Virginia Siegrist of Ephrata had sticker shock when she scoured veterinarians to neuter her 2-year-old mixed-breed dog, Hemi.
A friend then told her about someone he knew doing low-cost surgery in the area, and he offered to pay for it.
So, at his urging, she takes Hemi to a barn on Harnestown Road. There she encountered a line of cars waiting for her reservation.
Siegrist said two men came out with syringes, gave them what they claimed to be a sedative, and took them to the barn. Hemi was brought back 20 minutes later, but by the time she got home, Siegrist realized something was very wrong. Hemi was bleeding profusely. The blood soaked into the comforter and into the carpet of the car.
She and her husband tried using diapers and paper towels to stop the bleeding, but without success. At the same time, Hemi’s gums have become whiter, Siegrist said. They took him to an emergency veterinarian, where medical staff saved his life.
Ephrata’s John R. Martin is now facing a felony charge of aggravated animal cruelty for performing surgery on a dog without a veterinary license, officials said.
Doctors at a pet emergency care clinic determined that the bleeding was caused by the surgical site not being cleaned or trimmed and the umbilical cord not tied, according to court documents.
Hemi was then taken to Smoketown Animal Hospital for surgery to correct a failed spay, Siegrist said. Veterinarians at both clinics concluded that the castration was unlikely to have been performed by a licensed veterinarian and reported the incident to humane staff, according to the documents.
Siegrist was unable to provide veterinary documentation regarding castration, according to the documents.
Pennsylvania SPCA humanitarian officials executed a search warrant at the property on May 3 and removed the evidence but not the animals, the agency official said.
The PSPCA said charges against Martin are pending and could result in a prison sentence.
“It is clear that the person in question is not only taking advantage of pet owners seeking affordable veterinary options, but also putting their pets in immediate danger,” said PSPCA chief executive officer (CEO). ), said Julie Krim. “In this case, we were lucky that the owner sought emergency care for their pet, but the same may not be true for others who have used this service. It’s what I want to do.”
PSPCA Humanitarian Law Enforcement Director Nicole Wilson said it’s not uncommon for individuals to perform unauthorized veterinary procedures, but it’s usually a cosmetic procedure.
“We have seen many cases of animals in Philadelphia with clipped ears and docked tails. is,” she said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen someone recommend a surgical procedure such as castration.”
A 2009 law made it illegal in Pennsylvania for non-veterinarians to cut off a dog’s ears, dock its tail, or “bark” a dog by cutting its vocal cords.
Siegrist said he doesn’t know how much his friend paid for the botched castration surgery, but said the repair cost more than $2,300, plus a discount from Smoketown Hospital.
On Monday, medical staff welcomed him in for his final check-up and removed the dreaded neck cone. “His recovery is complete. He had no issues with his medical certificate,” Siegrist said. He reverted to Energizer Bunny. ”
The PSPCA urges individuals who may have received veterinary treatment from Martin for their dogs or horses to contact Cruturety at 866-601-7722 or cruelty@pspca.org.
Wilson said that if pet owners have questions about whether they have a veterinary license in Pennsylvania, they should search for state licenses online.