ATLANTIC Investigation into dog death

Veterinarian who euthanized healthy husky received reprimands dating back to 1992

PORT HAWKESBURY — A Cape Breton veterinarian being investigated after euthanizing a dog by mistake in August has had complaints lodged against him dating back 28 years.

Frank Richardson, registrar for the Nova Scotia Veterinary Medical Association, said Dr. Sietse Van Zwol, owner of Highland Animal Hospital in Port Hawkesbury, was suspended in 2016 for two months, reprimanded and directed to take a recordkeeping course following a complaint about his assessment, diagnosis and treatment of a dog, as well as his communication with the client.

Van Zwol was directed to participate in follow-up audits of his practice, all of which were completed.

In an email response to questions, Richardson said in that decision it was noted that Van Zwol had been reprimanded on previous occasions between 1992 and 2009.

“It makes me angry knowing that this has been happening all these years and this man was and still is allowed to practice on our animals,” said Arlene Fougere of Meat Cove who took her beloved husky Cooper to a Highland Animal Hospital clinic in Ingonish on Aug. 4 with a sore hind leg.

Fougere said Van Zwol met her in the parking lot due to COVID-19 restrictions. He came out without a chart and, without a word spoken, Cooper was given a needle. Fougere’s dog had been euthanized.

Fougere screamed, “He only has a sore paw. You killed my dog!”

The vet told her there were three dogs there to be put down and he had made a mistake.

Fougere secured a lawyer, who filed a complaint against Van Zwol with the Nova Scotia Veterinary Medical Association. Her lawyer was offered $15,000 compensation from the animal hospital, in which she’d receive $9,500.

“He’s asking me to put a price on my dog’s head and I can’t do that,” she said, sobbing.

Brian MacInnis, assistant to the registrar for the Nova Scotia Veterinary Medical Association, said in an email, the information gathering phase has been completed and a panel will begin the review of information phase.

A call from SaltWire Network to Van Zwol was not returned.