Tails of Woe (Fiscal Year 2018)

18-01 A cat with aggressive cancer goes in for surgery and allegedly comes back out with one of the same tumors
Billy Hendrix, Alta Vista Veterinary Hospital
18-02 A complainant's mistrust of veterinarians bugs pet and vet alike
Nichole Westerwheel, AZPetVet Surprise Animal Hospital
18-03 A dog presents for either constipation or diarrhea, develops seizures, and dies
John McWhirter, Casa Grande Animal Hospital
18-04 A difficult Keppra refill leads to a complaint about a clinic's practices
Austin Stitzer, Ironwood Animal Hospital
18-05 A terminally ill dog's death may have been hastened by the Arizona Humane Society and a Phoenix cop
Dorie Anderssohn, Bethany Animal Hospital
18-06 A freebie spay-and-neuter in someone's living room leads to a dead dog and no charges
John Heller, Homeward Bound Veterinary Services
18-07 A dog probably didn't die from vaccines, but we'll never really know
Stephanie Schneider, Sunrise Pet Clinic
18-08 A veterinarian misses a pregnancy and the investigators miss most of a complaint
Carol Richardson, Bethany Animal Hospital
18-09 A veterinarian docks a dog's tail and cleaves off one-fifth of a vertebra
Kenneth Halbach, Buena Pet Clinic
18-10 A dog slowly dies for five days straight, gets a little better, and then dies
Estevan Fernandez, Chino Valley Animal Hospital
18-11 A cat's neuter leads to drooling, neuropathy, a misaligned jaw, and a swollen pus-filled scrotum
Melvin Pence, North Phoenix Animal Clinic
18-12 The wrong horse gets euthanized by a mobile veterinarian
Mark Fink, Unknown
18-13 The doctor thought it was allergies but it turns out to be disc disease
Eric Cohen, Queen Creek Veterinary Clinic
18-14 It takes three veterinary clinics to identify and remove a problematic blade of grass
Maggie Jones, Veterinary Specialty Center of Tucson
18-15 A medical director discovers his own hospital is teeming with medical integrity
Cody Alcott, Veterinary Specialty Center of Tucson
18-16 Teeth weren't pulled and the state finds a rare case of medical incompetence
Edwin Kiesel, Camino Seco Pet Clinic
18-17 A dog dies from hypothermia (and suspected negligence) after a surgical procedure
Ivan Weinstein, Pet Doctor Tucson
18-18 A potentially-botched spay-and-neuter scheme leads to what looks like a shakedown
Edwin Kiesel, Camino Seco Pet Clinic
18-19 A dog with a serious blockage belatedly gets some urgent care and then succumbs to sepsis
Stephen Gilson, Pet Urgent Care
18-21 A cat from someone's cat colony goes into renal failure and dies after a dental
James Maciulla, Continental Animal Wellness Center
18-22 The complainant with the sick cat from the dental gets angry and is asked to be nice or leave
Alicia Bruchman, Continental Animal Wellness Center
18-23 A Scottsdale dog is redirected to a less glamourous clinic location
Paul Barrett, Eye Care for Animals Phoenix
18-24 A dog dies after surgery for a broken leg and the surgeon shows off the pins
Thomas Watson, Animal Hospital of Laveen
18-25 A cat goes into arrest during a dental but revives with some complications
Bernard Mangone, Palm Glen Animal Hospital
18-26 A well-known previous respondent comes before the board again
Refaat Ishak, St Mark Animal Hospital
18-27 A complainant's dog loses seventeen teeth, and no one bothers to call
Marilyn Dickens, Ocotillo Animal Clinic
18-28 An emergency veterinarian uses a wire coat hanger as the 1st line of treatment
Hanna Wachtel, 1st Pet Veterinary Centers Chandler
18-29 A happy, playful dog has her anal glands expressed and dies within a day
Stuart Sherrell, AZPetVet Arrow Animal Hospital
18-30 A tumor gets resected and the wound gets treated with green clay
Adam Polosetski, Ironwood Veterinary Clinic
18-31 An emergency and critical care facility seems to push for euthanasia due to a perceived lack of funds
Kelly Baxter, Arizona Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Center
18-32 A dispute over the necessity of a horse's euthanasia leads to a complaint before the board
Margaret Loomer, Durango Equine Veterinary Clinic
18-33 A dog bleeds internally and dies after a spay and the board ignores its own investigators
Kristen Hale, Pet Doctor Tucson
18-34 A distraught complainant has concerns about a violent euthanasia
Ken Prejs, Glenn Animal Care Hospital
18-35 An old dog dies five minutes into a dental procedure and high dosages may be to blame
Kenneth Halbach, Buena Pet Clinic
18-36 A pet owner expects teeth to be preventively pulled but instead they're all left in
Richard Crisler, Brown Road Animal Clinic
18-37 A rescue dog gets returned and then dies over what may or may not have been parvo
Kimberly Collins, Seville Veterinary Hospital
18-38 A rescue dog gets spayed at a charity event but part of an ovary stayed
Andrew Carlton, ASAVET Charities
18-39 A rescue cat gets treated for stomatitis with an immunostimulant instead of pulled teeth
Michael Walker, Seville Veterinary Hospital
18-40 A dog's bleeding scrotum is nobody's fault because it's everybody's fault
Jenna Manacki, Banfield Peoria 5258
18-41 A dog's broken leg gets pinned on the hometown veterinarian
Monika Knoblich, All Creatures Veterinary Services
18-42 Another dental gone wrong drives a dog to critical care on the way to the grave
Gene Nightengale, Buena Pet Clinic
18-43 A rejected refill request leads to a veterinary board complaint: Part I
Sheri Beck, Ocotillo Animal Clinic and Pet Resort
18-44 A rejected refill request leads to a veterinary board complaint: Part II
Kristine Heitman, Ocotillo Animal Clinic and Pet Resort
18-45 A dog comes down with diabetes and the investigators complain about a retired nurse
Linda Lueth, Cortaro Farms Pet Hospital
18-46 A shopping mall pet store puppy dies from parvo and the board ignores its investigators
Linda Elliott, Ahwatukee Commons Veterinary Hospital
18-47 Someone finally gets stuck with the blame for a very unlucky and very dead dog
Adriana Stinnett, Pet Urgent Care
18-48 A dog goes in for a dental and comes back with a whole lot more (including possible pneumonia)
Greg Heitman, Adobe Veterinary Clinic
18-49 A dog gets diagnosed with valley fever in surgery and a complainant has questions: Part I
Jeffrey Steurer, Southwest Veterinary Surgical Service
18-50 A dog gets diagnosed with valley fever in surgery and a complainant has questions: Part II
Bradford Dixon, Southwest Veterinary Surgical Service
18-51 Sometimes when something's hard to make sense of it's easier to just ignore it and move on
Carmen Perez, VetMed
18-52 A cat's seizures get out of control and a veterinarian only gets a letter of concern
Alison Ariano, Chaparral Veterinary Medical Center
18-53 Another dog, another dental, and another twenty-four extracted teeth
Christina Innocenti, Novak Animal Care Center
18-54 A charity spay-and-neuter at animal control meets the minimum standards for care
Kellie Barrett, Pima County Animal Control
18-55 A cat transitions to the next level when acupuncture doesn't cure cancer
Todd Metcalf, Sunshine Holistic Veterinary Services
18-56 Doctor Reed's Double Feature: He's naughty and working outside of his board order
Refaat Ishak, St Mark Animal Hospital
18-57 Doctor Reed's Double Feature: He's accused of paralyzing a dog during an exam
Refaat Ishak, St Mark Animal Hospital
18-58 A cat goes in for a nail trim and comes out bleeding and hitting her own face with her paw
Donald Rollins, AZPetVet White Tanks Animal Hospital
18-59 A long, drawn-out euthanasia traumatizes a house-call veterinarian
Carol Rowand, Corona Veterinary Service
18-60 A parvo puppy gets sent home without ever actually seeing a veterinarian
Taylor Williams, Low Cost Spay and Neuter
18-61 A dog with cancer gets dropped off for alternative treatment and later dies of antifreeze poisoning
Betsy Hershey, Integrative Veterinary Oncology
18-62 A dog has a wound cleaned up but the complainant later has concerns
Ayman Wassef, Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Center of Northern Arizona
18-63 A cat is found to have died from gross negligence and the board rounds it down
Robert Thrift, Bell Animal and Bird Hospital
18-64 A Scottsdale dog gets dumped by his veterinarian after being redirected to another clinic location
Jennifer Urbanz, Eye Care for Animals Scottsdale
18-65 A cat has a lot of problems and a complainant gets kicked out by a lot of veterinarians: Part I
Jospeh Trueba, Wiseman Animal Hospital
18-66 A cat has a lot of problems and a complainant gets kicked out by a lot of veterinarians: Part II
Tracey Scott, Pima Pet Clinic
18-67 A cat has a lot of problems and a complainant gets kicked out by a lot of veterinarians: Part III
Melanie Olson, River Road Pet Clinic
18-68 A frequent complainant has concerns about cat care at another area hospital
Abby Don, Adobe Veterinary Center
18-69 A frequent complainant has concerns about pretty much all of Tucson in a letter
Heather Connally, Veterinary Specialty Center of Tucson
18-70 The victim of a dog attack lingers for almost a week: Part I
Paul Hindley, AZPetVet Sarival Animal Hospital
18-71 The victim of a dog attack lingers for almost a week: Part II
Wesley Arnold, AZPetVet Sarival Animal Hospital
18-72 A dog dies, a veterinarian is found to have altered records, and the board sends a letter
Ivan Weinstein, Santa Cruz Veterinary Clinic
18-73 A worried pet owner brings her dog to a referral center and is told to go to a better one: Part I
Sheryl Babyak, 1st Pet Veterinary Centers Chandler
18-74 A worried pet owner brings her dog to a referral center and is told to go to a better one: Part II
Erica Butler, 1st Pet Veterinary Centers Mesa
18-75 A vaccination appointment leads to conflicting accounts about just about everything
Michael Picard, Banfield Mesa 0154
18-76 A potential pet-purloining that made the local news gets dismissed in one sentence
Rachel Grainger, 99th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Animal Clinic
18-77 A dog dies in yet another dental, a story in three parts: Part I
Joseph Mancino, Chino Valley Animal Hospital
18-78 A dog dies in yet another dental, a story in three parts: Part II
Elaine McCollum, Chino Valley Animal Hospital
18-79 A dog dies in yet another dental, a story in three parts: Part III
Michael Kahan, Chino Valley Animal Hospital
18-80 A young shelter cat goes in for a neuter and then a complaint gets filed
Maria Zayas, Low Cost Spay and Neuter
18-81 A quick-thinking complainant saves a dog from being pushed into euthanasia: Part I
Stephen Waldo, 1st Pet Veterinary Centers Mesa
18-82 A quick-thinking complainant saves a dog from being pushed into euthanasia: Part II
Shannon Kafer, 1st Pet Veterinary Centers Mesa
18-83 A dog gets vaccinated with an out-of-date vaccine that he wasn't supposed to have
Virginia Kern, East Mesa Animal Hospital
18-84 Two dogs get the wrong vaccines at a potentially confused vaccination clinic
Carol Rowand, Corona Veterinary Service
18-85 A ferret thrashes, writhes, defecates, and urinates on herself while she dies humanely
Stephanie Lamb, Arizona Exotic Animal Hospital
18-86 A pest control professional is upset that a veterinarian can't diagnose mange
Kelli Evans, AZPetVet North Buckeye Animal Hospital
18-87 A cat slowly declines and fills with poop over three months and three veterinary visits: Part I
Ann Adams, University Pet Clinic
18-88 A cat slowly declines and fills with poop over three months and three veterinary visits: Part II
Dennis White, University Pet Clinic
18-89 A sick young dog has an unnecessary surgery on a specialty and referral adventure
Ariel Loredo, BluePearl Avondale
18-90 A dog gets marked for death at two referral centers but poops out an apricot pit and lives: Part I
Hanna Canfield, VCA Valley Animal Hospital
18-91 A dog gets marked for death at two referral centers but poops out an apricot pit and lives: Part II
Christopher Coverdill, VCA Valley Animal Hospital
18-92 A dog gets marked for death at two referral centers but poops out an apricot pit and lives: Part III
Kimberly Olson, VCA Valley Animal Hospital
18-93 A dog gets marked for death at two referral centers but poops out an apricot pit and lives: Part IV
Sarah Carotenuto, VCA Valley Animal Hospital
18-94 A veterinarian and his mother fail to smother a horse to death so the horse gets shot in the head
Cameron Folkers, Northern Equine
18-95 A horse comes to Arizona and goes on a tour of some of the state's equine veterinary practices
Courtnee Morton, Durango Equine Veterinary Clinic
18-96 A dog goes deaf from eardrops but everyone's hoping that's just a temporary thing
Jennifer Starkel, AZPetVet Madison Animal Hospital and Grooming
18-97 A dog goes to three different vets for limping and may be at risk for just about everything
Gregory Cromer, Tri City East Vet
18-98 A do-gooder veterinarian euthanizes an underdog because she says it mauled the crap out of her
Carol Rowand, Corona Veterinary Service
18-99 A veterinarian with a possible vendetta goes after a veterinary technician
Glenda Davis, Navajo Nation
18-100 Another dog dies in another dental and it was very traumatic for the vet and his staff
Christopher Tobe, Fountain Hills Veterinary Hospital
18-101 A veterinarian's up to bat again after missing an hour of board-ordered continuing education
Hugo Santibanez, Unknown
18-102 An emergency clinic uses a misdiagnosis to get a complainant to give her dog to one of its employees
Heather Hendricks, 1st Pet Veterinary Centers Chandler
18-103 A dog has a broken jaw after a routine dental and the complainant has to talk to the vet's daddy
Brandon Prince, Foothills Animal Hospital
18-104 A dog goes to an emergency clinic and then comes home to die from an unknown cause
Carlton Huitt, VCA Paradise Valley
18-105 A dog goes into a dental and comes out with second and third degree burns
Kathleen Hamilton, Phoenix Dog Cat and Bird Hospital
18-106 An out-of-state veterinarian files an in-state complaint over a misinformed client
Ross Babcock, Palo Verde Animal Hospital
18-107 A shorthanded specialty hospital is said to have done things differently with fatal results
James Crawford, Southern Arizona Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center
18-108 A cat won't eat, turns yellow, and possibly has hepatitis but gets a drug contraindicated in liver disease
Margaret Sorenson, Main Animal Hospital
18-109 A dog's pyometra surgery results in complications and a complainant fears a conspiracy: Part I
Staci Brigham, VetMed
18-110 A dog's pyometra surgery results in complications and a complainant fears a conspiracy: Part II
Mary Ann Radlinsky, VetMed
18-111 A dog's pyometra surgery results in complications and a complainant fears a conspiracy: Part III
Carly Blom, VetMed
18-112 A dog's pyometra surgery results in complications and a complainant fears a conspiracy: Part IV
T Arch Robinson, VetMed
18-113 A dog's pyometra surgery results in complications and a complainant fears a conspiracy: Part V
Michael Ferrera, Squaw Peak Animal Hospital
18-114 A dog with bladder cancer goes in for a stent and his human reports that they were scammed
Alejandro Aguirre, Salt River Veterinary Specialists
18-115 A cat has an eye scratch and a dental gets the hard sell but it's actually cancer: Part I
Alison Bizzul, AZPetVet Surprise Animal Hospital
18-116 A cat has an eye scratch and a dental gets the hard sell but it's actually cancer: Part II
Kesey Ozuk, AZPetVet Surprise Animal Hospital
18-117 A cat has an eye scratch and a dental gets the hard sell but it's actually cancer: Part III
Kelsey Newman, AZPetVet Surprise Animal Hospital
18-118 A dog goes in for a dental and comes back with big burns from a bad water blanket
Karen Claus, McClintock Animal Care Center
18-119 A dog's recent hip-surgery fails while his people are away on a three-week cruise
Pamela Ford, Arizona Animal Wellness Center
18-120 A complainant is upset about the handling of a failed artificial insemination
Larry Hudman, Kennel Care Veterinary Hospital
18-121 A complainant takes his dog elsewhere after a failed surgery at a specialty and referral center
Brian Toncray, 1st Pet Veterinary Centers Phoenix
18-122 Another emergency and referral experience leads to missing records, cops, and lawyers: Part I
Dalton Hindmarsh, BluePearl Phoenix
18-123 Another emergency and referral experience leads to missing records, cops, and lawyers: Part II
Danielle Strohacker, BluePearl Phoenix
18-124 A future veterinary board investigator gets real-world practice with the investigative process
Justin McCormick, Copper Ridge Equine
18-125 A follow-up to another case leads to a $250 fine for not walking out to a car with a contagious dog
Maria Zayas, Low Cost Spay and Neuter