St. Catharines vet’s suspension over

A St. Catharines veterinarian’s suspension for professional misconduct has ended but an investigation into his conduct by the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals continues.

Dr. Mahavir Rekhi’s status on the College of Veterinarians of Ontario website was changed to “active” from “suspended” on Tuesday.

Rekhi, of Skyway Animal Hospital on Welland Avenue, had his licence suspended from Aug. 20, 2016 to Feb. 20, 2017 after he was caught on video abusing animals in his care.

Despite the change in licence status, there was no hint he planned to reopen the clinic Tuesday. The door was locked, the lights were off and there were no cars in the parking lot at noon.

Rekhi’s lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for an interview.

Rekhi was suspended and fined $10,000 after clinic staff and former employees made complaints to the college. His discipline committee hearing received statements including that Rehki grabbed a small dog by the throat and punched it multiple times in the face in October 2013 and picked up another dog by the scruff of its neck and slammed it on a table in March or April 2015.

He was handed a 10-month suspension that could be reduced by four months if he underwent a series of courses and sessions on proper animal restraint and behaviour modification techniques.

The case made national headlines when the complainants went public with the video evidence they gathered as part of their complaint to the college because they believed the college’s penalty was too lenient.

The graphic footage showed Rekhi with nine animals on different dates between April and August 2013. It included dogs being hit and choked and a cat swung by its hind legs.

In September, Kevin Strooband, an investigator with the OSPCA and executive director of the Lincoln County Humane Society, began an investigation after learning about the case.

He executed a search warrant on Dec. 7 with Niagara Regional Police at the 514 Welland Ave. clinic and seized files.

Strooband said Tuesday the investigation is still ongoing.

“It’s a detailed comprehensive investigation that takes time,” he said.

Strooband said he was unable to provide any more information.

The College of Veterinarians of Ontario was closed Tuesday.

As part of his penalty by the discipline committee, Rekhi will be subject to three surprise inspections each year for the next two years. He will have to pay the costs of the inspections.