A little about what has been happening at the Knox County Shelter. This is still not the entire story but I wanted everyone to see this article. I will continue to provide updates. Investigation leads to vet’s termination By CHUCK MARTIN News Staff Reporter MOUNT VERNON — A News investigation into the veterinarian at the Knox County Animal Shelter has ended with Dr. Susan Shibley’s termination. The News confirmed on Tuesday that Shibley’s license expired on March 1. According to the Ohio Veterinary Medical Board, the license of all veterinarians expire on March 1 in even numbered years. As of Wednesday, she was still listed as not having renewed her license. A spokesman for the board also said that a vet who has let a license expire should not be practicing until he or she renews the license. If the board receives a complaint about a vet practicing without a license, it will investigate the situation. Renewing a license is as simple as supplying the state board with a record of having taken the required continuing education hours and writing a check, said Dr. Greg Price, a vet who has practiced in Knox County for 17 years. Dog Warden Jordan Barnard said Wednesday morning he was unaware of the license lapse and would have to talk to Dr. Shibley about the situation. “This morning, the Board of Knox County Commissioners was notified Dr. Susan Shibley failed to renew her veterinary license March 1,” stated a press release issued by the commissioners on Wednesday. “After discussing this matter with the Ohio Board of Veterinary Medicine, the commissioners terminated their relationship with Dr. Shibley, effective immediately. Further, the commissioners are filing a complaint with the Veterinary Medicine Board that Dr. Shibley continued to practice at our Animal Shelter knowingly without a license.” The statement also said Shibley would be notified by certified mail. The News was investigating a report that Shibley’s license had expired and when Property and Loss Control Coordinator/Human Resource Officer Emily Marth was contacted to see if they could release a phone number to contact Shibley, she volunteered that the commissioners had recently heard about the situation and were investigating. A couple hours later, the commissioners issued the above statement. The News has been unable to reach Shibley for comment. Marth said that without her license, Shibley could only act as a vet assistant. According to information See VET on Page 3 Article Continued Below See VET on Page A03 Vet Continued from Page 1 received by the News, Shibley performed a euthanasia on a dog on March 20, and on March 3 she spayed a mixed breed dog named Emme. According to the surgery report, the dog was pregnant with 13 full-term puppies. The News also received a copy of a form in which she recorded giving another dog a vaccination on March 25. She was also reported working at the shelter Tuesday morning. As for the 13 aborted puppies, Dr. Price said it was rare to proceed with a spaying operation at a clinic when they discover the dog is pregnant. “I’ve rarely seen that come up in a clinic setting,” Price said. “I can’t speak for animal shelters and humane societies.” If, for some reason, a vet did not know a dog was pregnant when they started the operation, they would have to make a decision based on what is best for the patient, he said. Making that decision is what Barnard said they had to do. He told the News they had a person who wanted to adopt Emme, but didn’t want the puppies. “We tried to find a foster home where she could have her puppies. We had two possible homes, but they didn’t work out. “If we had gone ahead and let her have the puppies at the shelter, she would have had to stay with them at the shelter for two months. It’s very difficult to keep puppies alive and healthy in a shelter environment. We didn’t want the dog to be stuck here two months when we could get her to a home.” He also pointed out that with the shelter constantly taking in new dogs from around the county, space for dogs is at a premium. There is also the risk of exposing the puppies to diseases brought in by other dogs. “It was a rough decision, but we had to act in the best interest of the dog,” Barnard said. “It was an emotional decision for me and Dr. Shibley, and for all of the people here, but it was in the dog’s best interest. It was a sad decision.”
Posted on: Fri, 04 Apr 2014 03:09:18 +0000
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