Dr. Koller sounds like a veterinary psychopath. If they can't permanently revoke his license based on his history, you have to wonder if the veterinary profession can regulate itself at all.
If a vet isn't doing right by your animal, gather your thoughts and your pet and LEAVE. Bad treatment is worse than no treatment.
78
There are so many problems in this sad story. Unfortunately eradicating mistreatment of helpless animals is virtually impossible. But stopping serial abusers like this man is something we can do:
1. We need a medical bill of rights for pets and owners required at the front desk of vet clinics and boarding facilities, so everyone involved knows what is standard treatment and what is abuse.
2. We need third-party hotlines, investigators, and courts to look into allegations of animal abuse by veterinarians. Many institutions including our military, universities, and professional associations are policing themselves. They often do a poor job because their interests lie in protecting their brands and members, not in rooting out abuse.
3. We need animal abuse involving permanent injury or death to be classed as a felony, with malpractice fines and permanent loss of license for veterinarians.
4. We need a national database of convicted animal abusers.
5. We need news sources like the NYTimes to include the names not just of accused and accusers, but also of the specific boards and board members who are responsible for judgements. If boards and their members are named and given a chance to respond to legitimate concerns in cases like this, they may show better judgement.
Horse racing deaths and industrial farming protocols show vet abuse is not rare. Vets do not always keep their patients' interests in mind. So systemic protections for animals must be put in place.
66
Horrifying and outrageous. Knowing how he tortured the stray German Shepherd and all the other animals who could not speak up is enough to give one nightmares for weeks. What good is a veterinary regulatory board if it does not even protect the public from a monster such as this?
50
This is horrendous. How is this possible, there has to be something very wrong with the licensing laws, that allows this very sick man to get his license back multiple times. The law needs to be changed.
44
I have had cats for the past thirty years. I have never come across any vet like this. This guy sounds like he should be investigated to see if humans are safe around him. He seems quite unhinged. He sounds like a character from Criminal Minds and ID Discovery. Why would this man's license be reinstated over and over?
52
How can this man not be in jail for animal abuse?
48
Isn't there a law against animal abuse ? Aren't people that abuse animals arrested and fined ? Why was this vet allowed to practice veterinary medicine with ample proof of abuse and the deaths of animals; dogs bite when they're threatened or hurt and so would I . This is a sick individual that should be prosecuted and go to jail . I am sickened that someone who should be a healer has caused such harm to these pets ; cruelty to animals = cruelty to children because they are helpless and trusting .
33
While I would not necessarily want to accord pets the same legal standing as humans, that isn’t really what this story is about. The real issue here is that this veterinarian is a dangerous psychopath, he just seems to have targeted animals yet manages to get paid. The incident of his injecting his wife and himself with the animal tranquilizer deserved more exploration in the story; did she survive, are they together? He’s a danger to humans and animals as long as he is walking free.
35
You folks who get on your hind legs and bray about cruelty better not eat animals cause factory farming makes this stuff look like child's play.
Animals are not people. They are property. If you send them to a crazy doctor it's the same as sending them to a crazy mechanic.
7
He is going to pick on the wrong person that loves his pet. That is the day he will regret what he has done. He should think a bit especially with the Gun Happy environment we are in now....
11
I hope and pray this is the exception.
I am still haunted and uncertain that my last cat, when taken in for euthanasia, was treated properly. The regular vet wasn't there, and the woman who was in her place just was very abrupt and I feared, rough, with my sweet Chloe.
I fought for a few minutes for her NOT to take my cat away from me and behind a closed door where she insisted she had to administer the injection.
This was news to me ... and had not been my previous experience over 2 other cats over 3-1/2 decades.
I didn't want to agitate my darling cat by having a battle within the exam room ... and it was then out of my hands -- and view.
Vet wasn't warm or caring at all, and she advised me not to even hold my sweetheart while she passed. Imagine that.
I was always going to be uncertain if I did the 'right thing' at the 'best time,' but this vet did nothing to help smooth over all the distressing thoughts.
Then I read of this monster and all anguish and sadness and pain he inflicted -- so, so terrible. If there's any karma to be had, at his 'rainbow bridge' he should be met with snarling jaws and claws at the ready.
27
I could not finish reading the article, I was so angry and shaken. Koller is one sick puppy.
25
NYT we need a follow up for this article, PLEASE. Why are Vets allowed to have their licenses reinstated so many times?!?!? This is absolutely ridiculous!!
46
Indeed, it’s deeply troubling that this very sick individual has not been thrown in jail for a very long time, let alone permitted to continue to (mal)practice. It’s also heartbreaking to see animals so defenseless in the eyes of the law.
Those of us who care deeply for our pets - and there are clearly many of us who do - surely believe that animals should not be classed as mere “property”: in truth, they are highly emotional, intelligent, loving beings that ought to be highly protected against all forms of abuse.
One problem I see with correcting this horrible injustice is that too many people are content to consume a broad range of animal products without the least bit of consideration of their source.
If we could all start caring more about where our chicken, beef, pork, lamb, duck, fish, wool, leather, down, etc. come from, we might just be able to turn the tide against offenders like this atrocious vet.
17
As a veterinarian myself, I’m horrified by this story. I would absolutely welcome better oversight, as well as permanent loss of licensing for misconduct like this. In fact, animal cruelty is a felony in many states so I’m not sure why this guy isn’t in jail.
I know my industry fights changes that would mean higher legal damages that reflect what pets truly mean to their owners, but we are after all reaping the benefits as a profession from the fact that pets are so often valued as members of the family. Can’t have one without the other.
Just so people understand though, our liability insurance is currently not very expensive and if that changes dramatically those costs would ultimately be passed on to pet owners just as they are in human healthcare. Just as in human healthcare, there are justified lawsuits and unjustified ones, and with higher damages the profession would be opening itself up to more of both. I still believe it’s worth changing this system, I just worry about pricing out good pet owners who are already finding veterinary care difficult to afford these days.
39
"Vets" is also short for veterans; I came into this article with eyebrows raised. Just saying.
1
Vets are not only unaccountable, but outrageously overpriced. Too many care mainly about their pocketbook. Many others work in industries like agriculture and laboratory animal medicine where they are active participants in the deaths of millions of animals.
11
I had similar experiences with a local vet.
I’ve always adopted rescues, and accompanied them on a veterinary visits. No apparent problems.
The vet also has a kennel, so I boarded the dogs there when we traveled. They always returned filthy and matted. But the last straw was when one of my dogs supposedly attacked her sister, who needed stitches and meds. There had never been an ounce of aggression between them before or after.
I expressed my doubts to the vet about his explanation, but paid the bills anyway. How could I prove he was lying?
Then another one of my dogs got old and sick, and had to be put down. I’ve attended many euthanasias over the years. They’re sad, but merciful and peaceful.
Not this one. The poor old girl began convulsing and foaming from the mouth. The vet kept giving her more lethal drugs. I was nearly in shock until, after 20 agonizing minutes, she finally died.
I wrote a negative comment about his practice on a web site and, within minutes, he responded that I made up the whole story.
I hope he goes bankrupt. In the meantime, I have found a wonderful new veterinary practice.
24
I always make sure to stay in the exam room and hold my pet if any procedure needs to be done.
In the past, I have had vets and techs tell me that they must take my cat or dog to the back, but I say no.
My current vets in NJ and my vet in CO always ask you to be there because it helps your pet stay comfortable and not so afraid, even when the procedure itself might be scary or uncomfortable to them. And if my pet needs special overnight care, I always ask if they can show me what to do so I can do it at home. Many times I can. Those are the vets I prefer.
It is important to check out a veterinary hospital before you need it for something serious to see how the vets and techs are with your pet. I have had quite a few pets over the years, mostly cats and dogs. I have also developed lots of pet nursing skills over the years as a result.
17
I grew up with friends and family in the laboratory veterinary field. As upsetting as it is, we can’t take medicine unless it’s been tested on animals. The vets practicing lab animal medicine make sure the animals are well cared for and also do surgery. What horrifies me is that veterinarians that are responsible for mice and reptiles are held to much higher standards than the “pet vets” in this article. A vet that treats lab animals badly gets fired and loses accreditation. Without that, no hospital or pharma company will hire them.
Shouldn’t the standards be equal at least? Why is BIG Pharma doing a better job here?
13
Why do they bother even having these licensing boards? Medical Boards—far from perfect themselves—nevertheless would certainly have terminated his license permanently for anything like this behavior. So, do these boards really care about animal welfare (as well as those of the owners)? Or is it really a professional support group, and you really can’t ever really “lose” your license? Or, even worse, is such behavior more widespread than we can know? Anyway you slice it, there is defacto no veterinary governance when we have to depend on the law over Boards!
16
It never ceases to amaze me that people are shocked by mean veterinarians. Just because he/she is a vet does not mean they love animals. Most, I hope, do, but many found a job they are good at and liking animals is not a given. Years ago a vet was taken to court for kicking to death a Greyhound in bloat(torsion of the stomach) in NH and the vet in question was basically given a slap on the wrist. This was witnessed by the vet tech.
And as for living in a no-kill county? I'm assuming you mean your humane shelters do not kill their animals? Most no-kill shelters sell their unadopted animals to other shelters, kill as well as no-kill shelters. So, those animals , if not adopted, will end up being killed eventually. Animal shelters are in the business to sell their animals, they don't give them away. There is just so much money in each county to pay for the animal's keep. The popular saying now-a-days is, "adopt, don't shop", which is in itself unrealistic unless you plan on calling your local shelter and have one of the workers meet you at the door with any dog of their choosing, you give them money and off you go! So, become educated and read and research any and all issues that might come up and if something just doesn't feel right, walk out and don't "settle" for a jerk to leave your dog alone with....your dog deserves better than that!
3
You know, just because he made that "litigator" comment, I'd be in full support of some SLAPP suits for him. I'm more than a little hot right now.
20
This is horrible!! Why was he reinstated so many times. Investigate the board!
21
This breaks my heart. I recently lost my beloved dog to heart disease. The vet we went to was kind and understanding, and even hugged me after we had to put her down. Vets treat very vulnerable animals, who might be in pain and unable to protect themselves. This man needs to be punished not given the opportunity to hurt someone else's beloved family member.
22
My first cat went to the vet to be boarded and spayed. She was nine months old. We were told she died of a "brain hemorrhage". I was six at the time. My second cat was two and a half years old when he developed urinary problems. My parents took him to the same vet, and he was sent home the same day. He was sent home - supposedly fine - and died that night. The second death was over fifty years ago, but I still cried when reading this article. God knows if I will be able to sleep tonight. This was in Franklin, Mass. As of a few years ago, there were still people there who recalled that vet's name, and not fondly.
A vet like this one is a MONSTER. He should be in prison for so long he learns what it's like to be helpless, like the animals he abused. Whatever value the law places on an animal - and I am appalled it does not value them more highly - what of the human suffering this type of abuse causes? Fifty years later, and the pain of losing my first two cats so young is still there. Such a man should not be walking free, much less permitted to "treat" animals.
Despite the intense pain this has stirred up in me, I am glad you reported on this, that you're calling people's attention to cruel, murderous vets and the harm they do. It is a shame our society continues to let this happen.
41
Thanks for bringing up the lack of regulation of veterinarians. While this vet was blatantly abusive, what about those other vets who recommend invasive and expensive procedures that are unnecessary or even harmful out of greed. Those vets have no regard for the animals and the pain and suffering they put them through.
15
@db Pet owners have a big responsibility to protect both themselves and their pets from abusive or -- let's call it what it is -- "predatory" practices. Faced with a recommendation for an invasive and expensive procedure, seek a second opinion, just as you would for yourself or a human loved one! Obvious trauma may have to be an exception, but aside from that, why take a chance?
3
This brings back horrible memories for me. Those poor animals. I used to work in vet clinics as a vet/kennel assistant. Most were great with really good veterinarians, but the last place i worked was it for me. The guy was nice most of the time but had been through brain surgery for a tumor and was having problems controlling his frustration. One day when I was helping him with a cat that was being difficult (can't blame the cat) he picked the cat up by the scruff and the lower back and threw the poor thing into the wall by the floor. I was in shock. I ended up feeling that I had to call it in. I felt bad for him, but worse for the cat. I would be livid if someone did that to my furbaby.
9
My dog died a week after vaccinations although not showing signs of typical vaccination reactions. The clinic where she had been brought was unsure what the cause of the reactions that she was having, and she was left there for observation, and stopped breathing, was revived but ended up passing away. What did happen in the week following was the veterinarian who had treated her OD'd on medications used on patients in the clinic and collapsed into the arms of one of the owners patients. He eventually had his license suspended, but was reinstated 6 months later. I'm sure he was probably reusing needles to cover what he had been doing, or was under the influence at the time.
12
I worked for a vet for over 2 years that was definitely abusive to animals and it did result in several deaths. He had anger management issues and was unable to control his frustrations with his staff and uncooperative animals. He specifically went into veterinary medicine not human medicine because there aren't controls in veterinary medicine. He keeps this well hidden from his clients.
Moral of the story: develop a good relationship with a vet,notice everything. Do not leave your pet unattended. Stay in the exam room and have everything possible done within your view unless you really trust trust them. Do not drop them off to be seen between other patients.
The majority by far of veterinarians I know care very much about the animals. But one bad one is all it takes.
26
Try to not leave your companion animal(s) alone with vets or their staff if you can avoid it. Many if not most are probably trustworthy but how can you know the ones who aren't? (I've worked with some who weren't.)
11
I would love to see a follow up to this article that looks at vet licensing boards across the country and compares their standards. It sounds like legislative action is called for in many states to remedy this, and I would like to be part of the solution. Whether one owns a pet or not, this article is both heartbreaking and infuriating.
17
I am always asking the NYT for more stories and especially more pictures about and of cats and dogs.
But this story and those pictures not only broke my heart but will haunt me probably forever.
I still can't get that story from a few years back out of my head. For whatever reason which I obviously have suppressed, some punks decided to throw a puppy off a cliff because they thought it was funny and cool.
While I truly hate reading much less even seeing stories like these, I think it is paramount for the NYT to cover them and to report them. For if they did not, who would know of the acts of this monster in Oregon?
Thank you Mr. Baker for informing your reading public.
This article also proves to be a good and sound guide when taking one's dog or cat or other pet to a clinic or vet for the very first time.
While I hope that the vast majority of vets out there ARE kind, compassionate, caring, thoughtful and helpful, one never really knows for sure after reading this article.
Is it not wiser to be careful than to assume all is well in the interest and benefit of one's loved and cherished pal?
15
All of those animal rights activists who focus on harassing naturalists studying wild animals would better spend their time and energy focusing on sick people like this man...
14
Use the rage, disgust, horror that you feel now, after reading of this despicable sociopath, to decrease and eventually stop eating meat and dairy. Because the pain that these poor pets were subjected to is indicative of the maltreatment, no the torture, of farm animals for human consumption. Go vegan.
10
He BIT a Labrador? With his MOUTH? This man sounds absolutely psychotic and should not be allowed near animals or children.
32
As an experienced pet owner and consumer advocate, let's talk about the cost of prescriptions for pets. When my German Shepherd contracted pneumonia, the *specialty* clinic, without even examining her, said it would cost a minimum of $5,000 to treat her. They charged me $400 for a month's prescription that I later refilled for $100 at Costco. I also discovered they padded my bill by about $1,000, half of which they refunded. The next specialty clinic I went to wanted $800 for the same prescription. When I contacted the Florida division of consumer affairs, I was told vets can charge whatever they want, as long as theygive quality care. Meanwhile, I saw many seniors at these clinics shelling out thousands of dollars for their pets' meds... I am sure at the expense of paying for their own. People will do for their animals what they won't do for themselves. I am now making regulation and oversight of prescriptions for pets a *pet project.* But individuals must be their own advocates: check itemized bills and complain if you're overcharged; notify your state consumer department, Better Business Bureau, etc.; and know that vets must prescriptions you can take elsewhere, as long as you ask BEFORE they fill it. Also, ask about generic substitutions.
45
@Elena I have done the same as you with prescriptions for my German Shepherds. I'm sure there are unscrupulous practices that pad costs unfairly. However, I know that the business model of many practices is to generate revenue from the sales of prescription medicines, foods, treats, etc. to cover operating expenses that aren't covered by regular fees. I had a wonderful vet, in his own solo practice, who couldn't say no to an animal in need and routinely discounted care in order to help people. He went out of business because he was so generous and I miss him to this day. His charge for the medication my dog was taking daily was triple the cost I found at an online pharmacy. He wasn't gouging anyone, in fact the opposite was true, but it was part of a common business model that the internet is upending. As more people become aware of and switch to lower cost options for meds, the lost revenue will be replaced by increasing the cost of other services. I agree that we all need to be our own advocates. Good luck with your pet project and thank you for doing that important work.
7
@Elena The FTC evaluated pet medications in 2015, and the Federal Fairness to Pet Owners Act (also re: pet meds) has been introduced several times. To my knowledge, nothing has come of either, unfortunately. Best of luck with your endeavor!!!
3
This man should be jailed for life. And striped of all money. PERIOD.
104
RIP Bleu you were a beautiful dog.
61
Articles like this make my blood boil. This man has no business treating any animal. Years ago I had a female Siamese cat who became mean and down right frightening when I took her to the vet. Her vet used patience and affection to try to calm her down. If this vet ever encountered my cat he would have come out second best in any altercation with her.
38
Koller deserves a long prison sentence.
61
I live with 4 animals, 2 of them are senior and have unique healthcare needs. I spend more on my pets medical care than my own and have changed vets when I am not satisfied with them. Budget vets are not going to give you the same level of attention and care as a standard established practice. If you can't afford quality vet care, maybe you should defer bringing that animal home until you can...
26
@A Becke - I adopted a dog from a shelter almost 5 years ago. He was 2 or 3 at the time. They were not sure of his age. I enrolled him in a wellness plan at a national chain that sells pet supplies. They have pet clinics in many of their stores. My disposable income is not large by a long shot and the wellness plan has been a god send. A couple of times my baby has needed emergency care (eating things he shouldn't and having a bad reaction to tooth cleaning) and I have had to pay out of pocket. I sacrificed to get him the care he needed. There are some good health plans available they allow people like myself, who are not well off to have a pet who was unwanted and in a shelter. I think there should be some regulation of health care costs for pets. It does not seem fair that so called "high quality vet care" can cost whatever the provider wants to charge.
15
OMG. I have three dachshunds. I am crying at the idea that anyone could ever be this sick. Just sick. Jail, loss of licensure and more regulation are reasonable ideas here. I'm so sorry, Mr. Figueroa, for your loss. But rest assured, you and your beloved Bleu have brought a big problem to light. This is horrifying.
46
Absolutely horrifying. The reinstatement of this man to a status of practicing veterinarian after performing such torture and harm is a perfect example of white male privilege. This will haunt me for a long time, as it should.
397
@Ali "...is a perfect example of white male privilege."
This made me laugh out loud. And yes, it was derisive laughter.
23
@Dave Walter Why derisive laughter? Do you really believe that if the vet was a women or was a person of color that they could possibly be practicing instead of in jail?
39
@Dave Walter
Couldn't agree more, blame me for someone else's bad behavior...the fact that 119 people have recommended this comment (as of this comment) is all you need to know about our culture. It cannot be defined, there is no basis in reality,truth or justice. Only groups bonding together and groping for power through ridiculous slogans.
13
The animals as property philosophy is outdated and laws need to change with the times. Today, veterinarians don't simply maintain working farm animals. By and large they owe their livelihoods to treating animals that most people consider to be part of their families. Would anyone think twice if an MD's license was revoked permanently if he was witnessed slapping a baby in his care because it was crying? Let alone abusing a patient with such anger causing the death of that patient? My personal opinion is that animal abusers should face jail time. But certainly they should not be allowed to practice veterinary medicine. Any more than a child molester should be allowed to run a day care center.
493
@Don M I agree but would add, Jail Time for many, many years. This is inexcusable, horrifying; the lack of appropriate response from the "authorities" is, as another person said, one more example of patriarchy and white male privilege. If that doctor had done that in front of me, I'd have beaten him to a pulp. And I am a woman, age 75.
47
How is it possible that he was EVER reinstated? I live in San Diego, and we are a no kill county - I believe the first in the nation. As pet owners we rely on our vets to take care of our family with love, care, and honesty. Who are the so-called "regulators" or "boards" that could look at this monster's record and let him go with a slap on the wrist.
As a dedicated animal advocate I am appalled by the actions of this veterinarian and the regulatory agencies entrusted with oversight.
498
@Stephen S. If you are a dedicated animal advocate, you should look in to the actual impact of "no kill" designations, which are grossly overly simplistic and create far more harm than good. "No kill" is a nice ambition and is useful as one component of animal welfare vision, but when created as a law it imposes strategic requirements that actually disable local animal welfare professionals from creating complex strategies to deal with complex problems (overpopulation, abuse, keeping families together under stressful conditions, imbalance in regional populations, differences in local and state laws, etc.).
We all like simple solutions to awful problems, but often (as in this case) they make things worse.
33
@matt
Would you support killing humans in order to "
to "deal with complex problems (overpopulation, abuse, keeping families together .." ) ?!
If you would not support killing humans for those reasons, then why do you believed that killing animals should be permissible "In order to deal with complex problems. " ?
33
@matt :
"No kill" entities, whether animal shelters or rescues are still allowed to euthanize up to 10% of their population. This is usually done for incurable, painful diseases or injuries, extreme old age, or intractable behavior.
28
For what he did to that German shepherd alone, a stray dog who only deserved kindness, this man is an absolute sociopath.
26
He is a mentally ill monster responsible for untold suffering and death who needs to be institutionalized and should have been decades ago.
The other concern both CA and OR police should consider is that most animal abusers are serial killers too!
Clearly vet clinic laws also need updating. If you are an animal abuser and killer, you should have nothing to do with animals permanently. Not practice, not manage, not own. Period.
19
I'm glad that my mother didn't have to go to this sadist to care for her pets.
12
Beyond the pale.
4
Permanently revoke his license please, thanks.
12
what a horrific story! This monster who calls himself a vet should be barred for life from practicing. what gives with the veterinary board in Oregon???? Pet lovers unite and do everything you can to put this guy out of business . he is dangerous
10
How disgraceful that this sadist has been allowed to practice. It looks like there was more concern about his drug abuse than all the cruelty he has committed-
One sick puppy!!
7
"Dr. Koller blamed Mr. Figueroa for not telling him that his dog bites ..." Any veterinarian should know that any dog can bite, even the sweetest and most docile of dogs.
18
Hope he spends the rest of his rotten life in prison. What a despicable human being/animal abuser.
16
Sadistic people who abuse animals often abuse other people (particularly women and children). This dangerous psychopath needs to be locked up forever.
20
Let’s do something about this: contact the Oregon Veterinary Medical Examiners Board to let them know they aren’t doing their job protecting the public and animals from such a monster: [email protected]. Or call them at 971-673-0224.
Thank you N.Y. Times!!! This is a failure of a state regulatory board that must be addressed.
33
@Anna
Thank you for providing the Oregon Veterinary Medical Examiners Board.....message sent.
We truly need to prevent this monster from hurting another innocent animal.
5
@Anna What a great idea! Thank you. Calling now.
4
Psychopath. Boycott his business. Ban his right to own animals.
I'm am heartsick at the very idea he owns a dog.
16
Sickening. Not only should he have his license revoked permanently, but he should do a LONG prison stint. He is a sick sadist.
10
This a mockery of justice. Dr Koller has no business being a veterinarian: he is a monster!
Unable to control his temper and a murderer.
10
Why on earth would any state reinstate a Vet's license once revoked for reasons of cruelty?
20
"In 2018, the board fined him $1,500 for trying to spay a male cat."
All he got for that was a fine? Wow.
13
People who abuse animals are another type of evil. Hurting those who cannot speak or stand up for themselves, are helpless, nowhere to run. It's disgusting and should not be tolerated in a court of law. Thank you Mr. Figueroa for standing up to an authoritative figure like Koller. He is truly despicable and should be in prison. I hope this article ruins his life and the Oregon licensing board and criminal courts see this for as serious as it is. He is obviously a miserable, mean, abuser of power, and has no business "caring" for animals. Pets are people's children, people wouldn't let a doctor treat their child like that. It's inexcusable.
14
I'm a gentle and kind person. I want to beat this guy with my fists. Okay, got that out. Back to being gentle and kind. Thanks for listening.
16
Even before any question of whether this person should be licensed as a veterinarian is the question of why he hasn’t been criminally charged with animal cruelty?
If any non-vet had perpetrated these acts on animals, it seems that they would have been charged for the acts.
And the reinstatement by the boards - ridiculous!
13
This man should be permanently barred from practicing veterinary medicine.
10
You do have to wonder how someone who is obviously a sadist is allowed to keep repeatedly getting his license back.
It should be revoked once and for all, with no ability for reinstatement. This is appalling cruelty.
16
My old psychology textbook in college claimed that there were ten (10) million psychopaths in America.
Yes, Virginia, psychopathy is a real thing. And it often hides in plain sight.
Stay alert. Expect the unexpected. Dare to know.
We are composed of various degrees of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Hillary tried to hide her Mr. Hyde; Trump, not so much.
4
Our cat was attacked (nearly disemboweled) on our property. We ran into the limits of Ohio law when suing for extensive repair costs. We got merrely $50 as the replacement cost for a barnyard animal.
2
I am a retired veterinarian. I was in practice for 49 years. So I have no stake in this anymore, since I’m fully retired.
First, in all my years I’ve only seen a handful of veterinarians who are as miserable, unbalanced and criminal as this doctor is. I’m thankful for that.
I will say that I have seen many more who are incompetent ( truly incompetent and not just a rare solitary mistake) and/or are crooks who have come up before state veterinary boards and received only a regulatory “slap on the wrist!” I’ve known some of the cases in detail and was flabbergasted at the ridiculousness of the “penalty” handed down. A month’s suspension or more continuing education for KNOWINGLY REPEATED gross incompetence!
The problem rests with the state veterinary boards whose conflict of interest is to protect their own. They go out of their way to trivialize the penalty.
One other aspect. Remember, General practice HUMAN doctors my pay as little as $7500 malpractice insurance premiums. Whereas OBGYNs and orthopedic surgeons pay $20,000-$50,000 a year per doctor!
. Veterinarians do all kinds of surgery and if the monetary awards for veterinary malpractice (especially pain & suffering) get near those for human malpractice, veterinary bills will rise sharply to cover those premium increases.
This is just an FYI piece. As I said earlier, I have no stake in this game anymore!
20
Glad this article was published! Hoping everyone in Oregon and California read this and boycott his clinics. One way to shut him down- spread the word and I hope people read this article!!!!
16
I couldn’t get through this article. Too deeply disturbing.
8
I hope he gets to spend some quality time in a prison where the other inmates come to know what his crimes are.
He would wish he had chosen another line of work.
11
What appalling behavior from a supposed professional. I have been a veterinary nurse for almost 20 years and I make it a point to treat my patients as if the owner was watching me, and to think he pulled this in front of owners. Heartbreaking for these poor defenseless animals and their owners. Think that you have to then pay your bill on the way out. Sickening
11
In the face of so much evidence, it is utterly disgraceful that the regulators have so clearly failed at their jobs! I cannot believe this scumbag's license remains in good standing!?!?! Unbelievable. My heart grieves for the animals and families "Koller" (he does not merit the title "doctor") has abused. Koller deserves to be locked up. If he is capable of inflicting such abuse on defenseless animals, he is capable of inflicting similar abuse on vulnerable children and people.
11
"Dr" Koller most likely has friends on the licensing board. Maybe someone is being paid off or blackmailed by him and so he keeps his horrific practice going. Check it out. This monster should not be practicing. Go on YELP, etc. and warn people about this maniac and his practice. Picket his office. I'm on the opposite coast so I can't, but if I were there, that's what I'd do.
12
“I hope to make people realize how totally helpless animals are, how dependent on us, trusting as a child must that we will be kind and take care of their needs … [they] are an obligation put on us, a responsibility we have no right to neglect, nor to violate by cruelty.” – James Herriot (Veterinarian & Author)
12
NYT - thank you for this report! Koller has no business being entrusted with the care of any animal.
9
We barely function here in Oregon.
This is a sickening story, but you know, for a long time--maybe still--the school system for our children didn't seem able to fire abusive TEACHERS.
We have serial criminal offenders among the houseless population who we can't seem to get jailed. Blatant stuff--entering restaurants and stealing food from peoples tables, sucker punching strangers in the face. We've got men living on the street with 100+ reported incidents, they get revolved back into the street with no jail time.
I can't figure it out, incompetence? A vestigial libertarian culture? Laziness?
4
This is a very sick man. He must have been abused as a child to continue the abuse cycle. No way he should be near any animals until he has psychotherapy and is released by a psychologist.
How is he allowed to have a license to practice veterinary medicine after the first offense ? Physician, heal thyself.
Pet owners: you are the responsible party to be in the room with the vet during examination. This would not happen with my dogs with me present. Ever.
2
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional detective Sherlock Holmes said "When a doctor does go wrong he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge."
Dr. Koller should never have received a second chance. Anyone engaging in violent abuse and drug usage has no business EVER practicing medicine again. And certainly not on patients that do not have a voice to speak for themselves. After Koller is finally removed from the public arena, Oregon needs to entirely revamp their procedures regarding disciplining of vets. This is a train wreck of incompetence.
14
There is a code I found working in healthcare for 30 years with physicians..they always always cover for each other and it’s very dangerous for patients human or animal..I’m not surprised even with copious evidence that his fellow vets coveted for him
7
The book by malcom gladwell “talking to strangers “ describes how hard it is for us as a society to have these sort of bad people exposed and why no one believes the truth. It is a concept called “default to truth”
I once brought my dogs to a vet and watched him throw a cage w
A live cat against the wall. I left.
4
More outrage here than for child abuse and domestic violence.
However, jail, please for this guy.
And, better oversight of the pet health care industry, please.
6
Imagine the pain of that young man who took his puppy in for a checkup and had to euthanize him the next day. This vet is a monster and needs to be in jail. Shame on the agencies that kept him in business to cause so much suffering to animals and their owners.
9
Two sides to this:
anyone else recall the veterinary student who killed a neighborhood cat with a bow and arrow "for fun", bragged of it on social media, but was still allowed to continue her "career" by her state board afterward?
And then another veterinarian, a good one by all reports, was harassed by a patient and her friends, to the point of picketing her office and scaring off customers, and finally ended up, after more escalation, with the veterinarian killing herself. The woman who began the harassment apparently totally misunderstood something that had happened in the vet's practice.....
6
Death penalty for animal mistreaters. There is absolutely no excuse for such behavior toward true innocents. (Life imprisonment if death penalty too harsh).
3
@Brainfelt
I sure hope you are vegan!
3
Our dog died after over-extensive surgery for an 11 lbs papillon. Twenty minutes after receiving our almost dead baby and while driving back home, we heard the most horrific noises of pain from our dear pap. See died minutes after we arrived into a vet emergency site. Her primary vet called all other vets in the are about what happend. The "specialist" had to close shop and move.
4
As a human being I am absolutely horrified. As an animal lover I am sickened by this article and so sad I started crying while reading it. It makes me sick to think this monster has hurt so many lives - both human and four legged. what kind of a system allows this cruelty to happen, let alone continue for decades?? I am absolutely sick to my core, and my heart breaks for these innocent animals who didn't understand what was happening to them, and the parents who lost their loved ones. I hope this article finally causes him to lose his license once and for all and get the punishment he deserves.
6
@Jamie
Yet this type of hurt occurs every MINUTE to all types of animals for the purpose of human consumption.
Have you ever seen a video of the atrocious conditions
of farm animals; pigs, cows, turkies, chickens, goats; the torture of the dairy and meat industry. It is appalling and you can never ever unsee it.
2
I forced myself to read this, but I had to keep putting it down and coming back to it. Can anyone imagine taking a child to a pediatrician only to have the doctor kick and beat the child because he cried? Would such a pediatrician ever have his license reinstated? Why should penalties be different for murderous treatment of beloved animals?
This drug-addled, sadistic man should be barred from ever putting his abusive hands on another animal. It also appears that he might be dangerous to people as well. How he got so many second chances is mind-boggling.
10
Maryland has a Board of Veterinary Medicine. I filed a complaint but felt like it was just a rubber stamp to clear the vet. Prices for services and quality of services are all over the map. Not much in a way of regulation. It is obnoxious the way vets constantly upsell their patients. If my primary care doctor did that he would be reprimanded.
1
In mid-September just passed we took possession of a second home in Salem, OR. On the day we arrived we found ourselves in immediate need of vet; a need that took the life of the eldest of our then six now five four-legged furry family members. Not the vets fault I hasten to add.
Knowing no one in town we returned to that same vet for the dental needs of one of our three cats and were again stunned by the costs involved.
By then better knowing a great neighbor who has a dog we asked them where they took Charlie. Without hesitation and in ringing tones she said Four Corners Animal Hospital.
That practice wonderfully and at stunningly reduced costs has now addressed the dental needs of the second of our three cats, has an appointment for the third next week, and a lifetime commitment from us for the rest of the brood.
Four Corners is a tiny small-animal, two-vet practice in an economy-sized physical building that provides superb care, passionate concern, medical attentions and loving follow-up...with fees light years in recess of what we encountered previously, and as much to the point precisely what we had come to be used to as THE benchmark of quality affordable animal care in Prescott, AZ.
This is all to say that good caring vets are indeed out there in Oregon and we are privileged to have found one. And if this sounds like an unmitigated recommendation of Four Corners Animal Hospital....well, that wasn't the point of the comment, but if the shoe fits.....!
4
Dr. Koller has anger issues and should not be allowed to practice veterinary medicine until he undergoes treatment for that and likely other emotional issues. It isn't only the animals who were abused, the owners who trusted him were also victims.
6
This article is heartbreaking. Two years ago took my very sweet cats to a very expensive privately owned dental clinic, run by two vets who studied dentistry at U C Davis, established and well into their professional life. The vet was seemingly very professional. Both cats needed dental surgeries and dental cleanings, at age 8. She insisted on lab work, and unlike other dental cleanings, there was an anesthesiologist available, as my one cat had heart disease, and was at risk. She said she would put them under anesthesia and then do xrays to determine abcesses that are not visible otherwise, and would probably have to remove half their teeth, upon her visual examination. The cost for each animal was estimated to be $3500-$6000 per cat. She took them both back for labs and urinalysis. She brought one back in her arms, as she had taken him without his carrier and gave him back to me, and said he scratched her. She was angry. He was hyperventilating and open mouth breathing, and did so the entire way home for 30 minutes. I decided not to ever go back. He used to love to travel, and was peaceful with his regular vet, and even purred on his way there and back. Now I have to sedate him to take him to the vet. It is so hard to trust and know. I will now demand to be there with my kitties every visit going forward.
6
While I never, to my knowledge, taken my pets to an abusive veterinarian, I have run across many who I judged to be incompetent.
4
Abusing a beloved pet in front of its owner is not just animal abuse. It is what perpetrators of domestic violence do to terrorize their partners. This man abused every person who witnessed his behavior. I'm surprised he was never charged for assault of another human being.
17
With the insane fees Vets charge for even a basic consultation/exam, they need to be held to standards similar to Medical Doctors. As with Dentistry, there is too much of a business-growth model, and not enough true oversight, or ability of pet owners to assess the quality of medicine practiced beyond word-of-mouth. Animal Companions are not property; they are family members, and for many people like myself, as beloved as a child. The idea of a Vet abusing my cats enrages me.
5
How is it possible that this man is not in prison? Much less allowed to continue to treat animals again and again?
Since the veterinary boards don't seem to be able to do their jobs and the law doesn't protect animals properly, it looks like we need state-by-state citizen-run networks to identify these abusers.
Thank you, NYT, for shedding light on this.
10
This man is a sociopath. I can't imagine how his license keeps getting restored. I have never seen a vet be cruel to animals, but I have met one or two who seemed not to like them much. I couldn't help but wonder why they went into the profession.
But on the whoIe, I do want to push some kudos to the many veterinarians I have seen over my long pet-owning life, who give compassionate care and reasonable costs.
17
What a horrifying, terribly sad story. Clearly, the licensing board needs to be held accountable. I cannot fathom how he ever got reinstated the first time, much less after multiple transgressions. Among other problems, he's clearly got a drug abuse problem & should not be treating animals and should not have access to drugs. As the artice points out, part of the problem with holding monsters like him accountable is that animals are considered property, so redress in the case of harm is limited to "replacement value". However, that stance is inconsistent with the fact that most states also have laws against animal cruelty and abuse. So clearly, the law recognizes the difference between property like a car, and a family dog. When is the last time you heard of anyone being charged with cruelty toward their Toyota? This huge contradiction in the legal status of animals needs to be reconciled so animals can be afforded the protection they need and those who abuse them can be appropriately punished.
7
I dealt with countless doctors, residents, and nurses while my daughter fought a cancer battle which ultimately was her demise. I fired numerous "professionals" that I felt were less than professional. I got the feeling that people don't realize they have that option. I have had horses over forty years, dogs most of my life, and cats off and on for many years. I have fired vets that I felt were incompetent or lacked compassion for my animals. I have no words to even come close to how disgustingly despicable I think this monster is.
I would also like to add that I think sobriety testing is in order from the sounds of allegations of DUI on the road as well as in the operating room. There could be an underlying reason he chose a profession with access to controlled substances.
8
"remains in good standing with the veterinary board." What would it take to bar him from ever practicing again? I love my cats and the thought of something like this ever happening them makes me sick. Thanks to the Times for this article and hopefully, it will lead to a better system that holds people like him accountable.
43
I imagine Oregon is not the only state that needs to update and drastically toughen its veterinary laws. While this article is an eye-opener, many more cases need to be brought to light before any kind of change occurs on a broad scale. We can't even enforce older adult abuse in nursing home laws adequately.
Only take your beloved pets to a veterinary practice that allows you in the exam room throughout the visit.
23
Because he operated low cost clinics, many of the clients were economically disadvantaged. Vet bills can be exorbitant—. Our dachshund had back surgery last year. Some pet owners do not have other options, and therefore are more vulnerable to practitioners like this predator. May he permanently lose his license.
30
How many news stories have been written about children who have died by the hand of a parent well after reports upon reports upon reports have been filed with a children's services agency?
If we as a society cannot protect and safeguard innocent children from abusive parents, what chance does a single dog, cat or other loved family pet have against the deliberately cruel, mean, and intentional pain inflicted by veterinarians like the one written about in this article?
Trust me - he is neither the first nor the last individual to get away with such unspeakable torture.
21
@Marge Keller Doesn't make it right and doesn't mean he should not be permanently barred from being a vet or having any ownership interest in a clinic. The guy is a ticking time bomb.
6
@shep
My eyes continue to tear up wondering how much terror, fear and pain he caused untold numbers of innocent cats and dogs behind the closed examination room door.
How ANY one or agency can look the other way and not take an ounce of action are as guilty of neglect as this guy is intentional cruelty to animals.
5
"In a 2015 memo to Oregon officials, he said he maintained high standards for care and cited support from numerous veterinarians, who said he was an excellent practitioner and a caring person who advocated for low-income people."
This is the problem right here: These sociopaths seem to target vulnerable populations without many other options (including the ability to mount expensive lawsuits that would, at the very least, highly inconvenience these vets both in terms of cost and reputation even if they aren't highly successful on the merits).
We need to stop legally categorizing sentient creatures the same way we do furniture. Abusing non-human animals is a predictor of all sorts of other anti-social behavior, including abusing humans, and it should be treated with an appropriate level of seriousness.
34
After reading Margaret Renkl's beautiful, touching and compassionate article yesterday about the sweet dog, Millie, she and her family adopted, today's article clearly depicts the opposite end of the human spectrum with the cruel, evil, hurtful side of human nature and the many acts demonstrated by one horrific monster still in the business.
There are generous people who save and cherish abandoned and abused animals and then those who seem to do such emotional and physical harm to them without even batting an eye.
Who said evil does not walk this earth?
19
How could the licensing boards restore this vet's license when he was criminally charged with animal cruelty and when there are multiple complaints of abuse? Someone who commits such extreme acts of abuse multiple times is not going to change.
23
Why doesn't revoke mean revoke? He should have been barred from practicing for life the first time his license was revoked.
31
@MikeH haven't you noticed doctors are like politicians... the rest of the herd band together in the Code of Silence and Protection... one thousandth of MDs that get complaints are ever held to consequences.
4
I'm not a pet owner. But this is beyond appalling.
21
Don't states bother to ask if a veterinarian has ever been suspended or had their license revoked before issuing them a license in their state? Sheesh, that should be a no-brainer.
I certainly hope that Oregon sees Dr. Koller's past history of animal abuse, license revocation, and drug abuse and revokes his license for good. If anyone should carry a scarlet letter everywhere he goes, it's this man.
15
As a resident of Oregon, this is so embarrassing and horrible that we are not effectively preventing animal abuse from happening, or continuing. Thank you for this article. I hope change happens, and soon. They have so many things they can and should do, like criminal background checks, and I so hope this changes. He should not be continuing his practice and I can only hope people boycott his business.
200
Thank you, NYT for publishing this.
98
Oregon clearly needs to step up its licensing board and licensing requirements for the veterinary field. In 2014 there was a piece done by KATU about Dr. Koller and his abusive behavior, along with noting the abusive behavior of the vet and owner (Dr. Rhawada) of one these franchise Companion Pet Clinics in North Portland in my neighborhood. The piece mentioned that Oregon does not even require criminal background checks for state licensure.
I wondered, have things changed since then? The answer is No. The OVMEB does not require criminal background checks, unlike every other state in the region: Washington, California and Idaho.
I am a licensed massage therapist. In order to have a massage license, we are required to undergo a criminal background check (that we pay for) and biannual reporting to the board. We even have a higher requirement for Continuing Education than a DVM. And this is massage, folks. A practice that involves no drugs, no prescriptions or diagnosis of any kind, and no loss of consciousness for the patient at any time during treatment.
Something's really wrong with this picture.
I am so sorry for poor little Bleu and for his papa Mr. Figuera. This Veterinarian is a psychopath for sure. His license should never have been reinstated in the first place. I will be writing to my state legislators ASAP.
180
@N Amen and thank you!
6
Leaving the issue of a client’s right to sue to the side for now, at the very least there should be a clearly visible display of board certifications/revocations/reinstatements etc posted for each practicing veterinarian in the lobby of every clinic a la restaurant DOH grades or employees list of rights.
Imagine seeing this man’s horrible-to-the-point-of-absurd record as you brought your pet in. You would turn right around! Having no system in place to ensure this level of transparency is simply negligent. That this monster was consistently slapped on the wrist and allowed back in the game is beyond that.
49
Figueroa’s dog was so cute. But even if it wasn’t, no animal deserves to be treated that way.
23
As some have mentioned, yes, it's helpful that research has shown the correlation/progression of animal abuse to human abuse. This seems to raise the level of concern for some people.
But I hope we're getting to/have gotten to the point where the abuse of animals is enough for the human species to condemn and criminalize the behavior. Of course we don't want someone to progress to human abuse. But the abuse of animals must be seen as its own, first-rate horror show, and not something that is most concerning because it's a potential lead-up to something else. In its first iteration — harm and cruelty to animals — it is indeed horrific and psychopathic. And abusers must be punished accordingly.
This story is sickening for so many reasons, but the ways in which this monster kept getting away with the horror — having his license reinstated! when he should have been tossed in a jail cell like he tossed that cat in its cage — is one of the sickest things about it.
62
I am not surprised by this is at all, even though difficult to read. Our legal systems are failing. They are failing our children who come from abusive backgrounds and they are failing these animals now. He is a psychopath. He should've never been able to practice after the first incident. This whole situation is outrageous!!
51
This vet is a cruel and sadistic man. He also appears to be a drug addict. There is no excuse for this level cruelty to people's pets. He should lose his license forever and be prosecuted immediately.
70
@Renee Jones
Agree! What is wrong with/how dysfunctional are all these Vet state boards. What a really bad joke they are. Seemingly, complete lack of standards. Pet owners, take notice.
1
Do not even get me started on this state and the leniences it provides to some of the worst offenders. We could have coffee for days discussing the atrocities people commit here and then wind up right back out in public. This is the dark side of this state. This guy has been in the news and well known for his horrendous practices for awhile. Shame on him, shame on the state of Oregon, shame on pet owners who knew this and continued to trust this guy with their beloved pets. We have an abundance of vets here- OSU produces some of the best. There are choices. Due diligence goes a long way. My heart breaks for the animals and their owners.
43
This man belongs in jail.
28
I hope the owners of these animals bring a class action against the vetinary registration board in Oregon.
33
Anjellicle, the rescue shelter, employs a vet who is also insanely brutal and I wish he could be jailed. They prefer him because he is cheap. That's it.
22
@missiris In NYC? WHich vet, please disclose!!
19
In these times when we are presided over by a cruel miscreant in the White House, when civility in public discourse is sparse, when the moral fiber of prior generations’ political leaders has been replaced by moral mush — the last thing we need is a cruel veterinarian on the loose.
Our animals are vulnerable. We care for them and they provide solace for us. To entrust our pets to a veterinarian who would do these things is beyond the breaking point. This man is a mistake of evolution. It would be an act of kindness to all, including him, if it were legal, to “put him down.”
43
Dr. Daniel Koller stated he likes litigation - after this story, he will have plenty of litigation. And he deserves it!
47
@Maureen
This monster's arrogance should be a separate crime in and of itself.
2
I couldn't finish this article, but knew of a veterinarian in my home state who finally lost his license, having lost the right to practice in several other states previously over the years. The level of betrayal is beyond calculation. Our pets depend on us to do what is right, love and care for them and they, in turn, give back ten fold in unconditional love and silent support. That poor young man who had to put his baby down, and all of the others whose pets suffered at this monster's hands. Felony charges do not even begin to bring justice to this case.
28
We found a kitten the first week we were married. He was a doll. When we got him home from the clinic after he was neutered, he kept crying and crying and had difficulty jumping.
This was my first experience on all levels with this vet, a newly neutered kitten and his recovery.
Six years later, we returned to the same vet practice because the now adult cat had a different issue. A different vet who x-rayed the cat asked me questions about his back. I was clueless at what he was trying to ask. Finally, he said the cat's back had been broken when he very little.
My eyes filled with tears because I knew now why he had been in such pain when he was little. I told the vet what I observed and then he had tears in his eyes. He said the previous vet was no longer at that practice. He also said he recalled hearing rumors that a vet had thrown a kitten against the examining wall because he had nipped him on the hand.
Every single day after I heard that account, I held my cat and cried, telling him how sorry I was and how terrible a cat mom I was to him.
Even after 30+ years, I am still crying as I write this comment. I will always feel guilty and responsible.
Since that horrific story was told to me, I NEVER, EVER leave my cats or dogs with anyone I do not know. Fortunately, I have extremely compassionate, smart and caring vets who love animals as much as me.
151
your story made me cry. i am so sorry this happened to you. you didnt know, so please forgive yourself. you can make a positive difference to so many animals with the compassion you have within you.
12
@Marge Keller - The first dog that was “mine” and not my family’s was a precious Yorkie. He started acting weird and yipping, so I took him to a local vet. They x-rayed him and said something was in his intestine that required surgery. Hours later, they called and said the surgery had gone well. Fifteen minutes later, they called and said the dog had just died. They never billed me. To this day, I have no idea what happened. I was 23.
I “know” you from your wonderful comments about animals. You gave that abandoned cat a great life. I know you did. We do the best can with the knowledge we have at the time. When we know better, we do better. Both of us have learned lessons along the way. I’m a helicopter mom with my animals now. I know you are too.
10
@dweeby
Thanks for your kindness and tender comment. Still can't help but cry when I think about the tremendous pain that little darling endured.
I think one of the reasons why I am so overprotective of the many animals I have cared for over the past many decades is to NEVER make a mistake like I did with my first one.
I keep his picture on my desk at home. I tell myself that he is no longer in pain and understands that I was completely unaware of this cruel individual at the time.
That little guy is still my sweetie pie.
11
It is not just "chains". It can happen at well respected University Vet Hospitals. There is little if any accountablity for Vet abuse and malpractice. State Vet Boards protect the Vets.
15
I also could not finish reading, and I don’t support the death penalty, but this . . .
30
From reading the posts here I am sure to get a lot of blow back but for what it's worth, I have been using this clinic for years and I have never had any issues with his work. Then again, I just use them for vaccinations and check-ups.
1
@Daniel No blow back from me Daniel, but a bit of friendly advice: Get another vet. This man is obviously dangerous to animals, so your animals should be protected from him. Also, supporting his business allows him to hurt other animals. If one of your animals develops a health related issue, and a routine physical exam causes them pain, they are likely to react to the pain by resisting the exam. That is when this man is most likely to become violent, and you can't predict when that might occur. Please don't let him near any of the animals entrusted to your care.
22
be on your guard from now on. you now have the power of knowledge- use it
3
I have Standard Poodles, crazy loved dogs. I probably would get in a fight if I thought a Vet was mistreating them.
I went to a cow college, Washington State, which has an excellent and very selective Vet Program. When I was there, they were the ones that cared for my dogs.
Now I have my pet care through Banfield (Petsmart) Seems like it's a way station or residency for newly minted young, female Vet graduates. They and the assistants are sweet to my dogs. One of the assistants cried and was bereft when I had to have my dog put to sleep. Years ago. She's still there, and that is reassuring. Chain Vet. clinics aren't the problem, it's bad people. And luckily, they are fairly rare.
I think most small animal Vets don't go into practice with dollar signs in their eyes. All Vets are very smart and applied. Most are animal lovers and angels.
28
Not just companion animals, but all sentient animals, including farm animals, should be shielded from purposeless abuse of this sort. Sad to say, but in some sense it can be viewed as sometimes worse than cruelty to humans, since humans have more tools to fight back and even escape, while animals are at our mercy. We need better laws and better training, but most of all better and more humane raising of our kids, and mental hygiene, to put a stop to this for once and for all. We have been getting better -- it's hopefully not as bad as the days of Anna Sewell's "Black Beauty", but there's still a long way to go.
32
My cat got excellent care from the Companion Pet Clinics in the 80’s and 90’s when I lived in Oregon. All the staff was uniformly kind and skilled. Thank heavens I never ran into this veterinarian.
This “doctor” should be run out of town on a rail.
20
knowing what has now come to light, i dont see how anyone can work for him. he needs to go.
2
We have experienced how lacking good animal care can be for vet hospitals. We have a dog that began having seizures at 3 years old. The vet hospital prescribed him phenobarbital for the seizures. Our dog had blood tests every 6 months, we thought, to monitor the drug levels, but instead were to monitor his liver function. He became deathly ill at age 7, so we brought him to the same vet hospital for additional testing. I then was directed to an emergency vet hospital. Upon admission, I was told by the vet there, that the phenobarbital had severely damaged his liver. I did not know that the blood tests they were doing was showing severe liver damage. They never told me! They never stopped prescribing the phenobarbital, either. After five days, exploratory surgery and being told that Sammy was in liver failure and had an "angry liver", we took him home. I began researching how this could happen to my young dog, when I thought I was getting good medical care for him and did everything the vet told me to do. I discovered that most vet hospitals do not require continuing education for veterinarians! I read that there is an accreditation for vet hospitals that show they operate to the highest standards for animal care. This is called, AAHA certification. The new vet we found is AAHA certified and saved our dog's life, prescribing him Kepra, which does not cause liver damage. He is 12 now. I will never go to a vet without this AAHA certification again.
38
Clearly the regulators are not doing their job! (One might compare them to the US Senate for dereliction of duty.) Who is watching the regulators?
25
This was a hard article to finish. I know most Veterinarians are wonderful, caring, dedicated to their clients both human and animal. But, why in God’s name was this man allowed ever again to continue to practice after even one animal death (obviously not natural or euthanasia)?
31
I see mistreatment of animals frequently in my daily 5 mile walks. I have called the police but they will do nothing. I have called animal control, same thing. The government would certainly be even more suspicious of and less interested in hearing complaints about "professionals" like veterinarians than about lay citizens.
I confess that I am an animal lover, but I am physically sickened when I see such cruelty to innocent creatures.
19
Abuse and cruelty is abhorrent no matter the victim. Our pets should not be viewed as “our” property, but as our companions.
History is replete with abuse, cruelty and far worse because people wrongly think they have a divine right to decide who their property is.
Slavery should serve as a lesson.
11
Dr. Koller is a cruel, depraved man whose license should have been revoked permanently in 1974 when he was "seen kicking and beating ao German Shephard that employees later found dead. "It should not have taken five year after a veterinarian kicked and beaten a German Shephard to death for regulators to revoke his license, which should NEVER have been reinstated.
The Oregon officials who restored the license to Dr.Kohler, and did so repeatedly are responsible for the harm that came to every animal who suffered at the hands of Dr.Kohler from the moment they learned that he harmed the first animal.
The laws must be revise such that animals are no longer considered to be property. One problem with eliminating the categorization of animals as property is that categorizing animals as property is what enables humans to buy, sell, and slaughter animals legally
Why do humans believe that they have the right to rip puppies and kittens away from their mothers ? That is no different and no less cruel or wrong than is ripping babies from their parents and selling those babies at slave auction. Animal parents grieve the loss of their babies just as human parents do.
.While Dr. Kohler's cruelty is shocking, and his license MUST be revoked, "puppy mills "are cruel as well. I implore readers who are thinking of buying "designer dogs " to adopt shelter dogs instead.That will save the dog which you adopt , and reduce the cruelty involved in "Puppy farming".
26
"Lori Makinen, the executive director of the Oregon Veterinary Medical Examining Board, said...Under the law, she said, animals are considered property."
This is the critical distinction --
The law views your pet in the same manner as it does your lawn mower - or set of golf clubs - as a piece of property -
Yes - there are laws against animal cruelty - however, the punishment for breaking those laws do not approach the level of causing harm to a living being...
8
@Howard G
so there you have it-the oregon vet board does not believe that animals are living beings. I tried to tell that to my dogs while they were scampering about, wagging their tails after enjoying some blueberries and scratches behind their ears. Silly property....beyond belief statement from Oregon Vet "medical examining "Board. They need to be replaced, with the Vet practice laws revised, immediately. They are failing in their mission-?why have and pay for such outdated cave-man mentality?
2
@Howard G
Excuse me....
"there are laws against animal cruelty - however, the punishment for breaking those laws do not approach the level of causing harm to a living being..."
So you don't even consider an animal to be a "living being?" What is it then, a piece of hardware?
1
I do a big dog event in Portland each year for corgis and was horrified to read this article. Our dogs are family members and my heart goes out to each owner affected by the cruelty of this man.
13
Total failure of the regulators.
21
Another game played by veterinarians, though less lethal, can have very nasty consequences: unnecessary
procedures . For example, several years ago my Jack Russell seemed to be having with trouble which a loosened tooth. Yes, the vet confirmed my diagnosis and recommend pulling the little front tooth. I agreed so I left him for this minor procedure that, however, did require anesthetic. The vet called me several hours later to ask permission to pull several additional teeth that were abscessed. My dog had never evidenced any symptoms of an abscess, let alone 6 or 7. But he was on the table and there was no point in doing this some time later. I was just generally interested In What an abscessed tooth would look like so I asked for them to be saved so I could see them.
I looked at them that evening. All were perfect, not even any plaque or tartar, typical of a young dog.
It’s not that I would ever neglect anything my dog needs nor was it the approximate $800 extra. However, these are hugely necessary for a dog to chew. It’s not a matter of no harm no foul.
Trust but verify.
15
The abcess is seen on x-ray as a circle around the root. True, the tooth itself is intact and looks perfect but the structures around the tooth are diseased. Your vet would only know this with dental radiographs (x-rays)
10
At one time children were considered the property of their parents and could be treated as the parent saw fit. Those days are gone. Someday in the future, with the help of caring legislators like Ms. Rosenthal, pets may one day be protected, too. Yes, pets are considered to be "owned," but they are also (in most cases) considered valued family members and are loved as such. This special status should be reflected in law.
51
@Ms. Pea
The Oregon Supreme Court has recognized that animals are sentient beings worthy of being deemed a victim under the law. In three recent cases, they ruled for animals as victims under the law. We are close here in Oregon. For the last 100 years, Oregon has deemed all animals have a "special value" and not just a "market value." This is why theft of any animal is an automatic felony in Oregon. Animals need to be considered both property and sentient beings in order to keep protected. I don't know who Ms. Rosenthal is but property is a state jurisdiction and will always be that.
16
According to the Animal Legal Defense Fund, Oregon ranks 2nd in the nation for strong laws protecting companion and farm animals. I’ve seen individuals and shoddily-run “rescues” alike prosecuted here for a variety of abuse crimes. How on earth, then, does this vet manage to evade prosecution here? I do have some hope that things will turn out differently this time, as many of these protections for pets were signed into law after he was last brought before the vet board.
64
I've found it helpful to avoid chain or franchise veterinary clinics. Certainly they can employ caring and competent vets, but I've found it can be a little too hit and miss for my comfort. I've noticed more often than not a type of assembly line mentality, where the emphasis is on higher productivity and lower costs...which negatively affects the care they give.
I travel across a very large county to bring my pet to a vet who has treated him for most of his life, who demonstrates genuine affection for animals, and who accepts that I insist on staying with my pet during treatment.
I also stay with my pet at the groomer's. You wouldn't turn your small child over to a doctor unsupervised, why would you do that with your pet?
71
I agree @ND Catt. My vet likes to take my pets "in the back" and it makes me uncomfortable but I have allowed it. After reading this article I will think 3 or 4 times before allowing that again. My pets are my family.
7
Do you want to go outside or do it here?” Dr. Koller said before starting to walk around the counter.
Maybe if someone "did it there" years ago we could have stopped this monster
137
@Zenster I imagine, like most predators, he targeted people he knew were not in a position for a fair fight.
Still, it's a numbers game, and I'm amazed that no one ever did react violently.
5
@Zenster Doubtful. People like Koller live for confrontation; losing an encounter only makes them take out their rage on family members or helpless animals.
The only answer is taking away their right to practice their profession... and that includes incarceration for repeat offenses.
"Dr." Koller danced around the law for far too long. The state veterinarian board that reinstated this violent bully needs to answer for their egregious mistake.
8
Kudos to those trying to do something about this - anything. I couldn't finish the article. Please defend the defenseless and rid the profession of these monsters.
190
@Sara I have a somewhat different take on this very charged topic. I am a retired mental health professional. I have talked anecdotally with veternarians in two states, Oregon and California, in recent years. The open, candid ones have told me this profession currently places these well-trained medical professionals in companion animal practice, especially, in challenging positions. Many see this type of practice as a lucrative field. However, they report there is no education or preparation for veternarians about their high stress levels, or their own health and mental health needs often ignored by vets. The demands of practice are often managed by capitulating to what owners want and/or self-medicating with drugs they might use on their patients. Many state that owners make demands versus being willing to be educated about their companion animal's issues, importantly end of life issues. Many vets report either leaving or wanting to leave the field. They feel unprepared for the levels of inter-personal, emotionally charged circumstances they find themselves in. The role of the vet vs the animal owner has changed dramatically. And so on ...
This case appears to be one of terrible abuse of animals over many years. My comments are unrelated to this case. Outright brutality and documented abuse, of course has no place whatsoever in any profession Over many years, where were the licensure and enforcement of regulations people, if any?
13
@Susan The animal medical profession has a high rate of suicide, it is indeed a stressful job. In their work they have to see and treat animal neglect, which many caretakers are unaware of. Plus they face criticism when they are unable to fix a pet's medical issues. This Koller is of course a monster;
most vets are highly trained and compassionate professionals.
9
I couldn’t get through the entire article. The man is a horror. Jail, please.
271
@Willie Bee He already spent time in jail. How does anyone who was sent to jail for animal abuse get a vet's license re-instated??
7
@Willie Bee I couldn't finish it either. The worst thing I've read in the NYT in decades. A psychopath.
7
This is so upsetting, as it happens we are taking our two beloved Shelties in for vaccinations today. We trust our vets, and live close by to their practice. But, the idea that one staff member could perpetrate vicious acts of cruelty and indifference out of our sight—or even while we're standing there—is just heartbreaking. I don't say this lightly: this man deserves incarceration and mental health treatment for the rest of his natural life.
130
This vet is the animal equivalent of a serial killer. A sociopath, and an outlier. Shocking that he could continue for most of his life. There should be model laws criminalizing his behavior and making it simpler to take his license away. BTW. was his uses of Telazol on his wife prosecuted? I mean, it sounds like attempted murder...
Surely they can be written in such a way as to eliminate gratuitous attacks against decent vets who happen to treat animals who have bad outcomes? ( I've seen insidious online attacks against vets I know to be caring and competent by pet owners who unfairly blame them for their animal's diseases or declines).
And to eliminate threats agains large animal vets who work in the dairy and beef industries, who could be targeted by opponents of the industries, as soft targets?
107
@cheryl he used the Telazol on himself. In addition to his violence towards animals, it seems he was a domestic abuser and drug abuser.
14
@Mary Shelly There's an alternate explanation - they were both using it (or some other drug) to get high. At no point did it say that his wife was unconscious due to abuse. I'm not saying this to defend him - he's a monster - just clarifying that the situation is not as you described it.
3
He injected himself with the animal drug, which is perhaps even more unsettling.
1
This is awful, of course. But if we open vets up to major lawsuits and force them into needing malpractice insurance, the cost of care is going to skyrocket.
10
@John in that case, as the author points out, perhaps there should be some regulation on the costs of animal care. If vets and veterinary hospitals can charge whatever price they feel their market will allow it seems that private profit comes at the expense of public risk. And, as this particular veterinarian's record shows, the way things are now leaves plenty of incentive to provide sub par and potentially criminal care without significant consequences. If you were to increase the costs of veterinary care, say by requiring more insurance, you do not decrease the number of pet owners looking for care and thus there is still a high demand and the market would reshape itself. As an example of why increased costs from higher standards are often the most beneficial choice in the long, though probably not short, term was the American auto industry at the end of the 20th century. They didnt want to take on the costs of fuel efficiency and when oil spiked they had inefficient gas guzzling SUVs that no one wanted and were far behind foreign rivals in developing better standards to remain competitive. Market good, yes, but healthy and confident consumer base far more important.
34
@John I don't care about the potentially higher costs compared to the horrors of animal abuse. Vets like this careless, reckless, horrible human being ought to be sued - and suffer the consequences. It's called responsibility.
96
@Ben Most vets only make about $80,000 to $90,000 a year. Considering that their training and student loans are as high as medical students, that isn’t much money. It might be why their suicide rates are so high. Limiting their salaries is not the answer.
9
It’s all about the money. The corporation of veterinary care, the corruption of regulators, the individual greed of once compassionate veterinarians. It all goes back to money and greed. I haven’t met a chain owned vet I’ll ever trust. Euthanasia is the only thing I truly trust any vet to perform because it’s done right in front of me. If I was mr Figueroa, that so called Dr Koller would have needed medical care.
44
Research shows people who abuse animal, will likely abuse people.
Abuse is not species specific.
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@Julia Ellegood
AND the abuse usually starts with an animal when the individual is young.
An extremely disturbing pattern that has been documented for years.
8
@Julia Ellegood
There was in instance a number of years back where a local vet student at a very well-respected university was abusing Italian Greyhounds. Luckily he was removed from the school before graduating. More pre-screening for prospective vet students should be the norm.
8
We also had a dog that was mistreated by a greedy veterinary chain. Unnecessary surgery, and I later found that the X-rays they showed us were those of a different dog. Our dog was not micro-chipped.
Our president has weaponized both our courts of law and social media, but that doesn't mean both can't also be used for the common good.
Out these sadistic and incompetent 'professionals' and change the laws. Only that will help make the world a kinder, safer place.
36
Reading this article with horror, I kept wondering – why did this criminal doctor, who had inflicted so much pain on the animals in his care, as well as their owners, KEEP getting his license back when there was abundant evidence proving he was abusive? That question, which went unanswered by the author who seemed to take it for granted that this is simply the state of affairs, could shed more light on how broken the oversight system is? Maybe that’s a topic for another article.
234
@Danny I wondered the same thing. The only conclusion I can draw from the article is that he seems so litigious that I'm assuming he wore the boards down with constant appeals and other requests to reinstate. Not a good excuse at all - the boards are there to set some kind of standard of care. I would think that the one instance in which he spent time in jail would have been enough for the board to revoke his license for good! This is truly horrifying.
72
My father was a Veterinarian and vicious man who would kill a dog or cat at the drop of a hat. I have been talking to my psychiatrist about the time he made me ride my bike to the clinic to euthanize a dog when I was six or seven years old. He just euthanized animals for no reason other than he was angry. I saw him throw animals through doors. Kick them. Animals were disposable and so were the emotions of his family and a seven year old child. I'm 70 and that poor animal I was forced to kill still bothers me.
188
@Cate I'm so sorry for the trauma you suffered. I hope you find peace.
43
I am so sorry that you had to endure that. My heart goes out to you. Of course you are affected by this even today. I am so sad that these atrocities occurred. Bless you.
24
@Cate I’m sorry this happened to you. Your father’s behavior was wrong and harmful.
12
Wow. This man should be banned from being near any animal and sent to treatment for his mental health and drug use. He is a danger to all.
106
As a veterinarian myself, I am horrified to read this story of this clearly deranged individual who should have lost his license on the first offense. He should never have been able to regain his license in any state. This is a failure on the part of the licensing boards. However, this article should never have been released in this form, as it is misleading. The tone of the article that suggests somehow animal abuse is a widespread problem within the veterinary profession. This could not be farther from the truth. Veterinarians dedicate their lives to the health, safety, and care of animals. For this privelege they are often overworked, underpaid, and abused by their clients on a daily basis. Suggesting that somehow there is a dark underbelly of animal abuse rife within veterinary medicine is simply a lie.
664
@Kate Steinhacker DVM My experience has been love and care for my pets and me.
45
I don’t think the article suggests that at all.
131
@Kate Steinhacker DVM
Experienced an abusive vet once in CA. I got out fast and never went back. So "most" but not all veterinarians. The Boards need to step up.
Vets also need to be more aggressive about enforcing the laws about moving rescues across state borders spreading diseases. Sick dogs brought from the southern states are an increasing problem with illegal hand offs at state borders where laws prohibit truckloads of strays being transported.
65
We went into an animal rescue to adopt two dogs, mom and daughter, and bring them home. We had visited these dogs three times before making the adoption appointment. Unbeknownst to us, two days before the adoption a veterinarian wrote a note that the mother dog “might have breast cancer”. We were not told by the rescue until we walked in, prepared to bring them home. No one had contacted us. The dogs had been in the rescue for five months.
It took five months for a vet to make this “announcement”? It made me wonder - do veterinarians oversee animals in rescues?
We’ve had services provided by veterinarians for our pets for many years. We’ve trusted our vets, but when this occurred, it made me wonder - what part do vets play with rescue animals before they get their “furrever” home? Who pays them? Do they use as much discretion as they would with “regular” patients?
This article is absolutely heartbreaking - as heartbreaking as it is to see how many animals need to be rescued. After all, they did not ask for their lot in life.
21
@MIMA I am a veterinarian, and I have worked (and currently work) with several rescue groups as part of my regular practice. I cannot speak to your specific concern, but I can assure you that may rescue animals are examined by caring veterinarians, who treat every animal as if it were their own. In many instances, and for a variety of reasons, rescue organizations either can not or will not pursue veterinary care (this is not a knock on rescue groups, because I love their heart for animals, this is a reflection upon the economics of animal rescue and the costs associated with providing veterinary care).
20
@MIMA
Ask the rescue organization: this was their obligation to you. But I am not sure that if they only received the notification 2 days before the scheduled adoption, that they meant to mislead.
Most all rescues have a vet do a physical exams, basic tests for heartworm and other parasites, and provide missing vaccinations in prep for adoption. With my current adoption, those costs were included in the fee.
Some vets do pro bono work, with the shelters,etc, paying for the supplies; others are paid, but usually well under the norm. It's one of the expensive things that donations help pay for.
5
What’s the issue? You didn’t want the dog if she had cancer?
4
In Oregon, the medical and Veterinary regulatory agency
allow nearly anyone to practice and continue practicing as this example shows. They see their role as protection of the abusers not the public. Complaints are lost, they are slow to act and very rarely is any action taken.
42
Read the first story. Can’t continue. So disturbing. An important story. Never knew stuff like this went on. Unimaginable. My heart goes out to all the pets and owners.
73
Wow, this is so sad. This guy sounds like he had severe mental health issues. I have heard, from a vet, that the suicide rate among vets is very high. Perhaps the vet schools need to incorporate, if they haven't already, strong self care and communicating with clients curriculum to their required courses. I know that over the years I have had varying communication issues with vets from not understanding what they're telling me to just accepting whatever they say and not asking good questions. They are not gods and we shouldn't think they are, nor should they.
27
@Kim I am a veterinarian. I can assure you that the vast majority of us do not think that we are gods, and we are very concerned with ensuring that the pet owner is well informed and actively participates in the care of their pets.
13
@Kim Yes, indeed, Kim. Thanks for your apt comments. This article is compromised by an important but dramatic case description and overlooks other issues. AS you point out, clear severe mental health issues --and the article doesn't even touch the surface of his family issues including the injection and apparent abuse of his wife? Nowhere also was this guy's work overseen or regulated by state boards established to do that. In allopathic medicine we call somone like Dr. Koller a "compromised professional" and take away their licenses to practice.
4
@Kim
Is that your response to this report....you have sympathy for vets who mistreat animals?
3
Abusing animals should be a felony offense.
293
@Carla YES!! It's might finally be happening. It didn't receive much coverage, but the Deutch/Buchanan PACT Act unanimously passed in the House and a bipartisan group has introduced a companion bill in the Senate as well. It has strong bipartisan support and it's a good first step. My expectations of our government are obviously very low, but if this is the only law that comes out of DC this year, I can live with that.
16
@Carla
It actually is a felony in a number of localities. The problem is prioritizing the enforcement of those laws.
14
@VPM Also, as with young children, the victims don't make great witnesses, so creating enough proof beyond a reasonable doubt is tough even when the prosecutors want to bring charges.
6
Vet prices in America are abuse. The artificial constraint on the number of vets in America is an atrocious cynical ploy to inflate vet bills at the price of animal neglect. Shame. Graduate more vets.
17
@Samuel And how does that relate to this person's cruelty? No excuse.
12
@Samuel I disagree. What is this artificial constraint to which you are referring?
13
@Samuel I have spent thousands of dollars in vet bills over the past couple of years. But I don't know if I can say the prices were inflated. From what I've read, vet salaries are low compared to the education that is required of them.
I think you have to remember that the price you pay is not only for the vet, but for the staff's salaries, office rental cost, electric bills, costs of the medicine, cost of medical supplies, cost of disposing of medical waste, insurance, cleaning service, medical equipment, computers, paper, stamps, etc.
But, as WF notes, this actually has nothing to do with Koller's cruelty. That is totally separate issue.
28
I’d call him an “animal”, but that’s an insult to animals and all the pets he’s mistreated
Let’s forget the inept federal agencies and bring him down ourselves
This article is a start
44
Every time I take my dog to the vet, I am in the room with him, petting him while he gets his shots, comforting him all the way. How does this monster get away with this? And how on earth did he get reinstated? Our pets deserve better than this.
375
@Gayle F
I wonder if one of the parameters, reasons or rationale used in deciding the employment fate of this individual has to do with the simple notion that animals at a clinic or hospital are viewed as an expendable commodity. There are far more pets out there than vets so regardless of what this individual has done in the past, there is no way the licensing board would take his livelihood away.
Besides, those who sit on the board are usually vets themselves or have a vested interest in the business itself in some way, shape or form. It's often a conflict of interests between the board members and the vets called into question.
10
@Gayle F Yep. I'm actually kind of amazed that none of the owners retaliated on the spot (not the legally advisable thing to do, but I can't imagine just picking up my pet and walking away from the scene).
For those who have experienced this, please share your experiences with the broader community. Apparently, the licensing boards are pretty much worthless, so we need to protect each other.
29
This is a complex problem, deserving a thoughtful solution. We should keep in mind that suicide rates among vets are extremely high when compared to other professions. There's a lot that's out of balance and unhealthy.
And yes, money has a lot to do with it. My (very local) independent vet isn't get rich, for sure. But there are some in the industry that are in it primarily for the money, and that corrupts the dynamics, particularly on state boards.
22
@matt exactly chemotherapy for dogs and for example
Pets are property under our laws. If they had rights, these abuses would start to decline.
34
There is something profoundly wrong with this "man". There is more wrong with the oversight board in Oregon. Not only should his license to practice be pulled with no possibility of reinstatement, but his ability to "manage" clinics should be curtailed too. Words cannot express the utter disgust I feel about this man.
309
@AnObserver There is also something profoundly wrong with our legal system, where choking one's dog is considered only mildly more serious than choking one's desk lamp.
Animals are not inanimate objects and should not be treated as such.
19
This is outrageous and maddening. Thank you Mike Baker for exposing him. I pray this forces someone with authority to finally put an end to his ability to harm animals.
78
Not every DVM loves animals.
Don't forget that every dog from a puppy mill comes with a "certificate" signed by a vet. Does that person love dogs? No. It's a money thing.
Ultimately, as with anything else in life, you get what you pay for.
Just like there is no such thing as low-priced chemotherapy. There is no such thing as low-priced veterinary care.
The problem is that people who have dogs, 99% per of whom shouldn't have them, are somehow SHOCKED that they often require medical care which often costs quite a bit of money.
Everybody loves a puppy but when your dog gets sick and you have to pay, and pay, and pay...That's where the rubber meets the road.
36
Low cost doesn’t equal or equate to abuse.
It may mean inadequate care, but abuse is another thing all together
64
@Spandex Pony Yes, but that is exactly why we need more oversight.
Clinics like Planned Parenthood are "low cost," but the level of oversight they have from medical licensing boards and (because of the politics of what they do) they general public ensures high quality care.
It doesn't seem like there's any meaningful oversight in this profession, which means that even if 99% of vets behave professionally, there will still be an unacceptably high level of bad outcomes from the small group of sociopaths.
5
I say follow the money. All of those individuals and agencies responsible for reinstating this "veterinarian" should be investigated. The evidence - both in terms of volume and egregiousness, is overwhelming. When I lived in Maryland and filed a complaint against a national animal hospital chain, I focused on the incompetence of staff versus the financial malfeasance and that's what got the state involved in the investigation. Mercifully, my cat survived but the callousness that we witnessed in the waiting room was heartbreaking.
82
@theconstantgardener It is also had to find a private veterinarian that is not affiliated with corporate chain. Either that keep it subtle and burred in the fine print or you find out during the billing.
We lost a fabulous vet to a corporate buy-out, not going to fund industrialized vet care.
I'm happy to hand my money to a caring and empathetic veterinarian, but NOT to increase shareholder value!
20
State boards for all the professions are far too lax and fail to adequately discipline transgressors.
39
@June I will bet that a large problem with this is money and staffing.
8
Notwithstanding this barbarian's history, his license continues to be renewed by California and Oregon! No one can deny the perfidious nature of the doctor but who's to blame for the states in their unconscionable negligence?
140
Here is my thought, obviously there is a proven track record of some mental problems with the veterinarian who is unstable in all his ways, but here is a question.....as a pet owner of 3 dogs myself im thinking how many times does a person have to go before a board of any kind before looked upon as a danger to himself or others, including the animals. In addition, we have a right to continue to fight for our animals, so stop writing to the people that have the right to reinstate the man, write and make noise with the people who matter, and have the pull to make noise with this man and put him in JAIL remove him from practice permanently. Keeping our animals safe dont start with the vet board, it starts with the animals rights and the owners of the animals. Just a thought
79
@Dawn I fully agree with you. Permanent removal and very strict sentencing with scrutiny on who is being nominated to the vet boards.
2
@Dawn After he shot up his human wife with an animal medication he should have been thrown in jail. And his license should have been permanently revoked. I'm not even talking about his animal abuse--just his human abuse was enough to never be allowed to practice again.
3
Just awful. Lived with a tech who hoarded Fentanyl used post animal surgeries to take herself, and also submitted our rescue animals to endless surgeries to get more.....
41
Can't read this. But why in the world was he ever reinstated?
As with a young child, I always accompany my pet into the Examination room. If I was ever asked to leave, my pet would go with me.
150
@WF it sounds from the article like he abused the animals right in front of their owners, and his own staff, because he was quite confident no one would believe them. The problem is the system of oversight is broken. I mean, 79 pages of examples of abuse by his own staff and they didn't believe her.
222
@Toadhollow And if someone put a cross finger on my pets or said a cross word,I'd scoop them up and be gone. Dr does not equal god.
24
@Toadhollow Not in front us! He would have left the exam room with more pieces than he started with after the word "snatched". I would have happily been up on assault charges as my pooch would not be lifted by the snout or snatched . . . period.
I have never experienced anything like this nor, met a Veterinarian that did not have empathy and companion. We select the Vet . . the Vet does not select us.
12