Struck off, vet who left sick dog ‘in agony’
A VET who put down more than 200 dogs by injecting them directly to their hearts has been struck off.
John Hendrie Smith was found to have caused one animal ‘unnecessary suffering’ as he put it to sleep in front of its distraught owner.
Darren Stevenson said his German Shepherd Bouncer was left ‘screaming in pain’ after being injected during a home visit.
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’ (RCVS) disciplinary committee heard Mr Smith, 89, routinely carried out the outdated procedure.
During their investigation, the committee heard Mr Smith, from Galston, Ayrshire used an ‘intracardiac injection’ on more than 200 dogs.
The vet, who qualified in 1953, admitted to a hearing in London that in 50 to 60 per cent of cases animals ‘vocalised, which could include distress’.
Mr Smith, who ran Valley Veterinary Centre in Galston, was called out to put Bouncer to sleep on January 16 last year after the dog’s stomach problems worsened.
According to the RCVS report, Mr Stevenson said the vet arrived with a box of instruments.
Speaking last night at his home in Darvel, Ayrshire, Mr Stevenson said he only called Mr Smith, who he found online, because his local vet cancelled at the last minute. He added: ‘I wanted someone to come and do a proper job but it didn’t end up that way.’
The 33-year-old said Bouncer was in his bed when Mr Smith asked him for a piece of string to muzzle the 14-year-old pet.
He then asked Mr Stevenson to hold down Bouncer as he injected him. But the dog began to ‘scream’ in pain after the injection, which went on for two minutes.
Mr Stevenson added: ‘He tried to use my belt until I stopped him because Bouncer was peeing himself in fear.
‘He was pointing that out to me, like it was the dog’s fault.
‘People say, “why did you use him?”, but I only wanted to do the best thing for my dog. I’d never had to have a pet put down before.’
Mr Stevenson, a former soldier who served in the Royal Logistics Corps, held Bouncer while Mr Smith inserted the needle in the dog’s chest.
He added: ‘I’d planned it to be all relaxed with Bouncer in his bed but it ended up with the two of us wrestling. All the time this was going on Bouncer was screaming in pain trying to get away.
‘It was horrendous and all because that vet couldn’t do his job properly.
‘I’ve been riddled with guilt ever since because it was anything but a peaceful way to go.’
Mr Stevenson, a chimney sweep and father of one, suffered from depression and was plagued with guilt after the incident.
His then girlfriend Rachael Roberts made a formal complaint to Smith’s professional body and gave evidence to the hearing. Mr Stevenson added: ‘I’m glad all this has come out.
‘Everyone thought I was exaggerating about how bad the situation was but I had guilt, depression, everything.’
Following the hearing, the RCVS decided to remove Mr Smith’s name from its register.
Speaking at his home last night, Mr Smith said he was appealing the RCVS ruling but would not comment without legal advice.