How would you feel if you took your beloved pet into the vets for just a grooming, and instead of picking up your well groomed pet, ended up picking up her lifeless mortal remains?
That is what happened to the pet owner who took her cat Ciara in to be groomed at the Colonial Heights Veterinary Hospital in Colonial Heights Virginia in March 2007 and placed her under the care of veterinarian Margaret Metry.
According to the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law issued by the Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine:
". . . an individual brought 'Ciara,' a feline in for grooming. Dr. Metry informed the individual that the Ciara would have to be sedated for the procedure."
[umm, sedating a cat for grooming?????]
"Dr. Metry failed to ensure that Ciara was properly monitored after sedation as the cat was placed back in its carrier, which prevented proper monitoring of the animal's health."
That's all this document says. So how do I know Ciara died?
Because in the previous notice of informal conference, the Board says:
"You failed to ensure that Ciara was properly monitored after sedation resulting in no one noticing that Ciara had stopped breathing until she was removed from her cage. She could not be resuscitated."
Can you imagine how heartbroken her family must be?
The Board found that Metry had violated 54.1-3807(5) of the Virginia Code and 18 VAC 150-20-140(7), both of which relate to unprofessional conduct.
And to add insult to injury, all the Board did was give the vet a reprimand.
No fine.
No suspension.
Dead cat, totally needlessly as far as I can see.
And nothing more than a reprimand.
How terribly sad.
Links to disciplinary records:
Notice
Order
