Veterinarian Accused of Concealing Dogfighting

A Park Forest veterinarian who in the past has being accused of gross negligence and wrong doing, has been criminally charged for allegedly
failing to report dog fighting, according to the Chicago Breaking News Center.

Dr. Gary Friederich, 64, owner of the Park Forest Animal Clinic, was arrested at
his Palos Park home Thursday (December 2) and charged with violating state
veterinary law, said the Cook County sheriff’s office.

The three-month investigation began after police received numerous
complaints about the clinic, including photos that showed urine-soaked
boxes and blood-caked syringes inside the operating room. State
investigators were also eyeing the clinic’s medical and records-keeping
practices.

A female Piit bull that had her
left ear bitten off was brought into to Friederich, who instructed the undercover officer to bring
the animal to the back door after being told she been injured in a dog
fight, according to a police report.

Friederich asked the officer if the dog had “won” and the reportedly, when the
officer asked if his dog could fight again, was told it would be “as
good as new,” the report says.

And this is a veterinarian?

During the next visit, Friederich reportedly asked
an assistant “We just gave that dog a rabies shot, right?” winked at the
officer and billed him $55 for the shot.

Friederich, whose veterinary license is temporarily suspended, has
now been disciplined six times by the Illinois Department of Financial
and Professional Regulation. In its most recent, 21-count complaint
filed last month, he is charged with “professional incompetence” and
“gross malpractice.”

A prior complaint filed in the early 1990s alleged that Friederich
put a live dog in a freezer, smoked a cigar during surgery and sedated
animals — without their owner’s consent — that were “too loud” or had
come in for grooming.

According to records from the Department of Regulation, he was
suspended last month for falsely reporting rabies vaccinations, failing
to maintain sanitary conditions and failing to maintain an inventory of
controlled substances. Last month’s suspension was the sixth time the
state imposed disciplinary action against the doctor since 1988.

Personally, if this is all true – I feel he should NEVER be allowed to practice veterinary medicine again, in ANY state.   (for the paws up to post, thanks for Facebook Friend Henry)