious around a German Shephard is really stupid.

[Vic3O3]

He is truly sorry for such conduct...

Yeah, sure he is...

and has undertaken measures and procedures to assure such conduct shall not be repeated in the future...

What, did he cut off his own arms and legs?? That MIGHT keep him from abusing animals in his care...maybe...

[beanie7200]

I can't believe this vet would do something like that. He is there to help these animals not hurt them.

I wonder if he would try something like that with a pet bull. Perhaps the headline would read like this "Vet found dead from pet bull attack; dog provoked by vet"

[Desdemona]

A pet bull? Or a pit bull (really, a badly trained bull-terrier)?

A 2,000 pound pet?

[vetvetdoug]

Sounds like to me that an employee has it in for one of the doctors. Restraining a dog is all in a day's work and some dogs need attention getters because they are so unruly. There is more to this story just like the last one that showed here on the FR about the so called "malpractice". I called the clinic in Illinois for their take on the "malpractice" and the poster had a hard on against the clinic and used a national forum to air his differences. A lot of bleeding heart owners would change their attitudes if they had to handle some of the idiots we see in a day's work. Albeit, most are pleasant and that makes the job rewarding.

[Desdemona]

"A lot of bleeding heart owners would change their attitudes if they had to handle some of the idiots we see in a day's work."

A lot of idiots shouldn't be allowed to own pets.

[sinkspur]

Restraining a dog is all in a day's work and some dogs need attention getters because they are so unruly.

But, doc, he basically killed the greyhound, and he's admitted to beating all four.

There's a difference between restraint and rage. This guy doesn't belong around animals or small children.

[HairOfTheDog]

We don't know that the greyhound died because it was struck... The article doesn't really say that. We don't know what it was suffering from to bring it there in the first place.

If it was hit by a car, for example, and uncooperative because of its fear and pain, and the vet lost it and hit the dog, the vet hitting it still didn't cause the death.

[vetvetdoug]

Before I rush to any judgement I would have to see the facts, that is all. I read many of the abuse cases with the "devil's advocate" mentality unless the facts are presented well.

[Jonathon Spectre]

What a f**king nutjob.

''We're behind John 100 percent,'' said Craig Holbrook. ''He has acknowledged some mistakes and is aware of the seriousness of his actions and is taking some steps to correct the problem as best he can.''

"Um, I've been beating some dogs. I'll, uh, stop that now. If I can stop. I guess I can safely say, I'll keep it to a minimum."