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I tend to agree with you here. In the words of Topsy, "Somebody ain't tellin' all they knows."

May be abuse, may be burnout, may be a disgruntled client.

I've never smacked my Lab, but I have used a chain collar on her. She is not stupid, and she's certainly not mean (just assertive), but when we started training she occasionally needed a pop on the chain to get her attention. I haven't had one on her in 6 months, though, clicker training has been a great success. She still won't come when she's stolen my gardening glove though, she runs around and grins at me. Her high point was stealing one of the float bags for my kayak off the clothesline where it was drying . . . I can offer a testimonial for Dagger float bags being Lab-proof (no small feat). She got it filthy but delivered it up in exchange for a treat, and it still holds air . . . (if I was ever going to hit her, that was when! But when she came to me I couldn't hit her . . . that would be punishing her for coming to me, float bag in mouth) . . . ah, Labs!

Beth Breton, a former employee of the clinic,said she reported the abuse in March after learning that the greyhound, named Tara, died under Carmondy's care. She learned that the Italian Greyhound died later so where was she when the dog was alleged to be hit? Why is the partner in the practice so willing to stand behind Carmondy unless there is more to the story. Read the story, the gaps are there.

First, this former axe to grind employee has other motives other than the welfare of the animals in mind. Where was she when all of these abuses took place? Why didn't she stop the abuses if they were so plentiful? Why is she a former employee, did she embezzle money, was she incompetant, was she unable to restrain the animals for the veterinarians and they repremanded her? Did Dr. Carmondy refuse her sexual advances? If she was an employee she also had a responsibility to the animals. Did she confront the veterinarians personally before she went to the state board of medicine and tell them they were abusing animals? Before we crucify the veterinarian, we better know some of the facts.

Second, here at the FR we learn to ask questions and not take what is printed as hard facts until we learn the whole story. Why is this story so different when it concerns a professional such as a veterinarian instead of a politician? Why are posters assuming that we are ignorant of what an Italian Greyhound is when no one states that these animals are equated with a Greyhound? Yes, most of us know the difference.

This makes news because it is a rare case but we all know what the press will and does do to make and report the news. I am willing to bet the farm there will be found that the employee has a problem with the clinic and the abuses are probably not abuses at all but can be construed as such when some hateful former employee wants vengence. I am also willing to bet the press will give the former employee a free ride and not tell the whole story when it comes out so that the veterinarian can be exonerated by the public.

I may be wrong but I have seen far too many veterinarians embroiled in this scenario for me to accept the story as written.