PATCHOGUE, N.Y. (1010 WINS) — A Long Island veterinary hospital is accused of using untrained receptionists to perform risky medical procedures on animals, leading to the death of at least one dog, according to a report.
William Watkins, 68, accused Patchogue Animal Hospital’s staff of misrepresenting themselves as veterinary technicians in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Suffolk County Supreme Court, according to the New York Post.
In the suit, Watkins said he brought his 8-year-old blue nose terrier, Taro, to the hospital in June 2020 and was instructed to “give her a cocktail of tranquilizers” before the veterinarian, Dr. Eva Armfield, could examine the pup, the Post reported.
Watkins was reportedly uncomfortable with the doses of medication prescribed but obliged when Armfield insisted.
Months later, Taro was brought in for a checkup and was able to walk into the clinic on her own, but her “unconscious and paralyzed body” was carried out by two receptionists posing as veterinary technicians, the Post reported.
The paper added that Watkins called the veterinarian for help several times, but she refused to examine the dog and told him to take Taro home.
Taro died the next morning, Watkins told the Post.
Court documents obtained by the paper said Taro was dosed with even more tranquilizers after already taking the previously prescribed doses, triggering an undiagnosed heart condition, which ultimately caused her death.
A report from a secondary veterinarian provided to the Post also accused Armfield of using a “medically inappropriate…high dose combination sedative” and said she neglected to “adequately evaluate Taro.”
The lawsuit claims at the time of Taro’s death, Armfield’s receptions often performed duties of veterinary technicians, which they were not trained to do. The same workers also mowed Armfield’s lawn and baby-sat her children as well, the Post reported.
It remains unclear if any other animals were impacted by the alleged actions of Armfield and her staff.
Patchogue Animal Hospital and Dr. Armfield did not respond to the Post's requests for comment.
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