Friday, March 8, 2013

No Respect for the Dead, No Respect for your Trust: Andrew Manesis Arrested for Dumping Dead Patients Bodies

Bronx veterinarian Andrew Manesis was arrested in spring of 2012 for dumping bodies of dead pets in the brush near the Hudson River. News reports stated that “Andrew Manesis of Animal Clinic & Surgery of Throggs Neck was arrested by Westchester County police following an investigation that began April 5 when the remains of 26 cats, eight dogs and a lizard were discovered in dense brush roughly 10 feet from the Hutch in Harrison, N.Y. .. The pets were wrapped in garbage bags and lobbed into the brush on several occasions from March 2011 to April 2012.”

Pet owners had trusted Manesis to handle their beloved pets remains in a respectful manner, and that’s what they presumably paid for, including one “grieving cat lover” who had paid Manesis to cremate her beloved cat.

What was he handing them back instead of the remains of their pets?

This reminds me of an experience I had while working as a receptionist at a Virginia animal hospital briefly, when a company representative showed up “for a pickup” with a card that said: “We buy bones, meat, fat and gristle.” What was happening to the remains of pets owners entrusted to the hospital to dispose of? I think it’s obvious, and of course, I quit.

How many veterinarians throughout the country disregard people’s emotions about their pets, and sell or dump the dead bodies, all the while pocketing the money they are given for cremation and returning a box of mystery ashes? Or nothing at all? According to the news reports, pet owners had paid $100 to $300 for respectful disposal of their pets remains – surely not to have them tossed as trash.

One thing is for sure: When investigative reports have uncovered disrespectful treatment of human remains, it has received national news attention on night time news magazine shows, and resulted in serious investigations.

Manesis? He was charged in Harrison Town Court with fraud, violation of environmental conservation law and two counts of petit larceny – but all of these charges are mere misdemeanors.

More outrageous still: Although naiive bloggers and news people predicted that the New York State Veterinary Board would take strong and decisive action in this case, we here at Bad Vet Daily are not surprised to see the comment of one recent poster on a news story about this case: “Why is this piece of crap vet still opened?” Well, we can tell you why.

The State Veterinary Board doesn’t care any more about pets, or your feelings, than Andrew Manesis does. Shocking, but absolutely true.

Links:

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/bronx/bronx-veterinarian-busted-dumping-dead-pets-hutchinson-river-parkway-westchester-article-1.1086324

http://www.petside.com/article/bronx-vet-faces-more-criminal-action-dumping-pets

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/29/andrew-manesis-dumped-euthanized-animals_n_1553667.html

http://news.vin.com/VINNews.aspx?articleId=22752