| Complaint: | Complaint 21-117 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Katherine Comley |
| Premises: | Buena Pet Clinic |
| Related: | 21-118, 21-119 |
The complainant brought her dog to Buena Pet Clinic because she was sick. Conley examined the dog and allegedly diagnosed an abdominal infection and recommended and overnight stay. She also asked Halbach, her regular vet, who agreed; he allegedly told her they would keep the dog overnight on fluids and antibiotics and perform surgery in the morning. Halbach called the next morning to report the dog had died; the complainant said that if she had known she would gladly have taken the dog to a 24-hour facility, but that when she agreed she didn't know her dog was left all alone there. She says her dog was blind from glaucoma and died alone in a crate. She agreed to cremation and then noticed on her final bill that no charges for overnight treatment; she says she asked to speak with Halbach but was told no. She also heard some concerns about the associated crematory actually taking pets to another facility for mass cremation, so she called Buena and said to halt the cremation. She went back and found out the dog was already picked up (by someone named Dorothy) and when the complainant mentioned her concerns, one of the staff allegedly yelled at her, saying Dorothy was a friend and said that was slander. She tried to follow up with the crematory and allegedly had further issues with the staff at Buena yelling at her. She says that she called to speak with Halbach or Nightengale and was immediately told by staff that she was no longer welcome at the practice. She asked to speak with Nightengale one last time as she had been a longstanding client and was told no. She also notes this left her remaining dogs without a vet and that many local vets had abandoned their clinics to teach at the new veterinary school (University of Arizona?). She also says that the entire premises was cleared out the day she was allowed to come and pick up her records. She believes the entire matter is highly questionable.
Conley's response indicates that the complainant brought her dog in suspecting a pyometra. Conley, curiously, takes some efforts to portray the complainant as being too broke to afford veterinary care, contrary to the complainant's claims that she had prior experience with the local specialist facility and would have taken her dog there. We're told that the complainant refused sending some blood work out (even for free) to IDEXX. We're also told that when Conley recommended fluids and antibiotics the complainant said that wouldn't be an option unless they were free. Conley reiterated the dog was both too sick to go home and too sick for surgery, at which point the complainant wanted to speak with Halbach; the complainant allegedly called Halbach her "archangel" for how much care he had provided to her dogs. She transferred the case to Halback at the complainant's request.
The Investigative Committee noted several concerns about the practice as a whole (ranging from lack of signed authorizations, missing medical record entries, communications with the owner involving the dog's prognosis, and leaving the dog overnight without any care) but said that none of these concerns specifically related to Conley. Conley just works there.
| Source: | September 9, 2021 AM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| David Stoll | Respondent Attorney |
| Katherine Comley | Respondent |
| Roll Call: | |
| Carolyn Ratajack | Aye |
| Christina Tran | Aye |
| Jarrod Butler | Aye |
| Robert Kritsberg | Aye |
| Steve Seiler | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | October 10, 2021 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| David Stoll | Respondent Attorney |
| Proposed By: | Robyn Jaynes |
| Seconded By: | Jane Soloman |
| Roll Call: | |
| Darren Wright | Aye |
| J Greg Byrne | Absent |
| Jane Soloman | Aye |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Aye |
| Nikki Frost | Aye |
| Robyn Jaynes | Aye |
| Sarah Heinrich | Absent |
| 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.