| Complaint: | Complaint 18-29 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Stuart Sherrell |
| Premises: | AZPetVet Arrow Animal Hospital |
The complainants brought their dog to the vet for an anal gland expression. They state that this was a common occurrence and that their dog was doing very well, playing just the day before. The complainants say they heard their dog yelp in the other room with the veterinary technicians, and when the dog came home, she was "walking funny" in her front legs. Another veterinarian at the hospital, Payton, told them that the dog would never be the same and should be taken to 24-hour facility. The dog went home and then died that night. Payton told the complainants there was a video, which they requested, and several days later they received a letter from the practice stating that on the advice of counsel the video would not be released; all further communications were to be sent to their counsel, David Stoll (Arizona's go-to guy for vets in trouble).
Sherrell says that he suspects he was named on the complaint because he's the license holder for the facility and that Payton was actually the vet in this case. He states that the complainants were understandably upset but that many things can cause a dog to suddenly decline, and that his practice had nothing to do with it. In fact, the practice threw in some extra lab work and free supportive care to try and help the poor little dog. He states that the complainants became less understanding as the dog's condition worsened and at one point one of them threatened to "go postal" on the facility. Sherrell states that they reported the complainant to the police after that statement and that it was also the reason why all further contact was to be directed through David Stoll.
The Investigative Committee was apparently able to review the video that the complainants didn't get to see on the advice of legal counsel; they concluded that everything was fine. They also helpfully suggest that many different factors could have caused the dog to go from being playful to being dead after the anal gland expression that had nothing to do with it at all; it could have been an underlying issue, a brain tumor, or even just the stress from going to the vet!
For a similar story where a dog goes in for an enema and then dies, see 21-136.
| Source: | February 2, 2018 AM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| David Stoll | Respondent Attorney |
| Stuart Sherrell | Respondent |
| Roll Call: | |
| Christina Tran | Aye |
| Ed Hunter | Absent |
| Mary Williams | Aye |
| Robert Kritsberg | Aye |
| Ryan Ainsworth | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | March 3, 2018 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| David Stoll | Respondent Attorney |
| Proposed By: | Nikki Frost |
| Seconded By: | Sarah Heinrich |
| Roll Call: | |
| Christina Bertch-Mumaw | Absent |
| Darren Wright | Aye |
| J Greg Byrne | Aye |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Aye |
| Julie Young | Aye |
| Nikki Frost | Aye |
| Robyn Jaynes | Aye |
| Sarah Heinrich | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
The primary source for the above summary was obtained as a public record from the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board. You are welcome to review the original records and board meeting minutes by clicking the relevant links. While we endeavor to provide an accurate summary of the complaint, response, investigative reports and board actions, we encourage you to review the primary sources and come to your own conclusions. In some cases we have also been able to reach out to individuals with knowledge of specific complaints, and where possible that information will be included here.