[Printer Friendly Version]   [How to E-mail This Article to A Friend]

WEEKLY NEWS 1: Vet Operates On Dog Without Permission

Listening to a neighbor's dog bark in the middle of the night can be annoying, but most people just learn to live with it. However, a veterinarian in Oklahoma, James Risch, took matters in his own hands.

The vet called his neighbor at 3AM to complain about the dog barking. Later, when the neighbor's 10-week-old puppy showed up on his front porch, James Risch claims he thought it was a stray. Without any attempt to find the puppy's owner, he took it straight to his office. Once there, he gave the puppy its vaccinations, bathed it, treated it for ear mites, and then performed surgery on its vocal cords so it couldn't bark anymore. This type of surgery is commonly called "de-barking".

Risch says this type of surgery makes a dog more adoptable. The puppy's owner, Nancy Miller, has a different side of the story. She says Risch stole the puppy out of her fenced yard, and then operated on her puppy.

"He maimed my puppy. This man is a menace to animals, and should not be allowed to continue to practice," Nancy Miller told the Oklahoma Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.

Risch wrote a letter of apology to the Millers, and said he is seeking counseling to understand and correct his impulsive behavior. He also wants to make it clear that he does not dislike dogs, but that the sound of barking annoys him.

An investigation is now underway.

--Written by Sara Dean

Write your own story telling us what you think about this article!

Read WEEKLY NEWS 2: Chocolate Threatened By Plant Diseases