Bad Kingston Veterinarians Who HARM Pets

UPDATED: FEB. 20, 2006 (P.I.P.E.D.A. DOES NOT APPLY TO BLOGS!): Are there any good veterinarians left? IN KINGSTON, ONTARIO, CANADA? I have found none at these six clinics: (Kingston Mills Veterinary Hospital, St. Lawrence Veterinary Services, Kingston Veterinary Clinic, Barriefield Animal Hospital, Frontenac Animal Hospital and McEwen Animal Hospital). NOTE: St. Lawrence Vets, Kingston Vets., and Barriefield Vets. are owned by the same group of veterinarians. Why am I so pessimistic, you may ask?

THEORETICALLY, in Ontario, complaints about veterinarians can be made to the College of Veterinarians of Ontario in Guelph. What a joke. WHAT THEY DON'T TELL YOU, IS THAT IF YOU ATTEMPT TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST ONE OF THEM, YOU WILL BE BLACK-LISTED AMONG ALL OF THEM. NO VET WILL TREAT YOUR PET, EVER AGAIN. SEE HOW MCEWEN'S HAD BOOKED AN APPOINTMENT UNDER MY KITTYS NAMES AND THEN CANCELLED IMMEDIATELY WHEN TOLD MY NAME. I HAVE THE E-MAIL DOCUMENTATION. THE APPOINTMENT WAS BOOKED BY SOMEONE IN OAKVILLE, BUT CANCELLED AS SOON AS THEY HEARD MY NAME!. CVO'S ROBINSON REFUSED TO ACCEPT THIS AS PROOF OF BLACK-LISTING.

I FOUND OUT THAT MY CREDIT INFO (GOOD BY THE WAY) WAS PASSED ALONG WITH VITAL MEDICAL INFO. ROBINSON SAID THAT IS ILLEGAL, BUT DID NOTHING. IN MY CASE, WHEN MY KITTY'S MEDICAL RECORDS WERE PASSED FROM KINGSTON MILLS TO ST. LAWRENCE, ON THE COVER PAGE, IT WAS STATED THAT "HER (referring to me) CREDIT IS GOOD". I HAVE THE DOCUMENT IN MY POSSESSION AND CVO HAS THE SAME DOCUMENT IN THEIR POSSESSION. THEY GAVE THE DOCUMENT TO ME. YET THEY DID NOT REPRIMAND THE VET FOR THAT ILLEGAL ACT, WITH WRITTEN DOCUMENTED PROOF. LEGALLY, THEY ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO PASS ALONG VITAL MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PATIENT, OR SO I WAS TOLD BY ROSE ROBINSON AT CVO. I HAVE IT IN WRITING, AS PART OF THE OFFICIAL CVO COMPLAINT I FILED AGAINST TOXOPEUS AT KINGSTON MILLS.

Later on, I will give you statistics, which I got directly from the website of the CVO in Guelph. In two years (2003 and 2004), with over 200 complaints filed each year against Ontario vets, less than 1% were referred to the Disciplinary Committee. In one of those years, zero complaints were sent to the Disciplinary Committee. I did not think it could get any worse than less than 1%, but I think 0% is even worse, don't you? ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE, WHO FILED COMPLAINTS, CANNOT BE WRONG. ONE DOES NOT REQUIRE A MEDICAL DEGREE TO RECOGNIZE MEDICAL MALPRACTICE.

Please read on and you shall see why you should run in terror, not walk away, if anyone suggests that you should see vets at the following clinics. Rose Robinson, Complaints Coordinator of the College of Vets in Guelph personally told me, when I asked her the direct question, that vets do not have a moral, ethical or legal obligation to treat a sick or dying animal. In her words: "It is just a business". When I asked her about the oath that Canadian vets have to take, which is listed on the site of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, she intially said that they do not take an oath. When I read the oath, in verbatim to her, she replied that they do take the oath, but they do not adhere to it. Like I said, read on, and she why you should run in terror from these vets and their clinics.:

(1) Kingston Mills Veterinary Hospital, 1670 Battersea Road, Kingston, (Koos Toxopeus and Morag McMurray).
(2) St. Lawrence Veterinary Services, 40 Rigney St., Kingston, numerous vets (Peter Oddie, Ken Hammond, Janine Handforth, Phil Bail and Associates).
(3) Kingston Veterinary Clinic, 435 Division St., Kingston, numerous vets (Ken Ross, Hugh Wiley, Karen Godfree, Janine McLearon and Associates).
(4) Barriefield Animal Hospital, 235 Gore Rd., Kingston, numerous vets (Heather Sims and Ken Ross).
PLEASE NOTE THAT NUMBERS 2, 3, AND 4 ARE OWNED BY THE SAME GROUP OF VETS. They all share the same website: www.kingstonvetclinic.com.
(5) Frontenac Animal Hospital, 745 Development Drive, Kingston, (Brian Overgaard and Cherie Knox).
(6) McEwen Animal Hospital, 1752 Bath Rd., Kingston, (K. W. Rutledge).

The first one is Koos Toxopeus at the Kingston Mills Veterinary Clinic. On the morning of January 24, 2002, he admitted my 12 year old kitty to hospital. Snowball was a big, handsome long-haired pure white cat, who was very affectionate and social. He had not been eating, drinking, or going to the bathroom, his abdomen was grossly distended, he had lost weight, he was nauseous and lethargic, and stains on his fur indicated that he had been passing "tea-stained" (brown) urine. The vet admitted him immediately for urinalysis and a geriatric profile (blood work and EKG). He assured me that he thought Snowball was not dying and that he just had an infection, from which he would recover.

When I returned home, I did some research on Snowball's symptoms. Everything that I found pointed to Snowball being in end-stage hepatic (liver) failure. First thing in the morning, I called the vet, who advised me that none of the tests had been performed on Snowball yet. They wanted to obtain a urine sample prior to collecting blood. I instructed him to perform the urinalysis and to forget about the other tests. I said that, in spite of what he told me, my instincts were that Snowball was dying and that I wanted to bring him home, where he would be more comfortable. The vet refused to discharge Snowball. His practice, like most, had operated on a limited schedule over the recent holidays, and I think he had to make up for that. Also, several times he made inappropriate comments about how wonderful credit cards were. I think that he saw an unlimited cash reserved, that he wanted to usitilize to the fullest.

He kept insisting that the tests were necessary. I reiterated my concerns many times. In reply to my numerous questions, he kept assuring me that in his professional opinion, Snowball was not dying and that he would recover with antibiotic therapy. In spite of that, I still instinctively feared that Snowball was dying and wanted to bring him home. The vet finally said "If you love Snowball, you will let me do the tests.". Reluctantly, I agreed. But soon after, I felt that his motives were not for Sweet Snowball's welfare, but for greed instead.

Later that day, after the urine and blood were collected, the vet advised me that even more blood tests had to be performed. He repeatedly assured me that Snowball's prognosis was very good and that there was enough blood left from the initial collection, that no more would have to be taken. Snowball was still not eating or taking fluids. After the test results were available, Snowball was injected with i.v. antibiotics.

The next day, January 26th, I spoke with the vet in the morning. He advised me that Snowball was going to get more i.v. antibiotics and that he should be discharged home later in the day. Snowball was still not eating or taking fluids. The vet provided me with his cell phone number, so that I could reach him if I had any more questions about Snowball. The vet still reassured me many times that Snowball was going to survive and that he was just battling a liver infection.

I got a call from the clinic shortly after 7:00 p.m., advising me that Snowball could come home. He was being discharged with two oral antibiotics and prednisone. I had about a 20 minute drive to the clinic and left immediately. After I paid the huge bill, the receptionist went to the kennel to retrieve Snowball for me. As soon as she entered the room, I heard these horrible terrified screams from Snowball. As she entered the reception area carrying Snowball, he was crying frantically. His voice was almost unrecognizable, it was so hoarse. In the nine years that he had lived with me, I had never heard any sounds even remotely similar to these emanating from this sweet little kitty. I called to him, saying "It's okay Snowball, mommy's here, you're going home.", but he was so terrified, that he did not seem to hear me. As he got closer to me, I noticed that he was facing my direction, but it appeared as though he were looking through me, not seeing me at all.

Before she put Snowball in my arms, as horrified as I was, I was even more horrified to see how weak and emaciated Snowball had become. His vet's appointment on the 24th had been at 11:30 a.m, shortly after which he was admitted to hospital. Now it was approximately 7:45 p.m. on the 26th, a little more than 2 full days since he had been admitted. Even though the reception area was rather dimly lit, from yards away, I could see Snowball's spinal vertebrae jutting out profusely. He was so skeletal, that you could see every bone in his frail little body. When I touched him, his bones were sharp and protruding. He was not like that when he was admitted.

I asked whether Snowball had been weighed prior to discharge. The reply was no, so I insisted that he be weighed immediately. The scales were behind the counter, so the receptionist had to weigh him for me. Snowball had been admitted at 6.0 kg. On discharge, he was only 4.8 kg. In a little over 2 days, he had lost 1.2 kg (2.645 lbs.). Snowball was a large cat, with a very large frame. On June 22/98, he weighed 16.5 lbs (7.48 kg). On August 4/01 (first time at this vet's office), he weighed 14.5 lbs (6.6 kg). Snowball had licked most of the fur off his abdomen and around his penis. The vet's diagnosis was a urinary tract infection, but instead of giving him an antibiotic, he prescribed prednisone, to be administered until the itching stopped. On December 17/01, the vet again saw Snowball (15 lbs - 6.8 kg). Snowball had licked off a lot of fur on his back, in two large patches that were in a "v-shaped" pattern. This happened very quickly and there was a very thin layer of fur over the affected areas. The almost total bald spots were on either side of his spine, between his shoulders and abdomen. Dexamethasone was injected and Snowball was again prescribed prednisone. I now wonder if all of that prednisone precipitated Snowball's liver failure?

The receptionist advised me that the vet had left earlier in the day, to visit his mother in Ottawa, a planned trip. As soon as I arrived home, I tried to call him on his cell phone. There was no answer. There was not even a message, to identify that I had reached the correct number, or any way to leave a message. I tried several times, with the same results each time, thinking I had misdialed or something. I desperately wanted to discuss the condition in which he had discharged Snowball. I think that it was he turned off his phone.

I then videotaped Snowball, about 20 minutes after arriving home. He was weak, lying on the floor, but happy to be home. I stated info like his admit/discharge weights and dates, etc. directly from the information I had recorded as it had been given to me. From then on, I maintained a video diary.

During Snowball's admission, I had called the clinic many times. Each time, I was advised that Snowball was not eating or drinking. Why was he not put on i.v. fluids, to hydrate and nourish him? (You will see later, for the CVO hearing, they produced a "kennel card" that showed Snowball consumed a small amount of food and water, but this is not what they told me every time I called!). Also, the amounts that they later allegedly stated that he consumed, could not maintain a much smaller kitty.

When I spoke with him the next morning, the vet advised me to call him every two days, to let him know how Snowball was doing.

When Snowball came home, his abdomen was so swollen and tender but hard to the touch, that he looked three times as wide as he should. I had to be extremely careful when picking him up, because he was just skin, bones, and long fluffy white fur, and it hurt him to pick him up. Many times when I tried to touch him lightly, he would flinch from the pain. He had much difficulty walking, swaying from side to side as he tried to get around. At first he tried to eat, but could only manage a little (less than 1 tsp of canned food). He was producing almost no urine. He had not taken solid food for over two days, so he was not defecating either. For days, the vet continued to assure me that Snowball's prognosis was good and that he would recover. After a couple of days, Snowball refused food again and he was not taking water.

The vet advised me that I could force-feed fluids to Snowball through a medicine dropper. I started to administer several teaspoons of water, alternating with several teaspoons of Whiskas cat milk, every couple of hours for a few days. I repeatedly reported to the vet that force-feeding him was stressing Snowball very much, but was continually assured that his prognosis was good. Snowball started to produce very small amounts of urine, which were a bright lemon (On the day of euthanasia, the vet said I had been keeping him hydrated). Because of the Whiskas cat milk, he was producing some unformed, watery feces, which smelled sweet. When he was first discharged, Snowball isolated for most of his time under the bed or in the bathtub, where it was cooler. The prednisone caused him to overheat. After several days, he stopped crawling under the bed and jumping into the tub. Snowball was purring a lot. The vet led me to believe that Snowball was improving and his prognosis was still very good. In fact, as soon as he recovered, the vet wanted to admit him for a battery of even more diagnostic tests!

I soon realized that the vet had given me many false hopes. Snowball was no longer jumping into the tub, because he was too weak. He was no longer crawling under the bed, because it hurt too much to try to squeeze under there anymore. As the hours drew on, I noticed that he was having much more difficulty ambulating and breathing. As I had for many years, I would call him for food by saying to him and the other kitties "Who's hungry? Who wants pussy food?". It would take much longer to get there, but he would still come to the kitchen looking for food. For the first couple of days, he had licked just some of the fluid from the canned food. Right up until his last day, he still came when called for food, but for the final days he would just smell it and walk away.

On the morning of February 7/02, after once again refusing food, poor little Snowball waddled very slowly (it is the only way I can describe how he tried to walk) down the hallway to the third bedroom where the litter boxes are. He stepped into the box and produced a very small amount of urine. When he stepped out, I lightly touched his abdomen as I moved him, so that I could to wipe him in order to see what colour his urine was. He immediately began to wretch violently, but of course he had no food or water in his stomach. Right to the end, my brave little kitty was independent and had to go to the litter box on his own! Watching him was heart-wrenching.

I immediately called the vet. Approximately two days earlier, he had first intimated that Snowball may not recover. When I spoke with him, he advised me that it was time to euthanize Snowball, that he no longer had any quality of life. I could do it within the next 45 minutes or so, or later that afternoon. The vet said to not force-feed him anymore and to withdraw meds (prednisone and antibiotics).

I took some photos of Snowball and videotaped him a little. I knew that this was the last day I would ever be able to photograph him. I did take some photos and videotape him for a few minutes over the days since he came home from hospital, but this would be my last chance to "immortalize" my brave little kitty. I was totally distraught and kept having to repeat even the most simple functions. Being in shock, I felt like I was totally "brain-dead".

Snowball had always been scared of trips to the vets (the only time he had to be in a car), so I asked the vet if I could give him something to help calm him for the (20 minute or so) car ride. I have a kitty, who is on phenobarb for epilepsy, so he advised me that about two hours before leaving, I could given Snowball 1 - 15 mg tab of phenobarb. For his final hour at home, he was very sedated (he had been so weak). I put him in the pet taxi to leave the apartment 1/2 hour before his appointment. He started to cry as soon as I closed the door. He continued to cry for the elevator ride from the 5th floor to the basement, and then for the whole 20 minute drive to the vet's office. . Snowball had always talked a lot (he could talk your ear off!), but since being in hospital, he was too weak and his voice was too hoarse. In his last week, he almost never spoke. Could this be from crying in hospital while tests were being performed or specifically the result of one test? He could not tell me.

When we arrived at the vet's, Snowball was taken from me and weighed (for the sodium pentobarbital injection). While this was being done, the vet let it slip that he had performed an unauthorized test on Snowball during admission. He said that at least we know Snowball's heart is strong, it showed up on the ultrasound. He realized that he had made a mistake, most likely by the way I looked at him because I knew nothing about this test, and he immediately "dummied up". I was so distraught, that I could not say anything.

His weight had increased to 5.0 kg. I asked the vet why it had increased by .2 kg and he said it was probably fluid retention as a result of liver cancer. My immediate concern was for the last few seconds I could spend with my little fluffy pal, who had given me unconditional love for nine years, and who had nurtured so lovingly the other four kitties (including his own son Shadow) as they moved into the household with us.

A moment later we were taken to an examination room. The vet explained that it might take longer for Snowball to pass, because of his condition. A couple of minutes after that, Snowball was given the injection. Less than five seconds after that (four seconds to be exact), he took his last breath and his little head fell against my wrist.

I had Snowball cremated and eight days later, while I awaited his return from the crematorium, I brought the other four kitties to the vet for shots and a check-up. Snowball's son, Shadow (handsome kitty built like dad but with long black fur and a tiny white patches at his throat, chest, and tummy), was almost 9 years old. He had been producing some blood in semi-formed feces, when he ate dry formula. The vet did not recommend any tests or treatments.

Squirty Opal (handsome short-haired pure white kitty), who was about 6 years old, had been coughing. Even though I explained in detail the coughing, the vet kept insisting that he must have been sneezing. Midnight (handsome long-haired black kitty with the tiniest white star on his lower abdomen), about the same age as Shadow, was about 18 lbs and I thought his breathing was loud, but the vet did not comment on him at all. Muffin (a gorgeous black and white short-haired tuxedo kitty), who was barely 3 years old, had been a patient of his for months and was being treated for idiopathic epilepsy. As we were leaving the exam room, the vet made the only comment about any of kitties. He said that Squirty Opal might have a congenital heart problem and should lose weight.

The next week, I reported that Squirty Opal was still coughing. He was, as I described to the vet on Feb. 16th, on his "fours", very close to floor, with his head extended and shoulders hunched up, each time this occurred. The vet prescribed Benadryl (25 mg three/day) for "sneezing". I again insisted he was not sneezing. I explained that I knew the difference between a "cough" and a "sneeze". The vet was equally adamant that Squirty Opal was not coughing.

That (Benadryl) was not effective, so the vet prescribed the antibiotic Zeniquin for ten days and prednisone twice daily for three weeks. There was a little improvement, but the cough returned very soon after and gradually worsened. Increasingly, Squirty Opal was having more and more difficulty breathing, he was coughing more frequently (on a daily basis) for longer times, he did not want to be in my arms anymore (he used to spend much time in my arms and usually had to be with me most of the time), and he was no longer sleeping on the bed with the rest of us each night. He was sleeping in a pet bed, on the floor or on the couch (something more firm), and always had to have his head propped against something, so he could breathe. If he jumped onto the bed, he would have difficulty catching his breath afterwards. I had been in communication with the vet about all of this. On July 22, because his breathing was so difficult, I rushed him to the vet.

Squirty Opal was cyanotic and gasping for air when we arrived for the 10:00 a.m. appointment. The co-op student, who also examined and treated Snowball months before, advised me that she remembered Snowball. She made a comment, which I thought was inappropriate, that I must have really loved Snowball, to have paid for all those tests (remember, I only authorized blood tests, urinalysis and EKG)! I was too upset to think about anything but Squirty Opal's laboured breathing. He was, by now, gasping for air. After she examined him, the vet walked in and read her notes. He started to examine Squirty Opal and opened his mouth. I started to ask why he did that, when I noticed that Squirty Opal's tongue, lips, and ears were blue. I began to cry, realizing he was cyanotic, and asked the vet if he was dying. The vet matter-of-factly said yes.

By now, it was close to 11:00 a.m. The vet wanted to admit Squirty Opal for 3 days and perform a battery of tests (blood tests including cardiac enzymes, ultrasound, EKG, echocardiogram, x-rays, and more). The vet said that initially an x-ray would provide the most information. Because he let it slip to me when he euthanized Snowball that he had performed an ultrasound on him without my consent, I refused to admit Squirty Opal and put him through the same thing, especially since the vet already told me he was dying.

He said it would be hours before he could do the x-ray and tried to get me to leave Squirty there. I insisted upon staying. The vet finally conceded and allowed me to stay with Squirty, while he was in a kennel, gasping for air and awaiting the x-ray. He had suggested I could wait with Squirty Opal in the car if I did not want to go home and return later (it was sunny, scorching hot that day, and the air was not working in my car), until they could do the test around 4:00 p.m. Or, we could stay in the waiting room, but that could be too stressful for Squirty Opal. He was trying to coerce me into leaving Squirty Opal, so he could have a better chance to convince me to leave him there for 3 days.

At noon, they did the x-ray, finally saying they could squeeze us in. The vet said Squirty Opal's chest was full of fluid and there might be a tumor in his chest. I asked him to aspirate some of the fluid, to provide some relief, but he refused. He still wanted to admit him for all the tests, but assured me the prognosis was the same. God was about to call my precious Squirty Opal back home.

We left over 4 1/2 hours after we arrived, with Enacard (vasodilator) for heart failure (cardiomyopathy was the verbal diagnosis) and a diuretic (Lasix) for fluid build-up. All the while we were there, Squirty Opal was cyanotic and gasping for air, but the vet did not even offer to put him on oxygen. He advised me to not given him medicine until we go home, because the Enacard might make him vomit. He later told CVO that he deliberately withheld oxygen therapy (I have the document, that he sent directly to CVO, as part of disclosure).

We went back on the 29th. There was a little improvement, so the vet prescribed more Enacard and Lasix. I kept in touch with the vet, as requested. Squirty Opal only improved for a week or so, but was to stay on the meds. He started to cough more. He started panting after walking a few feet. He would gasp for minutes after walking less than 20 feet to go to the litter box, gasping for longer periods as each day passed. He was drinking over 1 liter of water per day and urinating very large clumps, 8 to 10 times/day.

I rushed him to another vet on September 11/02, yes, exactly one year after 9/11 in New York City. The new vet had received Squirty Opal's medical records by fax prior to our arrival, but I don't think he had reviewed them. Less than one minute into the exam and history, he grabbed Squirty Opal, ran out of the room, and immediately put him on oxygen, because he was gasping and cyanotic, exactly like at the other vets on July 22nd.

The vet returned, to obtain Squirty Opal's recent history, and admitted him. He wanted to perform some x-rays. He told me I could call in a few hours to check on my baby kitty. When I phoned, the vet said that he aspirated some of the fluid, even though the first vet refused. The fluid was not interstitial as the other one had insisted. My sweet Squirty Opal's little chest was full of lymphatic fluid. There were three possible diagnoses, none of which had anything to do with heart failure.

The vet advised me that I had two choices, euthanasia that afternoon or euthanasia first thing the next morning. He said I could not bring my dear Squirty Opal home to say goodbye, because I could do nothing for him if he went into respiratory distress again. He further advised that he would be on call overnight for emergencies, but admitted that he would only stop by the clinic a couple of times, to check up on things. I thought that if Squirty Opal went into respiratory distress through the night, with no one in attendance, in addition to being all alone in a strange place, that I could think only of him and not how difficult it would be to live without him. So, I had to make the immediate and devastatingly painful decision, to send him home to God that afternoon. The vet advised me, that because he was on call that night, he would be leaving early. I had to get there immediately. They had been able to take him off the oxygen after aspirating a small amount of the fluid.

When I arrived for the euthanasia, I was told that they had to administer oxygen again, shortly before I arrived. Also, he would be taken off oxygen for euthanasia and I would only have a couple of minutes to say goodbye. I only spent about a minute with my sweet baby, because he was in respiratory distress and I could not keep him in such pain for any longer. I had adopted him from the humane society in May/96 when he was about 1 year old, one month after my husband died from cancer. He had given me so much unconditional love for six years. At that point, all I could do for him was put an end to his misery.

The other vet had misdiagnosed him and, had he aspirated some of the fluid as I had asked instead of trying to coerce me into authorizing all the other tests, Squirty Opal would have gotten the correct treatment. Well, the coercion had worked, when Snowball was in hospital, so I guess he decided he had to try again. After all, he had everything to gain, did he not? My baby Squirty Opal would have been spared all those weeks of laboured breathing, excessive thirst, exhaustion and many trips to the litter box. I strongly feel that his prognosis would have been totally different.

I filed complaints about the vet (Toxopeus) with the Ontario College of Veterinarians in Guelph. Since he accidentally let it slip that he had performed an ultrasound on Snowball, and his co-op student told me she remembered all the tests that had been performed on Snowball, I am convinced that he performed many other procedures on Snowball without my consent. Remember, he advised me he did not have to take a second blood sample. Well, Snowball's throat was shaved on both sides and there was a puncture wound (I assumed both were for collecting blood) on each side. The vet told me there was no problem obtaining the blood, so why a second puncture of the jugular vein? I had video and photographic proof.

The vet said he had given Snowball I.V. antibiotic injections twice. But those injections would not be administered through his jugular vein, they were injected into this little paw instead. In his reply to the CVO complaints, he insisted that he only shaved Snowball's paw (the right front paw) for the I.V. antibiotic injections and his throat for the blood test. Why then, did Snowball have a large area on the rear of his right leg shaved? I presented photographic and videotaped proof of it to CVO and HPARB. I never did get an explanation for that, even though I repeatedly asked why it had been done. Feel free to draw your own conclusions.

The vet denied giving Snowball an ultrasound, yet he told me how much it would cost to give Squirty Opal an ultrasound. In fact, he now denies that he even has an ultrasound machine. I sent an e-mail to the CVO, providing links to 6 from 50 or more sites I found in feline and veterinary medicine, in which it is directly stated that "an echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart". He does have an electrocardiogram machine. He admitted that fact to the CVO, in writing as well. Through disclosure, I have a copy of that document as well.

The vet denied misdiagnosing Squirty Opal. He denied performing unauthorized tests on Snowball. He denied that Snowball had lost so much weight (6.0 to 4.8 kg) in just over two days in his care. He denied telling me that Snowball had not eaten or taken water during his admission (the medical records submitted to CVO indicate that Snowball was eating and drinking in hospital), yet on unaltered video evidence I provided, copied directly from the original 8 mm cassette to VHS, I stated that Snowball was home for about two days before going to the litter box and within 1/2 hour of arriving home from hospital, stated his significant weight loss. This was part of my video diary of my last days with my fluffy little Snowball.

I provided a detailed log with the video, and highlighted just how Snowball's condition had deteriorated so much during his admission. I also provided photographs of Snowball and Squirty Opal. The vet admitted, in writing, that Squirty Opal was cyanotic on July 22. In one part of his reply to the CVO, he said he did not think he needed oxygen therapy. In another part, he stated that he did not administer oxygen, because it would only provide temporary relief for a cat in heart failure. There will be a formal review at CVO on September 8/04. I do not know how long it will take to get the results.

Shadow took very ill suddenly on June 7 of this year. Like Snowball his father and his mother Misty (who lives with my sister) and one brother JD (who lives with my nephew - there was only one litter before all kitties were "fixed"), he did not like to be picked up and carried. I thought he was finishing his meals, but Midnight Dew was. His tummy had not gotten smaller, and his fur was very long and thick, so I did not realize that he had gone from 17.6 to 11.4 lbs until I had to rush him to the vets. He had been straining in the litter box. He would leave the box if I walked into the room while he was there, so I was not sure if the could not urinate or defecate.

The vet kept him for x-rays, after the exam. He called me to tell me that the x-ray showed a large tumor in Shadow's abdomen, that was impinging upon and blocking his intestines. It was causing much pain and preventing Shadow from defecating. Why did the first vet (Toxopeus) not even offer to do an x-ray when I told him that Shadow was producing blood in his feces? He had said that some blood in the feces was normal. No lie. The vet gave Shadow prednisolone, to hopefully help reduce swelling and pain. The vet advised that my sweet kitty's prognosis was dire, that the tumour was most likely malignant and that Shadow was dying.

Shadow showed some interest in food, because of the prednisolone, but not for long. He began to eat less each day, and he was taking no more than 1 tsp. of canned food three times/day. Even though I knew the problems dry food caused before, I allowed him to nibble on his favourite food, Science Diet Light dry formula. It was the only food he really showed interest in and had always been his favourite. Since he was dying, I could not deny him that.

At my request, the vet recommended Eukanuba maximum calorie food as a possible way to entice Shadow to eat. If necessary, I could add water and force-feed it to him with a medicine syringe. The vet put aside only 3 - 170 g cans for when I picked up Shadow. I refused to force-feed Shadow and put him through the stress his father Snowball had endured, to extend his life for just a few hours or a day, if we were lucky, according to everything the vet reported to me. He ate less each day. He produced less feces every day, until he could only produce tiny dots of wet feces, that were filled with blood. He was producing large clumps of urine twice daily, which meant he was consuming enough fluids to hydrate himself and rid his body of waste, so he was not becoming uremic. He was also exhibiting signs of more pain.

I was in contact with the vet, because he knew that any day I would have to return to euthanize my baby, Snowball's son. Late on the 16th, I noticed that Shadow was crying out in pain, and soon realized it was less than one minute before entering the litter box and sometimes while in the litter box. I was hearing these shrill noises, but had never heard them before, so initially I had not realized what I had heard. The walls are "paper-thin" in this building and I actually thought I was hearing something from either another apartment or even outside the building. Sadly, I soon realized it was Shadow crying out. He was going to the litter box many times, trying to defecate. His bowels were trying to void. The next day I spoke with the vet and we decided it was time to euthanize Shadow, because the prednisolone was not working.

I spoke with the vet later that day and before noon the next day. The vet told me he knew how difficult it had been for me to make the decision to euthanize Shadow. He said that I could buy some time for Shadow by administering an enema, adding that it might alleviate some of his pain. In fact, it began to appear to me, that the vet may have changed his mind about euthanasia. Only the day before, he had been in favour of it.

I asked the vet whether it would alter my baby Shadow's prognosis, but he assured me that it would not. Many times, since the tumor had shown up on the x-ray, I asked the vet if he were absolutely sure that the mass was a tumour, and not a fecal blockage. The vet repeatedly assured me that it was a tumour, outside and impinging upon Shadow's bowels. He further stated that an enema, might buy only a few hours or a day, but no more than two days at best.

On June 18 at 7:15 p.m., Shadow, whom I had first met when just a couple of hours old and had moved in with me at 6 weeks of age, took his final breath in my arms. He was lying on the exam table and I had one arm under his chin with my other arm gently caressing his left side. At the moment the vet took his paw to inject the sodium pentobarbital into his catheter, he turned around and looked directly into my eyes.

My instinct was to try to stop it (was it a sign?). It happened in a millisecond and logically I knew I could not stop it. Shadow had been in too much pain. But, time seemed to slow down, like I have heard that many people report in the moments before a car crash or other devastating tragedy. I think he looked at me, hoping I would let him get away from whatever the vet was about to do to him. While looking into those beautiful green eyes, I felt him go limp and instantaneously his pupils dilated. I realized in that instant, that he was gone from me forever. I also knew that he was now with his papa Snowball and his brother Squirty Opal. I am sure that both kitties met him at that moment, since when they were alive, they always nurtured him.

Midnight Dew, last year in September (2003), was admitted to hospital for constipation. He had enemas over 2 days, was sent home for the weekend, then re-admitted for 2 more days, until he defecated. His heart was too enlarged and weak, that even going to the bathroom was putting too much strain on it (I now put a pinch of psyllium and some extra water in his canned food to help him go to the bathroom) and he still enjoys Science Diet Light kibble.

X-rays showed that his lungs were full of tumours (also bronchial lungs), he has a mediastinal mass, a large tumour on his liver, megacolon, and other problems. The vet did not think he would live until Christmas, definitely not another six months. He was discharged on 1/2 tablet children's aspirin twice weekly, because on exam his pulse was barely perceptible. By some miracle, he is still with me, though he is growing weaker each day, especially in this past week. He is still most pleasant, communicative, and snuggly.

Before Muffin was even born (Jan. 28/98), I grew a catnip plant in my apartment one summer (1997), but Midnight Dew was the only one who liked it. I planted one for him this summer, in a small planter, but because I planted it so late, I feared that he would pass before he could enjoy it. He has been enjoying a leaf or two (depending on the leaf size), every day or two for a few weeks, but has not shown much interest for the past couple of days. Muffin will sniff it, but I think that the fresh catnip leaf is too strong for her.

Muffin is a little over 6 1/2 now and on 1/2 tablet of phenobarb three times/day (Sept. 2004). She recently had struvite crystals. Like her older brothers, she is a little snuggle bunny and cute as a button.

The other clinic to avoid is St. Lawrence Veterinary Services. An employee (Sue) was very rude on January 28/04 , when I called to request a phenobarb renewal for Muffin. She accused me of getting meds elsewhere, even though I explained that when I got the last renewal, I had not used up much of the previous prescription. I even brought the balance of the prescription, empty bottles from the previous year, and bills for each. She could confirm it by checking her file and doing the math.

I wrote a letter of complaint to her bosses but no one ever mentioned it to me. She was very rude to me on August 17/04, when I called to purchase more special diet food for Muffin's struvite crystals. She refused, even though I explained that Muffin's problem had never completely resolved, and the vet had advised me that Muffin had to be on the diet exclusively for 4 full weeks before submitting to another urinalysis.

I had called her office when Shadow suddenly became ill in June, but she would not give me an appointment, stating they were too busy. She sent me to a sister clinic, Kingston Veterinary Hospital (I could not prove she really refused the appointment because I had dared to write a letter of complaint about her, but I was sure that was the reason.). I explained how traumatic and stressful it had been to lose Shadow, but she showed no empathy or compassion. She was getting revenge on me mailing a complaint about her. For all I know, she could have destroyed it and management might not have even seen it, otherwise would someone not have talked to me about it or written to me, or at least even apologized to me for her behaviour? Months later I found out that, when I contacted Rose Robinson at CVO to inquire about filing a complaint against Toxopeus, she had contacted both clinics. It corresponded to the time, when Sue began to become abrasive with me.

Sue insisted that Muffin would have to have another urinalysis and full examination, exactly as she would if she were a brand new patient to the clinic. I asked for the vet to call me. Sue phoned me a few minutes later, to refuse the special diet. I called again, about two minutes later, to make sure she knew I still wanted to talk to the vet. Over 1 1/2 hours later, I was still waiting by the phone, but the vet did not call.

I phoned to see if the vet had gotten my message, and another lady answered the phone (that is a rare occurrence). She said she would give the vet my message. A minute later Sue called me, and she again was rude and abrasive. She knew I am on a small disability pension and could not afford the test, exam, and food, with having to renew Muffin's phenobarb soon, and add to that the extra vet bills when I lost Shadow (not to mention the emotional trauma). She would not even let me pick up a recuperative blend of food, to help Muffin until I could afford the urinalysis.

Then on September 3rd, I called to order a phenobarb renewal for Muffin. The technician answered the phone. She put me on hold, checked Muffin's file, and said there would be no problem, adding that everything in Muffin's chart was in order. She stated that the vet just had to officially authorize her to fill the prescription and that was, as she told me, just a technicality. Muffin is urinating and I had to decide which took immediate precedence, so it had to be the anticonvulsant meds.

ABRUPT WITHDRAWAL OF ANTICONVULSANTS CAN RESULT IN SEIZURES, STATICUS EPILEPTICUS (SEIZURES LASTING 1/2 HOUR OR LONGER AND DEATH). A tonic-clonic or grand mal seizure not only causes brain damage, physiologically it is very hard on the body. The involuntary muscle contractions expend much energy very rapidly, causing the body to overheat rapidly (the ictal phase).

When Muffin eventually comes out of the seizure (the post-ictal phase), she is very confused, and even though physically exhausted, paces about, not knowing where she is. She seems terrifed, because she does not recognize her surroundings or me, or the other kitties. I can speak to her or try to get her attention in many other ways, but it is as though she does not even see or hear me. She just continues to pace blindly.

Eventually, she finds her way to the food dish. She is ravenous. One time, I had used a disposable aluminum pie plate (like those that come with a pie that you buy at the supermarket), temporarily to hold ice. When Snowball, Squirty Opal and Shadow were on prednisone, one side effect of the medication was severe over-heating of their little bodies. I placed ice around, so that they could cool off. Sometimes, they would lick the ice and other times, they would lie on the floor close to it. When Snowball was on prednisone, it was February and very cold here. He licked the ice a lot, instead of drinking much water, and even slept right next to it. Instead of going to the food dish, she started to chew the sides of the pie plate, not appearing to know what it was. I removed it immediately and put the food dish in front of her. She did not appear to realize the difference. It was as though she still did not even see or smell the food, the contraction of her jaws seemed automatic.

Then there are the cluster seizures. She has one grand mal seizure, then another one about a minute or less later, without even going through the post-ictal phase. I have seen her experience very long seizures (over 5 minutes in duration).

Muffin's serum phenobarb levels were tested and normal on April 30/04. The clinic's only prerequisite for getting phenobarb renewals is that she have a blood test for phenobarb once each year, or so they advised me. I personally think this was a "money grab". If she was on the meds and not having seizures or adverse symptoms (like lethargy from a high dose), then her serum levels were fine. She was also examined on April 30, but that was not legally required for prescription renewals.

A few minutes after requesting the phenobarb prescription, I received a very nasty call from Nancy Sorenson, coordinator for their three hospitals (St. Lawrence Vets, Kingston Veterinary Hosp., and Barriefield Animal Hospital. She said that I had been giving them trouble for over two (2) years and they were discharging me as a client. This was Sue's final revenge. She told Nancy Sorenson that I had been causing trouble for over two years. I never had a problem there until January 28/04, when Sue was very rude to me and I wrote the aforementioned letter of complaint about her. My only other problems with the clinic have been directly with Sue, and those were because she was confrontational with me.

Because of Sue's lies to Sorenson, I have been advised that I have to find a new vet. SUE IS JUST A RECEPTIONIST, BUT APPARENTLY CARRIES A LOT OF WEIGHT. I have been bringing my kitties there for over 2 years, since Squirty Opal became worse under the care of Toxopeus at Kingston Mills. I had been at the clinic many times, with Muffin and Midnight. I did not find out until months later, as I mentioned earlier, that Robinson at CVO had contacted the clinics, when I first telephoned her to make inquiries, about filing a CVO complaint against Toxopeus. That was several months prior to filing the actual complaint.

I was in shock by how Sorenson treated me. I told her I wanted copies of Midnight's and Muffin's medical records. SUE HAD LIED ABOUT ME. I CANNOT TRUST HER TO NOT ALTER THE MEDICAL RECORDS. She refused and I advised her that it was illegal to refuse. (As of Mar. 1, 2006, I have not received a legible copy of the records.) She phoned me back two minutes later and agreed to allow Muffin a one week phenobarb prescription renewal.

Then, I called St. Lawrence to request the records of Squirty Opal, Midnight Dew, and Muffin. Sue immediately and abruptly refused. I called Laurie at College of Veterinarians in Guelph. She advised me that it was illegal to refuse to give me a copy of the medical records and told me to have them call her right away. I then called Sue, who still refused. Then I gave Sue the told-free number at CVO, told her to ask for Laurie, at which time she rudely interrupted me and agreed to photocopy the files.

I then called the clinic where Shadow had been treated and euthanized. When I explained everything, in full absolute detail, to a woman named Jo, she told me that recuperative food should have been provided for Muffin and I could get some there, even after I reminded her how Nancy and Sue treated me. She said that Muffin should not have been refused her phenobarb renewal.

Then she totally shocked me when she asked why I had taken so much abuse from Sue since January. As I said, Sue carries a lot of weight for just a receptionist, with no formal medical training, unless she pulls more than strings. There must be a good reason why she gets away with being rude and abusive with customers, just like Nancy. She obviously did not pass along my messages to the vets. Before I wrote the letter of complaint about her in January, I had always gotten return calls from a vet, usually within minutes. After that, I was given the impression when (if) my calls were eventually returned, it was as though the message had just been passed to the vet.

In June, when Shadow was treated and subsequently euthanized at their other clinic (7th - 18th) I had received prompt calls from the vet, again usually within minutes. I could not believe that the vet, who treated Shadow at Kingston Vets and who knew me, would not return my 2 phone calls on September 4 for the phenobarb renewal. Sue told me it was the same vet (Dr. Mehr). I said "Doesn't he work at your other clinic?". She replied "Yes, but he is working here today.".

Jo offered to look into the matter and how I was treated. She volunteered to have the medical records I requested sent to her office, so I don't have to be subjected to any more abuse by Sue (her words, not mine, I swear). I can only surmise that Sue must have quite a stellar reputation within the group of 3 clinics, based on Jo's comments about her. I did not hear from Jo yet and it is now Sept. 14/03. I desperately need phenobarb for Muffin. Also, with Midnight Dew's health problems, I don't know what to do.

P.S.: My problem with St. Lawrence Vet coincidentally began after I filed a complaint with the College of Veterinarians of Ontario in Guelph. I had been warned that, if I filed a complaint against Toxopeus at Kingston Mills that there would be retribution. I was assured by Rose Robinson, Complaints Coordinator at CVO, that it was safe to file a complaint, even though I repeatedly expressed my concerns. I was told that he (Toxopeus) would make sure I would never be able to find a vet to care for my kitties. Looks like Toxiopeus will not be happy until he has killed all of my kittens, his final retribution!!! I truly believe this.

UPDATED FRIDAY, APRIL 01, 2005 AT 5:56:05 P.M.:

I wish, no pray to God, that I could say it was untrue about vets refusing care to my Muffin and Midnight Dew, but I cannot. St. Lawrence Vets refused her phenobarbital on Sept. 3/04 and she has been having terrible seizures since then, almost weekly. In August, they refused to give her food to help break down the struvite crystals. Over the past week especially (today is April 1), her urine clumps are becoming pea-sized again and I am finding blood drops on the floor when she jumps out of the litterbox. It was four or five days ago, that I found a larger area of blood on the floor, in the center of a very tiny amount of urine. I have gently wiped her with a tissue on different times when she gets out of the litterbox, before she cleans herself, and there is blood on the tissue. The last time was just about 20 minutes ago. Several times a day, I have to give her water, via a medicine dropper, in order to get urine clumps about the size of small meatballs from her.

On Dec. 2nd, 2004 I videotaped 4 minutes or more of Muffin having a severe grand mal seizure. She had been convulsing for, I am unsure, how long before I realized it was happening, because I was in another room. I immediately went to her side briefly, then remembered to pull out the videocamera. I made an appointment with Overgaard at Frontenac Animal Hospital at 745 Development Dr. (PH: 613-389-3696) for the next morning. At almost the last minute, they called to cancel, telling me it was because Toxopeus black-listed us.

WHEN OVERGAARD CANCELLED MUFFIN'S APPOINTMENT AT THE LAST MINUTE, I immediately telephoned Rose Robinson at the CVO. I specifically asked her, point blank, whether vets have a moral, ethical or legal obligation to treat a sick or dying animal. She said (I quote in verbatim) "NO, IT IS JUST A BUSINESS". I asked if vets had to follow any kind of oath, like a human physician's Hippocratic Oath, and she again replied "NO". According to what she told me directly, vets do not practice or adhere to any oath to protect animals.

I THEN TOLD HER ABOUT THE OATH I FOUND AT THE WEBSITE OF THE CANADIAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AT http://canadianveterinarians.net/. On their home page, I found a link to The Canadian Veterinarian's Oath. The CANADIAN VETERINARY OATH READS AS FOLLOWS, AS TAKEN IN VERBATIM AND COPIED DIRECTLY FROM THE CVMA WEBSITE: "As a member of the veterinary medical profession, I solemnly swear that I will use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society. I will strive to promote animal health and welfare, relieve animal suffering, protect the health of the public and environment, and advance comparative medical knowledge. I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics. I will strive continuously to improve my professional knowledge and competence and to maintain the highest professional and ethical standards for myself and the profession. CVMA 2004".

WITH THIS INFORMATION, I AGAIN ASKED ROSE ROBINSON WHETHER VETS IN CANADA HAVE TO TAKE AN OATH. I HAD A COPY DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME AND READ IT TO HER IN VERBATIM, TELLING HER EXACTLY WHERE I FOUND IT. SHE FINALLY SAID, AND I QUOTE IN VERBATIM: "YES THEY DO, BUT THEY DO NOT ADHERE TO IT".

When I then told Robinson that Overgaard's office cancelled, because Toxopeus black-listed us, and Overgaard's assistant told me that personally, she then told me that vets are only legally allowed to forward medical information to new clinics. I then stated that, when I directly asked Overgaard's assistant why the appointment was cancelled, she said (quote in verbatim) "It's because of what Toxopeus and the others said.". Robinson volunteered several times to call Overgaard to ask if this was true, promising to call me right back. That was Dec. 2/04 and I still have not heard from her (April 1, 2004)!

AS PART OF DISCLOSURE FOR THE APRIL 19, 2005 HEARING AT HEALTH PROFESSIONS APPEAL AND REVIEW BOARD IN TORONTO, I RECEIVED A COPY OF A LETTER ATTACHED TO SQUIRTY OPAL'S MEDICAL RECORDS ON SEPTEMBER 11/02, THE DAY HE FIRST WENT TO ST. LAWRENCE VETS AND EVER SO SADLY THE DAY HE DIED. I QUOTE IN VERBATIM FROM WHAT ALISON SAID "SHE HAS A GOOD CREDIT RATING WITH US". THIS WAS HAND-WRITTEN IN VERY LARGE PRINT. NOW, WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH HIS MEDICAL RECORDS. THIS IS THE TYPE OF INFORMATION THAT ROBINSON SAID IT IS ILLEGAL TO PASS FROM ONE VET CLINIC TO ANOTHER. I REITERATE, SHE SAID IT IS ONLY LEGAL FOR A VET TO PASS ALONG VITAL MEDICAL INFORMATION.

Of course, I have excellent credit. All of my bills have always been paid in full immediately when services were rendered. I am not delinquent on any account that I have, including rent, credit cards, hydro, telephone, cable TV, internet, etc. I always pay all my bills on time. WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH HIS OR ANY OTHER MEDICAL RECORDS????? I wish that you and everyone else could see the video, photographic and other evidence I have, so that you and others could judge for yourselves. Again, I have a copy of the document, that was forwarded directly to me, by the CVO.

The three other clinics -> St. Lawrence Vets (40 Rigney Street; PH: 613-546-1747), Kingston Vets (435 Division St.; PH: 613-542-7337) and Barriefield Animal Hospital (235 Gore Rd., Kingston; PH: 613-544-7387) have all refused treatment. THESE THREE CLINICS ARE OWNED BY THE SAME VETS. MIDNIGHT DEW AND MUFFIN WERE PATIENTS AT ST. LAWRENCE WHEN THEY DROPPED US AS CLIENTS BECAUSE OF WHAT THAT TOXOPEUS SAID ABOUT MY FILING THE CVO COMPLAINT AGAINST HIM. TOXOPEUS IS AT KINGSTON MILLS VETERINARY HOSPITAL, 1670 BATTERSEA RD., KINGSTON, PH: 613-549-0069. HIS E-MAIL ADDRESS BEGINS WITH "TOXO". JUST A PERSONAL COMMENTARY, MANY NASTY WORDS BEGIN WITH "TOXI" AND "TOXO".

INSTEAD! Because I filed the complaint against Toxopeus, no other vet in this region will treat my kitties. He has black-listed me with them. When I filed the CVO complaint against him, the CVO sided with him. What else could I expect, really. He is the one who pays dues to them, not me. Check out their websites, you will see statements that they are there to protect the public. But then again, I have been repeatedly told, at every step of the way, that you cannot believe everything you read on the internet.

THE FOLLOWING, ARE STATISTICS, WHICH I FOUND DIRECTLY ON THE WEBSITE OF THE CVO, IN GUELPH, ONTARIO:

I researched the CVO and found, from their own annual report on their own official website, that from almost 198 complaints filed against vets in Ontario in 2003, only 2 (YES TWO - LESS THAN 2%) were in favour of the pet owner. I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT 196 COMPLAINANTS WERE WRONG. The statistics for the following year were even more grim. Over 200 complaints were filed (202) and exactly 0, yes zero or none, were sent to the Disciplinary Board. I also found that they state on their site that they are trying to cut costs in dealing with such matters.

I later printed this information directly from the site, ensuring that I even maintained the URL for each page, for the April 19, 2005 HPARB hearing. April, 2005 mini-update follows: The board member's admitted that they never even looked at it, or any of the documentation I had submitted, including the photos and videotape. They repeatedly told me that you could not trust information you find online. This particular information was directly from the CVO's own official website, which I stated directly to them. It did not matter.

The vet admitted in writing that he deliberately withheld oxygen from Squirty Opal, a dying kitty, who was cyanotic and gasping for air. He personally told me he performed an unauthorized test on Snowball. In his report to CVO, he insisted that he only shaved one paw, to inject antibiotics, and denied shaving the leg for anything, yet I have irrefutable proof that he did (on photograph and videotape). Snowball went from 6.0 kg to 4.8 kg during a 2 day 8 hour admission. The clinic was negligent by not recording his discharge weight. (Even the HPARB board members had to admit that there appeared to be "sloppy record-keeping" (their words, not mine) done by Toxopeus. The vet denied that Snowball had even lost weight.

When I wanted to bring Snowball home, when I realized he was dying, the vet coerced me into leaving him in hospital for tests by saying "If you love Snowball, you will let me do the tests.". Do you think that was appropriate? I asked the same questions directly of Robison, in the communications with CVO, and numerous times at the HPARB (more details later). He told me repeatedly that Snowball only had an infection and was not dying. He also did that for over a week after Snowball came home.

NOW I am fighting and pleading to get health care for my two living kitties, but no one will help me in the insurmountable crisis. I have a hearing at the Health Professionals Appeal and Review Board in Toronto on April 19/05. I'll post the results.

UPDATED SUNDAY, APRIL 24, 2005 AT 7:23:34 P.M.:

Someone suggested that I use my maiden name, since no one will treat my kitties, BECAUSE TOXOPEUS HAS BLACK-LISTED ME WITH ALL KINGSTON AREA VETS. After my husband died, I switched all my I.D. back to my maiden name, including my credit card and bank accounts.

I RECENTLY TALKED TO ROSE ROBINSON ABOUT THIS SPECIFICALLY. SHE'S THE COMPLAINTS COORDINATOR AT CVO. SHE TOLD ME IT WOULD NOT MATTER, EVEN IF I USED SOMEONE ELSE'S NAME OR HAD ANYONE ELSE USE THEIR NAME FOR ME. SHE STATED, DIRECTLY TO ME, THAT MY NAME IS STILL ATTACHED TO THEIR MEDICAL RECORDS AND BECAUSE OF THAT A VET WOULD CANCEL THE APPOINTMENT. She said that I have to prove that the vet (toxopeus) black-listed me with all of the other vets. I think it is enough proof that an appointment at McEwen Animal Hospital (1752 BATH ROAD, KINGSTON; PH: 613-389-1036) was cancelled as soon as they knew my name, but Rose Robinson said they must have written proof.

HERE IS THE ONLY WRITTEN PROOF I HAVE. A PERSON, WHOM I HAVE NEVER MET, IN THORNHILL BOOKED AN APPOINTMENT AT MCEWEN ANIMAL HOSPITAL UNDER THE NAMES OF MY KITTIES, MIDNIGHT DEW AND MUFFIN. HERE IS WHAT HAPPENED.:

----- Original Message -----
From: Maha
To: kingstonkittens
Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2005 9:36 PM
Subject: Kitty need Help
Hello; Please call this location and tell them Maha suggested you call them
Oakpark Pet Hospital
3070 Trafalger,
Oakville, ON
905-257-7387
Let me know, good luck
Maha

I REPLIED AS FOLLOWS:
----- Original Message -----
From: _________@hotmail.com
To: Maha
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 12:52 AM
Subject: Re: Kitty need Help
Dear Maha:
Thank you for writing to me. Unfortunately, my kitties and I live in Kingston. I have a 16 year old car that I use around town, but hesitate to take it far away. Only one other person has contacted me anonymously by making a comment, through a Blog I posted at http://vetsharmpets.blogspot.com/. I had a website where I listed the reasons why I filed a complaint against the vet, but that vet forced Lycos to close the site, which they did without even notifying me.
I contacted our local humane society in Kingston. They refuse to get involved or help in any way.
I have sent mail to the 2 newspapers and the TV station in Kingston, plus TV stations in Toronto (Global) and Ottawa (CBC and CTV). Also, I have sent correspondence to every agency I can find on the internet, from the Kingston Vet association, the animal care technology program at St. Lawrence College Kingston campus, the WSPCA, the OSPCA, the Animal Alliance of Canada, the Canadian Animal Health Institute, The Farley Foundation, and many more. None of them have even bothered to reply.
The Complaints Coordinator (Rose Robinson) at the College of Veterinarians in Guelph told me that vets do not have a moral, ethical or legal obligation to treat any sick or dying pet or animal, that it is just a business. She told me that if my kitty Muffin dies, then I can file a complaint with them against the vets who are refusing to treat her. She also told me that a vet can only legally pass along medical information about a patient. I told her that the last clinic (Frontenac Animal Hosp.), which refused treatment on Dec. 2, advised me that they were doing so because of what the vet I filed the complaint against and St. Lawrence Vets said about me. She finally told me that I could give my two kitties to the humane society, when I told her that no Kingston area vet would treat either of them. Before I filed my complaint against Toxopeus at Kingston Mills Vets, I had advised Rose that a neighbour told me if I filed the complaint, no other vet would treat my kitties, because Toxopeus would black-list me with all Kingston area vets. He said they (the vets and the College) are a "boys club" and they only protect themselves. She led me to believe that this would not happen. After filing the complaint, St. Lawrence Vet Services (where we had been clients for almost two years) and their sister clinics Kingston Vet Clinic and Barriefield Animal Hospital suddenly and abruptly dropped me as a client, refusing to treat my kitties. On Dec. 2, Overgaard at Frontenac Animal Hospital cancelled our appointment at the last minute. I made the appointment the day before, immediately after Muffin had a rather severe grand mal seizure. The College of Veterinarians is supposed to protect the public, but they are obviously protecting the vets. When I researched them in Dec., I found in their own 2003 Annual Report, that of 198 complaints filed against Ontario vets in 2003, only 2 were referred to the disciplinary committee, the rest were dropped.
If you can think of anyone else that I may contact, who might be in a position to help, I would greatly appreciate hearing from you.
Thanks again, Sarah
----- Original Message -----
From: Maha
To: kingstonkittens
Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2005 10:36 PM
Subject: Kitty need Help
Hello;
Please call this location and tell them Maha suggested you call them
Oakpark Pet Hospital
3070 Trafalger,
Oakville, ON
905-257-7387
Let me know, good luck
Maha

THEN MAHA REPLIED:
----- Original Message -----
From: Maha
To: _________@hotmail.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 11:22 AM
Subject: Kitten need help urgent
Hello Sara;
I got you an appointment for Midnight_Dew and Muffin at the McEwen Animal hospital, the appointment is for Saturday 10:00 let me know how it goes you can reach either at my home number at 905-___-____ or 416-___-____. Please call them if you need to cancel or change the time or date you can use my name as the person who scheduled the appointment and give them your last name as they asked me for it J
Good luck
Maha
10:00 am on Saturday
McEwen Animal Hospital
1752 Bath Road Kingston K7M 4Y2
tel: 613-389-1036
fax: 613-389-6854

THEN MAHA WROTE:
----- Original Message -----
From: Maha
To: _________@hotmail.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 6:13 PM
Subject: RE: Thank you Re: Kitten need help urgent
Hello Sara;
Just go and try them out, if they can help they will, they have nothing to do with other clinics. They are good on there work and as long as you have the finance to do the test they will. Just go and get it done … if I where you I will even not tell them about anything let them take care of the problem and do all the test that what I did with my smokey I did not let them know what the issue is I let them figure it out and start over… that is much better. Its like they will find out what is going on. Not have pre determine factor. There are problem that cannot be fixed cloey god rest her soal was taken to every doctor and to every hospital but no one could help her with her kidney problem. You have to try that all you can do and that all the vet can do. Also do some research on what your cats get diagnost of and if you cannot get the medication from the doctor do what I did and order it online if you know what it is
Good luck on Friday
Maha
----Original Message-----
From: _________@hotmail.com [mailto:_________@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 2:51 PM
To: Maha ______
Subject: Thank you Re: Kitten need help urgent
Dear Maha:
Thank you so very much. Are they aware of my problems with the other clinics? If they are, I fear that they might cancel the appointment, without even seeing us. They will need previous medical records, for which they legally have to contact the previous clinic, or so I have been told by the College of Vets. Midnight Dew's problems appear to be stable for now, so I do not need to bring him in immediately. Muffin is the one who needs antiseizure medication (phenobarbital is what she was taking for her seizures) and to be treated for her urinary tract problem. I have been giving her water via a medicine dropper daily, to increase her urine volume, but the problem she was treated for last year has never resolved. I informed the clinic, where she was initially diagnosed with the problem (St. Lawrence Vets), but they refused to treat her further for that problem. They later refused to refill her phenobarb prescription, even after they told me that everything, including her recent blood work, was in order. She was required to have an annual blood test, to check her phenobarb levels. This all happened after the College of Veterinarians contacted them, after I filed the complaint against Toxopeus.
Previous vets have advised me that they have never witnessed a kitty having a seizure. I have a videotape of Muffin's December seizure, which I will take to the clinic with me. It is not a pretty sight, but it might be best if they can see it for themselves.
Thanks again for all your help. Sarah ____
----- Original Message -----
From: Maha
To: _________@hotmail.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 12:22 PM
Subject: Kitten need help urgent
Hello Sara;
I got you an appointment for Midnight_Dew and Muffin at the McEwen Animal hospital, the appointment is for Saturday 10:00 let me know how it goes you can reach either at my home number at 905-203-3220 or 416-417-9594. Please call them if you need to cancel or change the time or date you can use my name as the person who scheduled the appointment and give them your last name as they asked me for it J
Good luck
Maha
10:00 am on Saturday
McEwen Animal Hospital
1752 Bath Road Kingston K7M 4Y2
tel: 613-389-1036
fax: 613-389-6854

THE NEXT REPLY FROM MAHA (I HAD WRITTEN ONE TO HER WITH MY LAST NAME, BUT LOST IT FROM MY "SENT" BOX IN HOTMAIL. HOWEVER, YOU WILL SEE FROM MAHA'S LETTER OF WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6,2005 AT 6:13 P.M, DIRECTLY ABOVE THIS ONE, SHE HAS ATTACHED THE COPY OF THE LETTER I SENT TO HER, WITH MY LAST NAME; DATED WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2005 AT 2:05 P.M. WHICH WAS MY REPLY TO HER MAIL OF WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2005 AT 12:22 P.M.:
----- Original Message -----
From: Maha
To: _________@hotmail.com
Sent: Thursday, April 07, 2005 6:41 PM
Subject: RE: Thank you Re: Kitten need help urgent
Hello Sara;
I am sorry to tell you that the McEwen Animal Hospital cancelled your appointment, I was wondering if you are having such a tough time with the getting an appointment with veterinary how about adopting them to another person who can get appointment and get them treated I will be more than happy to find a good home for the kitty’s.
Please let me know if I can help in that way??
Thank you
Maha
----Original Message-----
From: _________@hotmail.com [mailto:_________@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 2:51 PM
To: Maha ______
Subject: Thank you Re: Kitten need help urgent
Dear Maha:
Thank you so very much. Are they aware of my problems with the other clinics? If they are, I fear that they might cancel the appointment, without even seeing us. They will need previous medical records, for which they legally have to contact the previous clinic, or so I have been told by the College of Vets. Midnight Dew's problems appear to be stable for now, so I do not need to bring him in immediately. Muffin is the one who needs antiseizure medication (phenobarbital is what she was taking for her seizures) and to be treated for her urinary tract problem. I have been giving her water via a medicine dropper daily, to increase her urine volume, but the problem she was treated for last year has never resolved. I informed the clinic, where she was initially diagnosed with the problem (St. Lawrence Vets), but they refused to treat her further for that problem. They later refused to refill her phenobarb prescription, even after they told me that everything, including her recent blood work, was in order. She was required to have an annual blood test, to check her phenobarb levels. This all happened after the College of Veterinarians contacted them, after I filed the complaint against Toxopeus.
Previous vets have advised me that they have never witnessed a kitty having a seizure. I have a videotape of Muffin's December seizure, which I will take to the clinic with me. It is not a pretty sight, but it might be best if they can see it for themselves.
Thanks again for all your help. Sarah ____
--- Original Message -----
From: Maha ______
To: _________@hotmail.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 12:22 PM
Subject: Kitten need help urgent
Hello Sara;
I got you an appointment for Midnight_Dew and Muffin at the McEwen Animal hospital, the appointment is for Saturday 10:00 let me know how it goes you can reach either at my home number at 905-203-3220 or 416-417-9594. Please call them if you need to cancel or change the time or date you can use my name as the person who scheduled the appointment and give them your last name as they asked me for it J
Good luck
Maha
10:00 am on Saturday
McEwen Animal Hospital
1752 Bath Road Kingston K7M 4Y2
tel: 613-389-1036
fax: 613-389-6854

APRIL 8, 2005 REPLY FROM MAHA:
----- Original Message -----
From: Maha
To: _________@hotmail.com
Sent: Friday, April 08, 2005 6:06 AM
Subject: RE: Thank you Re: Kitten need help urgent
Hello my dear Sarah
Got a message that it was cancelled…. But if you are blacklisted …. Then for the cats well beings I think we should work on getting them adopted by someone else …. Who will be able to get the care they need and medication from the vets in Kingston…. What do you think…. At least you will know that they will get the care they need ….. I know it’s the ultimate sacrifice to give away the babies to someone else …. But when I could not afford to pay for one of my cats treatments few years ago I adopted him out to a great family …. Who takes care of him so well
Maha
-----Original Message-----
From: _________________.m [mailto:_________@hotmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 07, 2005 9:09 PM
To: Maha _______
Subject: Re: Thank you Re: Kitten need help urgent
Dear Maha:
Did they say why they cancelled? The vet I filed the complaint against obviously notified all vets in the area and black-listed me.
Sarah
----- Original Message -----
From: Maha
To: _________@hotmail.com
Sent: Thursday, April 07, 2005 7:41 PM
Subject: RE: Thank you Re: Kitten need help urgent
Hello Sara;
I am sorry to tell you that the McEwen Animal Hospital cancelled your appointment, I was wondering if you are having such a tough time with the getting an appointment with veterinary how about adopting them to another person who can get appointment and get them treated I will be more than happy to find a good home for the kitty’s.
Please let me know if I can help in that way??
Thank you
Maha
-----Original Message-----
From: _________@hotmail.com [mailto:_________@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 2:51 PM
To: Maha ______
Subject: Thank you Re: Kitten need help urgent
Dear Maha:
Thank you so very much. Are they aware of my problems with the other clinics? If they are, I fear that they might cancel the appointment, without even seeing us. They will need previous medical records, for which they legally have to contact the previous clinic, or so I have been told by the College of Vets. Midnight Dew's problems appear to be stable for now, so I do not need to bring him in immediately. Muffin is the one who needs antiseizure medication (phenobarbital is what she was taking for her seizures) and to be treated for her urinary tract problem. I have been giving her water via a medicine dropper daily, to increase her urine volume, but the problem she was treated for last year has never resolved. I informed the clinic, where she was initially diagnosed with the problem (St. Lawrence Vets), but they refused to treat her further for that problem. They later refused to refill her phenobarb prescription, even after they told me that everything, including her recent blood work, was in order. She was required to have an annual blood test, to check her phenobarb levels. This all happened after the College of Veterinarians contacted them, after I filed the complaint against Toxopeus.
Previous vets have advised me that they have never witnessed a kitty having a seizure. I have a videotape of Muffin's December seizure, which I will take to the clinic with me. It is not a pretty sight, but it might be best if they can see it for themselves.
Thanks again for all your help. Sarah Dawe
----- Original Message -----
From: Maha
To: _________@hotmail.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 12:22 PM
Subject: Kitten need help urgent
Hello Sara;
I got you an appointment for Midnight_Dew and Muffin at the McEwen Animal hospital, the appointment is for Saturday 10:00 let me know how it goes you can reach either at my home number at 905-203-3220 or 416-417-9594. Please call them if you need to cancel or change the time or date you can use my name as the person who scheduled the appointment and give them your last name as they asked me for it J
Good luck
Maha
10:00 am on Saturday
McEwen Animal Hospital
1752 Bath Road Kingston K7M 4Y2
tel: 613-389-1036
fax: 613-389-6854

MY FINAL REPLY TO MAHA, APRIL 11, 2005:
----- Original Message -----
From: _________@hotmail.com
To: Maha
Sent: Monday, April 11, 2005 2:32 AM
Subject: Re: Thank you Re: Kitten need help urgent
Dear Maha:
Thanks for all the help you have been giving me. I want to do anything in my power, so that I can keep my babies. With their health problems, it would probably be impossible to find them new homes, especially with Midnight being about 11 1/2 years old. I do not know anyone who could take them. Not only that, but I am really the only person they both know and the only human they have lived with. Midnight was under a year old when he moved in with me and Muffin was exactly six weeks old. I do have a sister, brother-in-law and nephew in town, but they don't visit. Several times a year, they stop at the door, usually to drop off something for me. Recently, there was a lot of repair work done in the apartment and the kitties were terrified, spending most of their time anywhere they could hide. It was the first time I had ever heard Muffin "hiss".
I still have the hearing at the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board on the 19th. If you like, I would really like to let you know how that goes. If they will allow it, I plan to report how the vet has black-listed me, which results in my kitties being refused health care.
Bye for now. Sarah
----- Original Message -----
From: Maha
To: _________@hotmail.com
Sent: Friday, April 08, 2005 7:06 AM
Subject: RE: Thank you Re: Kitten need help urgent
Hello my dear Sarah
Got a message that it was cancelled…. But if you are blacklisted …. Then for the cats well beings I think we should work on getting them adopted by someone else …. Who will be able to get the care they need and medication from the vets in Kingston…. What do you think…. At least you will know that they will get the care they need ….. I know it’s the ultimate sacrifice to give away the babies to someone else …. But when I could not afford to pay for one of my cats treatments few years ago I adopted him out to a great family …. Who takes care of him so well
Maha
----Original Message-----
From: _________@hotmail.com [mailto:_________@hotmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 07, 2005 9:09 PM
To: Maha ______
Subject: Re: Thank you Re: Kitten need help urgent
Dear Maha:
Did they say why they cancelled? The vet I filed the complaint against obviously notified all vets in the area and black-listed me.
Sarah
----- Original Message -----
From: Maha masoud
To: _________@hotmail.com
Sent: Thursday, April 07, 2005 7:41 PM
Subject: RE: Thank you Re: Kitten need help urgent
Hello Sara;
I am sorry to tell you that the McEwen Animal Hospital cancelled your appointment, I was wondering if you are having such a tough time with the getting an appointment with veterinary how about adopting them to another person who can get appointment and get them treated I will be more than happy to find a good home for the kitty’s.
Please let me know if I can help in that way??
Thank you
Maha
----Original Message-----
From: _________@hotmail.com [mailto:_________@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 2:51 PM
To: Maha ______
Subject: Thank you Re: Kitten need help urgent
Dear Maha:
Thank you so very much. Are they aware of my problems with the other clinics? If they are, I fear that they might cancel the appointment, without even seeing us. They will need previous medical records, for which they legally have to contact the previous clinic, or so I have been told by the College of Vets. Midnight Dew's problems appear to be stable for now, so I do not need to bring him in immediately. Muffin is the one who needs antiseizure medication (phenobarbital is what she was taking for her seizures) and to be treated for her urinary tract problem. I have been giving her water via a medicine dropper daily, to increase her urine volume, but the problem she was treated for last year has never resolved. I informed the clinic, where she was initially diagnosed with the problem (St. Lawrence Vets), but they refused to treat her further for that problem. They later refused to refill her phenobarb prescription, even after they told me that everything, including her recent blood work, was in order. She was required to have an annual blood test, to check her phenobarb levels. This all happened after the College of Veterinarians contacted them, after I filed the complaint against Toxopeus.
Previous vets have advised me that they have never witnessed a kitty having a seizure. I have a videotape of Muffin's December seizure, which I will take to the clinic with me. It is not a pretty sight, but it might be best if they can see it for themselves.
Thanks again for all your help. Sarah ____
----- Original Message -----
From: Maha ______
To: _________@hotmail.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 12:22 PM
Subject: Kitten need help urgent
Hello Sara;
I got you an appointment for Midnight_Dew and Muffin at the McEwen Animal hospital, the appointment is for Saturday 10:00 let me know how it goes you can reach either at my home number at 905-203-3220 or 416-417-9594. Please call them if you need to cancel or change the time or date you can use my name as the person who scheduled the appointment and give them your last name as they asked me for it J
Good luck
Maha
10:00 am on Saturday
McEwen Animal Hospital
1752 Bath Road Kingston K7M 4Y2
tel: 613-389-1036
fax: 613-389-6854

AS I STATED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE PREVIOUS E-MAILS, ROSE ROBINSON TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED PROOF THAT THE VETS BLACK-LISTED ME. She was also the one who told me that it is illegal to pass on anything but medical information from one clinic to another, when I talked to her in December (2nd, 2004) and again this month (Apr. 11/05). I reminded her that no vet would leave a paper trail or provide any proof that I was black-listed. They will not do anything to implicate themselves. After all, as I have said, she told me it was illegal. What the hell am I supposed to do?????

I went to the HPARB hearing on Apr. 19. It was a total travesty. First off, the vet knew that he would get away with everything and did not even bother to attend. When I asked why, I was told that he would not be attending but that the CVO was available to them, if they had questions. (They called the CVO twice for instructions, taking breaks to do so during the hearing).

I know this is not scientific proof, but usually when you meet someone in an official position for a meeting like that, they usually shake your hand when introduced. None of them even got close enough to me for that. Second of all, the members of the board (2 females and a male) all argued in favour of the vet, for the whole four hours plus that I was there.

The chairman (Courtney Foster) repeatedly told me that I HAD TO PROVE TO THEM THAT THE VET SHOULD BE REPRIMANDED. I had put everything in writing. The board admitted that they did not even view my videotape or any of my evidence, even the 17 page fax I had sent by courier, the tons of e-mails I sent, with the last one arriving just between one and two hours or so, before I had to catch my train for Toronto. I still have the disclosure document, that Manuel asked me to sign, when I first arrived and checked in.

After the second break, when I believe they the CVO, a female member (the one who sat to the left of the chairman, Foster) of the panel said that CVO told them that my video was not evidence, it was just "information" which they determined not to be evidence. I was also told they could not attest to the quality of the tape, because they did not watch it.

After the first break, when the chairman said he had to make a phone call (I guessed CVO because of what happened immediately after the break), he said he had been told that Snowball's chest would have had to be shaved for an ultrasound. This was one of the first things we discussed. We kept going back and forth. I would be in mid-sentence discussing my complaint, when one of them (usually the female who said to the left of the chairman) would interrupt and direct me to another part of the paperwork sent to them by the CVO and asking an unrelated question. Then when trying to answer the second question, the chairman would interrupt and ask why I was going there? Like he wasn't sitting next to her when she asked me to go to another "page" with another question!!!!! This was done repeatedly throughout the whole hearing, I can only surmise, just to confuse me.

The CVO had used one tiny clip from my video "as evidence" against me (a couple of minutes, out of about 3 1/2 hours of video!!!). Squirty Opal was dying and I said that if the vet had aspirate some of the fluid from his lung like I asked, then he would have drowned in his blood. Anyone who views the video will see that I was in tears, in shock and totally distraught, that I was about to lose my darling kitty, who meant so very much to me. I loved him and all of my kitties more than I can even begin to express here.

That was totally medically inaccurate and I thought that the panel of 10 or 12 CVO vets should have picked up on it. I had even sent the HPARB proof that a lung puncture would result in a lung collapse, not bleeding into the lung. The board told me that you cannot believe everything you find on the internet. I asked why only that one section was used by the CVO as "evidence" they said that the CVO must have thought the rest (3 1/2 hours) was irrelevant.

I tried many times to tell them that the video had been taped for me only as a video diary of my last days with Snowball and Squirty Opal, and I had not intended it for anyone else to see. That was totally ignored.

I gave them specific examples of how the vet had misquoted me or taken things I had said out of context. They felt that his record keeping was reliable (though later they, especially Foster, admitted the record-keeping sloppy) and anything I had to say was only my "uneducated opinion". Like they were qualified to state definitively that my opinion, was unqualified. They admitted, at the beginning and thoughout the hearing, that they were lay-people, with no medical knowledge whatsoever.

The chairman pointed out from the medical records, that 2 days before Snowball was euthanized, I had told him that I thought Snowball had stopped isolating. They all said they were pet owners, yet no one knew what "isolating" was, and I had to explain that to them. They said as far as they and the CVO were concerned, Snowball was getting better.

I told them that the vet had not put the information in his records that I gave him 2 days later. I told the vet, and put it in my complaint to the CVO, that I admitted that I made a mistake. I realized that Snowball was not getting better. I assumed he was being more social because he was not getting under the bed or jumping in the tub. I also told the vet that this was because his tummy was too distended for him to get under the bed anymore and that he was too weak to jump into the tub anymore. The panel did not even pay attention to most of what I said. Like I said before, they kept interrupting me, directing me to something else, then rushing me through. If I had a dollar for every time the chairman especially kept saying that we were "digressing" and had to move on, it would have paid for my trip to Toronto for the hearing, which I still have to pay for by the way. What a circus it was.

Like I said, they were already on the side of the vet. I felt that he should have had to defend himself, but he did not have to, because the board (WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IMPARTIAL) defended him every step of the way. I had spent weeks getting together the material for the meeting. I had spent months getting everything together for the initial hearing at CVO. After admitting that they had no medical knowledge whatsoever, they asked how I could question the vet's treatment of my kitties!!!!!! According to them, after all, he was the professional and I knew nothing. I reiterate, that they were the ones who repeatedly admitted they were lay-people, who had no medical knowledge at all.

I had done a lot of research and had tons of paper work supporting, if not proving the validity of my claims. I had sent a 17 page fax (which cost $20.70 alone) in advance of the meeting and sent many correspondences. I was led to believe that if I did not allow them to send copies of these documents to the vet and CVO as part of disclosure, then I would not be allowed to use the documents at the hearing. That is what Manuel kept telling me, each time I called him. I reluctantly gave them permission. YET, they still refused to allow me to use any of these documents at the hearing.

The man who answered the phone at HPARB in the days prior to the hearing told me that, if I allowed disclosure of the information I sent for the hearing, then I could use it at the hearing. THIS YOUNG MALE WAS THE ONE WHO ASKED ME TO SIGN A RELEASE FORM AS SOON AS II ARRIVED FOR THE HEARING. HIS NAME IS MANUEL L. TAN, ADMINISTRATION OFFICER. What is with that??? The board members told me that all my evidence and what I sent for the hearing, was all irrelevant. The whole thing was totally bogus. I was totally exhausted from the meeting and the trip. AFTER ALL OF THAT, THE BOARD TOLD ME AT THE END OF THE HEARING THAT, AT MOST, THEY MIGHT MAKE A SUGGESTION THAT THE VET HAS TO KEEP BETTER MEDICAL RECORDS. THEN THEY TOLD ME, FOR THAT DECISION, I MAY HAVE TO WAIT UP TO THREE MONTHS FOR THEIR REPORT.

UPDATE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2006 AT 6:15 A.M.

THE REPORT DID NOT ARRIVE UNTIL EIGHT MONTHS LATER. I SENT VOLUMES OF MAIL TO HPARB ASKING FOR THE REPORT WITH COPIES TO JANET ORTVED. HPARB REFUSED TO ANSWER ANY OF MY LETTERS. WHEN I LEFT TELEPHONE MESSAGES IN EARLY NOVEMBER, AT THE PHONE NUMBER THAT JANET ORTVED GAVE TO ME IN A TYPED LETTER THAT SHE SENT VIA CANADA POST, THEY DENIED THAT I LEFT MESSAGES ON THEIR VOICE MAIL. I HAD LEFT MESSAGES ON VOICE MAIL, JUST BEFORE THE OFFICE WAS TO OPEN, SO THEY WOULD CALL ME RIGHT AWAY. AFTER ALL, ABBY KATZ STARR AT HPARB WAS THE ONE WHO GAVE JANET ORTVED THE CONTACT INFORMATION FOR ME, TELLING JANET TO HAVE ME CALL ABBY. ASK JANET FOR YOURSELF, IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME. YOU CAN CALL JANET ORTVED AT THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN OF ONTARIO AT 1-800-263-1830, http://www.ombudsman.on.ca . I communicated with her for months. She sent me several letters (which I still have) and made phone calls to me, telling me that the report would be here soon. She can confirm this for you. STATE OMBUDSMAN FILE: 167446 and HPARB File 8255.

I FINALLY RECEIVED THE REPORT ON DECEMBER 16, 2006, AS I STATED EARLIER, EIGHT (8)MONTHS AFTER THE HEARING. IT WAS DATED APRIL 9, 2005. AS I HAD PREDICTED, IT WAS TOTALLY IN FAVOUR OF THE VET. IT LOOKED AS THOUGH THE BOARD MEMBERS HAD COPIED ALMOST EVERYTHING THAT THE CVO HAD SAID IN THEIR REPORT, ALMOST A YEAR EARLIER.

I HAVE WRITTEN VOLUMES OF E-MAILS TO HPARB AND THE OMBUDSMAN'S OFFICE SINCE RECEIVING THE REPORT. I AM TRYING TO GET THE OMBUDSMAN TO GET INVOLVED AND FORCE HPARB TO REVIEW THEIR DECISION.

ON MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2006, HPARB FINALLY SENT A LETTER THROUGH SNAIL MAIL. I HAD BEEN DEMANDING THAT THEY RETURN MY ORIGINAL EVIDENCE. ESPECIALLY THE PHOTOS AND VIDEOTAPE ARE VERY PRECIOUS TO ME, BEING THE LAST TIME I SAW MY PRECIOUS SNOWBALL AND SQUIRTY OPAL. BUT THEY ARE REFUSING TO RETURN THEM. THEY SAY THAT THEY REMAIN PART OF THEIR FILE. NOBODY THERE EVEN LOOKED AT THE CASE AND AS I SAID IN MY LAST UPDATE, FOSTER SAID I WAS NOT EVEN QUALIFIED TO MAKE ANY KIND OF JUDGMENT AGAINST THE VET. THEY INCLUDED A SHEET FROM THE ABRIDGED RULES OF PRACTICE, THAT THEY NEVER SENT TO ME WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS ON FILING THE APPEAL WITH HPARB. IN IT, IT IS STATED THAT I CAN MAKE A FORMAL REQUEST TO HAVE THEM REVIEW THEIR DECISION.
----- Original Message -----
From: sedspromo@sympatico.ca
To: hparb@moh.gov.on.ca ; WebMail@ombudsman.on. ; Dalton McGuinty, Premier
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2006 4:36 AM
Subject: File 8255; Deliver immediately to Janet Ortved re 167446. HPARB HAD BETTER NOT DENY RECEIVING THIS BECAUSE I AM SENDING A HARD COPY OF THIS E-MAIL TO OMBUDSMAN AS WELL, AS PROOF.

A COPY OF THIS CORRESPONDENCE HAS ALSO BEEN SENT TO THE PREMIER VIA HIS WEBSITE.

It was not until January 23, 2006, that I finally received your letter (dated January 9, 2006) in which you acknowledge receipt of my December 23, 2005 letter. WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG TO GET THIS LETTER TO ME. IT WAS NOT IN MY MAIL BOX WHEN I CHECKED IT ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2006?

Your office did not forward any information about appeals, or anything else, when you finally sent the decision of the board to me in December, 2005, which was five months later than the Foster told me to expect to receive it at the hearing.

I am formally requesting that you reconsider the board's substantive decision, based on Rule 17.3 (c) abuse of process. The board members literally told me at the beginning of the hearing that they were lay people, with no medical knowledge whatsoever. They lacked the medical knowledge to make an informed decision in this particular case. Also, the board members, especially Foster, actively argued throughout the whole hearing on behalf of the veterinarian, taking two breaks to telephone the CVO for further instructions. The second time, after the "break" was when the female who sat at Foster's left told me that my videotape was "information" not "evidence" yet the CVO was allowed to use a segment, which lasted only a couple of minutes, and the only part of the whole tape which had medically inaccurate information on it, as evidence. In addition to that, each of the panel members admitted to me that they had not reviewed any of my evidence prior to the hearing, which included but was not limited to, the 3 1/2 hour VHS videotape, the photographs, and the volumes of documentation I had sent to them via fax and e-mail, prior to the hearing (all of which I had to sign a release form, so they could forward a copy of everything to the vet as part of disclosure).

Under Section 17.1. New information was available at the hearing, but was totally ignored by the board. I sent research information, in the form of an e-mail which I had to grant permission to disclose to the vet, regarding pneumothorax. This information was in the hands of the board members during the hearing. Also, I had a copy of it with me. After taking a break to phone the CVO for instructions about my video evidence and what would be accepted as evidence, the female who sat to the left of Foster told me that my videotape was not evidence, it was just information. Those were her words, not mine. In the 3 1/2 hours of videotaped evidence that I supplied, the CVO and Board only allowed a tiny segment as "evidence". This was the segment where I stated that I thought that Squirty Opal would drown in his own blood if his lung was punctured during an attempt to aspirate fluid. At the hearing, the board totally ignored the proof I had sent in the advance of the hearing that this was medically inaccurate information. YET, THEY ALLOWED THE CVO TO IGNORE THE OTHER 3 1/2 HOURS OF EVIDENCE I PROVIDED ON VIDEOTAPE.

THE BOARD WOULD BE ILL-ADVISED TO REFUSE THE ABOVE REQUESTS, SINCE YOU DID NOT FORWARD THIS PAGE OF THE RULES OF PRACTICE TO ME ALONG WITH THE INFORMATION YOU SENT MONTHS AGO WHEN LETTING ME KNOW HOW TO FILE THE APPEAL IN THE FIRST PLACE. YOU ALSO DID NOT SEND THIS OR SIMILAR INFORMATION TO ME WHEN YOU MAILED THE REPORT FROM THE HEARING IN DECEMBER, 2005.

_____ ____

_____ ____

SINCE SENDING THAT E-MAIL, I HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL E-MAILS FROM THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN (LORRAINE BOUCHER AND SEVERAL OTHERS AT OMBUDSMAN ONTARIO), BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD A SINGLE WORD FROM HPARB. BOUCHER AND THE OTHERS AT THE OMBUDSMAN'S OFFICE HAS CLOSED THE FILE, YET AGAIN.

I AM STILL WITHOUT A VETERINARIAN FOR MY BELOVED KITTIES. MIDNIGHT DEW'S BREATHING IS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE EVERY DAY, IT HAS BEEN NEARLY 2 1/2 YEARS SINCE HE LAST SAW A VET. HE WILL HAVE TO BE EUTHANIZED SOON AND I HAVE NO ONE, ON WHOM I CAN RELY, TO DO THAT. THIS IS ALL BECAUSE I AM BLACK-LISTED BY TOXIC-PEUS.

MUFFIN HAS NOT SEEN A VET FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS. I HAVE BEEN TRYING MANY DIFFERENT HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES I FOUND "ON THE NET" TO TRY TO BREAK UP THE STRUVITE CRYSTALS. I HAVE TRIED APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, APPLE CIDER VINEGAR CAPSULES, CRANBERRY CAPSULES, PARSLEY CAPSULES, PARSLEY TEA, FOLIC ACID, VITAMIN C, ETC. ETC. ETC. I FORCE FEED HER DISTILLED WATER, VIA A DROPPER, SEVERAL TIMES (UP TO 4 PER DAY) PER DAY. SHE IS STILL URINATING BLOOD AND VERY TINY CLUMPS OF URINE. SHE IS STILL HAVING GRAND MAL SEIZURES.

WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO. CVO REFUSED TO HELP, THEY ONLY SUPPORTED THEIR CARD-CARRYING FEE PAYING MEMBERS. HPARB REFUSED TO HELP. I HAVE TO WONDER IF THEY EVEN HAD THE MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE TO POP A ZIT, LET ALONE MAKE SUCH A CRUCIAL DECISION. ALSO, THEY ALL REPEATEDLY ADMITTED THAT THEY NEVER EVEN REVIEWED ANY OF MY EVIDENCE AT ALL. THEN THEY Y ALSO REPEATEDLY ADMITTED THAT THEY WERE LAY-PEOPLE, WITH NO MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE WHATSOEVER. I FOUND ALL OF THIS MOST IRONIC, ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY ARE ENTITLED THE """""HEALTH PROFESSIONSS APPEAL AND REVIEW BOARD""""".

THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDMAN HAS NOT HELPED, EITHER. I HOPED THAT THEY WOULD LIGHT A FIRE UNDER THE SNOBS AT HPARB, BUT THEY JUST KEPT ANSWERING MY VOLUMES OF REQUESTS, WITH A LETTER SAYING, "WE ARE CLOSING YOUR FILE.".

I EVEN COMPLAINED TO THE PREMIER, MANY TIMES. ONE WOULD THINK THAT PREMIER MCGUINTY, ANY PREMIER, WOULD BE THE """ULTIMATE BOSS""" OF ANY PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE. WELL, ON JANUARY 9, 2006 HE SENT ME A LETTER BY SNAIL MAIL. I QUOTE WHAT PREMIER MCGUINTY SAID, IN VERBATIM, FROM THIS LETTER THAT I RECEIVED ON MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2006. I TRANSCRIBE IT AS FOLLOWS: "THANK YOU FOR YOUR E-MAIL MESSAGES REGARDING THE HEALTH SERVICES APPEAL AND REVIEW BOARD (HE GOT THAT WRONG, IT WAS HEALTH PROFESSIONS APPEAL AND REVIEW BOARD - BUT THE SAME MESSAGE APPLIES-THEY SHARE OFFICE SPACE AS FAR AS I CAN TELL) AND YOUR PERSONAL SITUATION. I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO SHARE YOUR CONCERNS WITH ME. UNFORTUNATELY, IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO COMMENT ON THE SITUATION OUTLINED IN YOUR LETTER, AS IT RELATES TO THE HSARB. THE HSARB FUNCTIONS AT ARM'S LENGTH FROM THE GOVERNMENT, AND ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE PROHIBITED FROM INTERVENING IN ANY OF ITS AFFAIRS. THE BOARD MUST BE ABLE TO OPERATE FREE OF POLITICAL INTEREST. I NOTE THAT YOU SHARED YOUR CONCERNS WITH THE ONTARIO OMBUDSMAN'S OFFICE. YOU MAY WISH TO CONTINUE YOUR COMMUNICATION WITH THE OFFICE TO HAVE THESE ISSUES ADDRESSED. MS. DAWE, I REGRET THAT I AM UNABLE TO BE OF GREATER HELP. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR WRITING. YOURS TRULY, DALTON MCGUINTY, PREMIER. (Earlier, when I had sent a letter of complaint to him about the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal, the reply I received was almost exactly the same as this one. I have the original of both letters.)

WHAT A CROCK THAT WAS. I HAVE ALREADY TOLD YOU ABOUT ALL THE LETTER I RECEIVED FROM THE OMBUDSMAN, AND IN EACH ONE THEY STATED THEY COULD DO NOTHING AND WERE CLOSING THE FILE.