| Complaint: | Complaint 20-39 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Heidi Ellermeier |
| Premises: | All Creatures Animal Clinic |
The complainant tells us she'd been taking her dog to a different veterinarian, Ingrim, at the same clinic. The dog had congestive heart failure and respiratory problems but on the previous visit two weeks prior the dog allegedly had no fluid in her lungs. For the next recheck the dog was seen by Ellermeier who said that the dog would need to stay with her for the day. The complainant says she was later called and told the dog was doing well, but was called shortly after to tell her that she needed to come in. She drove to the clinic and Ellermeier told her the dog needed to be transferred to Phoenix Veterinary Referral and Emergency. She was not given the option to see her dog before choosing to transfer. She was told to bring the car up front and turn the air conditioner on high. At that time a veterinary technician brought the dog out, allegedly threw the dog into the front seat, and say "GO!" The complainant says she was in a state of shock and did not know whether to take the dog back into the clinic or drive to the emergency hospital given the poor condition. She says that she had to watch her dog die on the way to the emergency clinic, carrying her dog's dead body in her arms and crying into the clinic. She says that if she had known she might have chosen euthanasia and also says on follow-up with Ingrim that the transfer was handled poorly; he allegedly told her that he would not have had her drive the dog herself and that a portable oxygen device was actually available on the premises but that the staff didn't know how to operate it.
Ellermeier's response states that the complainant was told that the dog needed to go to an emergency center rather than come there, but that the complainant said she wouldn't do that. Ellermeier also tells us that the dog was in poor condition but did better until the dog didn't do so well. Ellermeier said that she discussed the situation with staff and concluded that the portable oxygen tank was not working and that the legal liability was too great to have anyone from the clinic drive the dog. She also reminds us that she specifically told the complainant that she could not guarantee the dog would survive the car trip. She says that if she had known the complainant wanted to see her dog she would have let her, but the complainant didn't ask. She also says that after this incident they asked around to see if veterinary transport services were available that provided oxygen transport, but none of them ever got back to her.
The Investigative Committee said that the situation was "not handled appropriately" but that it didn't rise to the level of a violation. They also said that Ellermeier maybe needed to give the complainant a push toward euthanizing the dog. There were concerns about communication issues because the complainant apparently says she was not told to just take the dog to an emergency facility in the first place.
| Source: | January 1, 2020 AM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| Heidi Ellermeier | Respondent |
| Roll Call: | |
| Carolyn Ratajack | Aye |
| Christina Tran | Absent |
| Jarrod Butler | Aye |
| Robert Kritsberg | Aye |
| Steve Seiler | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | February 2, 2020 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| Proposed By: | Sarah Heinrich |
| Seconded By: | Darren Wright |
| Roll Call: | |
| Darren Wright | Aye |
| J Greg Byrne | Absent |
| Jane Soloman | Aye |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Aye |
| Nikki Frost | Absent |
| 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.