Council wants more bite in animal abuse penalties

St. Catharines city council is calling on the College of Veterinarians of Ontario to strengthen its penalties against animal-abusing vets.

The move was sparked by the 10-month suspension of Welland Avenue veterinarian Dr. Mahavir Singh Rekhi, who was caught on video choking and hitting animals in his care.

It’s a case that’s drawn national attention and attracted tens of thousands of signatures on online petitions demanding a harsher penalty.

“The abuse of animals is a deplorable and disgusting act,” said St. Andrew’s Coun. Joe Kushner, who brought forward a multi-part motion to send to the governing body for vets Monday night.

“The community has expressed this disgust on many, many occasions.”

Kushner asked council to join with the community to express its concerns.

They did, unanimously, agreeing to officially express “disappointment” with the adequacy of the penalty imposed by the college in the Rekhi matter.

“Like everyone else, I was disgusted by what happened,” said Port Dalhousie Coun. Carlos Garcia.

Council further called upon the college to “reflect upon the community response” to the matter and consider ways it can “improve and strengthen its mission to ensure that the regulatory and disciplinary process for veterinarians better serve the public interest.”

Councillors also asked the college to fully cooperate with inspectors from the Lincoln County Humane Society, an affiliate of the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, as they probe the matter.

“Council expects leadership from the CVO in matters related to the prevention of cruelty to animals and the promotion of animal welfare,” the motion says.

Rekhi, of Skyway Animal Hospital, was suspended by the College of Veterinarians of Ontario on Aug. 20 for professional misconduct after complaints by his former employees.

His staff recorded a dozen videos of his actions in examining rooms with pets and submitted them to the college.

Rekhi was suspended for 10 months but he can cut it to six months if he completes a retraining program and writes a paper about what he learned. He must also pay the college $10,000.

The former employees went public with the videos in September because they believed the penalties by the college were too lenient. The public reaction was immediate.

Skyway Animal Hospital on Welland Avenue been since been closed and was the site of a candlelight vigil and a large protest.

It’s also been vandalized and Rekhi’s lawyer has said his client had to call police after he and his family received numerous threats.

Meanwhile, Kevin Strooband of Lincoln County Humane Society, an officer with the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, launched a local investigation, still ongoing, after learning of the videos.

St. Catharines council’s resolution will be sent to the president of the college and the province’s minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs, which is responsible for animal welfare.

Earlier this month, Welland city council approved a motion to send a letter to the college and the province’s attorney general asking for more severe penalties for animal abuse by veterinarians or anyone else due to the Rekhi case.