RI man charged with operating on his own dog

[Liberal_in_LA]

RI man charged with operating on his own dog

Friday, February 5, 2010


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Print E-mail del.icio.us
Digg
Technorati
Reddit
Facebook Slashdot
Fark
Newsvine
Google Bookmarks
Share Comments (57)
Georgia (default)
Verdana
Times New Roman
ArialFont | Size:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(02-05) 15:08 PST Barrington, R.I. (AP) --

A Rhode Island man who says he couldn't afford veterinary care for his dog has been charged with illegally operating on the pet.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More News
10 US missionaries back in jail in Haiti 02.05.10
Toyota chief apologizes for massive global recalls 02.05.10
Obama admits health care overhaul may die on Hill 02.05.10
RI man charged with operating on his own dog 02.05.10

Alan MacQuattie recently removed a cyst from the leg of his 14-year-old Labrador mix. The dog was operated on again by professionals to deal with an infection from the first surgery.

MacQuattie, 63, who says he is disabled and living on Social Security, said Friday he used local anesthetic to operate on the cyst and removed it on his own since he doesn't have money for a veterinarian.

"In the economy as it is right now, especially in Rhode Island, who in the hell is going to give you a little extra helping hand?" he said.

E.J. Finocchio, a veterinarian and president of the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, called the surgery a "heinous crime."


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/02/05/national/a073550S84.DTL&tsp=1#ixzz0eiBAyRDC

[leftstreet]

1. Not condoning this, but who knew it was illegal to operate on your pet?

:shrug:

[ddeclue]

5. ME? Ever hear of a veterinary license?

:crazy:

You can't practice veterinary medicine without a license any more than dentistry or regular human medicine.

[leftstreet]

6. How about if I remove porcupine quills from a dog's nose?

Is that technically surgery?

[ddeclue]

11. did you use a scalpel to cut him open? if not then it is first aid

but you should still have the vet look at it for infections.

[leftstreet]

15. Pliers

Operating on a pet is obviously a very bad idea BUT I'm continually astounded by how this fucking culture criminalizes everything!

[ddeclue]

19. Then you should have gone to the vet. If your medical incompetence and cheapness

causes great pain and suffering then YES it should be criminalized.

People go to school for a reason to learn how to be a vet or a lawyer or what have you.

There's no Veterinary Surgical Procedures for Dummies book available.

:crazy:

[leftstreet]

36. 'cheapness' so this is a Class issue?

figured as much

[ddeclue]

38. oh brother...

[Name removed]

76. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[kj8750]

87. Wuhan, China

[uppityperson]

42. Yes, if you are too "cheap" to take your pet to the vet, it should be a crime

see?

Edited to add :sarcasm: for those who may think I'm serious

[leftstreet]

46. Got it

Unbelievable

Not sure whether to :rofl: or :cry:

[uppityperson]

53. Yup

I went back and added the sarcasm thingie since someone was confused.

[kj8750]

90. Bogota

[kj8750]

89. riyadh

[farmout rightarm]

47. Where does that obligation begin? If you use a needle to take a splinter out of your child's finger

that's technically "surgery"...is that different somehow?

[uppityperson]

52. The post you are replying to was sarcastic

Try again to the person I'm arguing with.

[kj8750]

91. canterbury

[Name removed]

77. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[kj8750]

88. kolkata

[Name removed]

75. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[kj8750]

86. Vancouver Island

[Name removed]

74. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[kj8750]

85. north dakota

[Name removed]

73. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

72. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[kj8750]

84. jaipur

[Name removed]

71. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[kj8750]

83. buenos aires

[Shell Beau]

7. But aren't pets considered property?

But yeah, operating on your pet when you have no clue what you are doing can't ever be a good idea. I am certainly not for it.

[ddeclue]

12. So are aircraft but the pesky gov't insists you have a license to work on them too.

:eyes:

[Shell Beau]

16. But not cars? See that is messed up because both could

cause major destruction if done wrong. Like I said, I am not for it. I would never operate on my animals. But in a court of law they are considered property.

[ddeclue]

21. There ought to be a license for cars too..as it is most are certified through

ASE though.

They ARE considered property but have certain rights against cruelty and mistreatment that exceeds ordinary property.

[farmout rightarm]

26. Pesky government...is the right description there. Actually, I have had an A&P license for

40 years but I think it's bullshit that it's -required- for me to work on my own airplane. (I got the ticket just to see if I could...in addition to my other {flight} ratings.)

[ddeclue]

32. Yeah, I'm a pilot and an aerospace engineer but a lot of plane owners are just rich idiots.

Beech Bozanzas have the nickname of "doctor killer" for a reason. Lots of docs and lawyers who are great in the operating room or cour room think they're great at everything in life - including flying - they're not. That's why we need licenses to fly and maintain them.

Of course homebuilts only need a "repairman's certificate" however and not the A&P.

[farmout rightarm]

40. Small world...l am also an engineer (from back when it was "aeronautical") and ATP rated pilot

since 1965. I'm pretty familiar with the doctor/lawyer killer Bonanzas...I instructed several of those types
in the v-tails...some were okay and some were scary. One lawyer who was actually a personal friend of mine, I signed off for his private ticket went on and sold the nanza and bought a 310 - somebody got him the ME rating in it and he flew it into a mountain outside Salida, CO killing himself and 2 of his kids. The thing is, not many rich idiots -have- any desire to do their own maintenance. Probably none of them do. I did all the work on my PT-22 even before I got the A&P a very long time ago but I was prepared to accept the results of my own work...I still have more trust in myself than others. That seems to not be a popular Democratic position these days...

[uppityperson]

43. "I still have more trust in myself than others.That seems to not be a popular Democratic position.."

"I still have more trust in myself than others. That seems to not be a popular Democratic position these days."

What do you mean?

[farmout rightarm]

48. I meant it totally within the context of this particular thread..sorry I didn't make that clear.

There seems to be some condemnation of attempts to handle ones own problems with the suggestion that doing so is inappropriate. Maybe I'm not reading them correctly...?

[uppityperson]

51. Seems that is one poster.

Just because someone is on DU does not mean a poster is a Democrat. How's winter? Any flooding expected? (ex-Fargonian here)

[farmout rightarm]

55. Hi, I know what you mean...well so far the winter is pretty normal, more snow on the way

but it's actually almost warm I think about 30F right now. But there's a lot of snow on the ground here not sure about down south we could have a lot of melt in a few weeks hopefully not all at once. :-)

[Shell Beau]

41. My father-in-law builds his own planes.

Of course he also co-owns a company that builds and sells small private planes.

[freeplessinseattle]

62. ah, no wonder you have no clue what it is like to be poor n/t

[Name removed]

79. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[zx_3500]

64. hardly justifies such heinous acts

[Name removed]

78. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[kj8750]

92. Derbyshire

[uppityperson]

14. I can't take out a splinter, need to have a doctor do it? Can't clean my own teeth?

[ddeclue]

23. Splinter - it depends. Clean your teeth? How? other than brushing you really don't have the

equipment.

[uppityperson]

27. You assume too much. I do have the equipment. Yes, you can buy those dental picks

those little scrapers and ice picks. You can use them on yourself but not on others. There are things you can do to yourself, legally.

[ddeclue]

34. Umm good luck with that..

:rofl:

[uppityperson]

35. Thank you. Point is that it isn't illegal. That is the point which you seem

to be passing over. calling something illegal which isn't.

Stupidity is another thing. And yes, I have the dental scrapers, was told I could use them for a couple teeth that have issues faster than the others.

[ddeclue]

37. Operating on your dog is ILLEGAL. At least here in FL.

[uppityperson]

39. Article is RI and "You can't practice veterinary medicine without a license any more than ..."

Start of this subthread, trying to stay on the topic...
"You can't practice veterinary medicine without a license any more than dentistry or regular human medicine."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7649677&mesg_id=7649790

[kj8750]

100. hereford

[farmout rightarm]

49. So is adoption by gay people.

I think you're full of it on this issue, Doug. (I don't know you except for the posts I've seen the last few months and generally I'm totally on your side but not on this one)

[kj8750]

101. Exeter

[kj8750]

102. Exeter

[kj8750]

99. birmingham

[kj8750]

98. bradford

[kj8750]

97. lincoln

[kj8750]

96. Kingston upon Hull

[uppityperson]

31. How does it "depend"? Can I use a needle and tweezers? those are medical

equipment also.

[kj8750]

103. Gloucester

[kj8750]

94. coventry

[kj8750]

95. Lancaster

[kj8750]

93. Carlisle

[Name removed]

70. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[kj8750]

82. nairobi

[Name removed]

69. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[kj8750]

81. adelaide

[tmyers09]

2. It's why I believe when we get a single payer system,

it must include veterinary care.

[Forkboy]

3. Vetinary prices are madness.

Not condoning it, but I know if something happened to my cat I'd have to let him suffer and die, as I can't even afford to euthanize him if it came to that.

[ddeclue]

9. They will euthanize pretty darned cheaply..for a cat it's about 20 bucks.

[Forkboy]

22. Not around here.

My father has had to put down three in the last two years for a combined total of over $400. I don't have an extra $133 for anything, even this.

[ddeclue]

25. WOW.. I had a momma cat leave three of her kittens under the hood of my car

up near the front and 2 of them had to be put down once I discovered them there due to injuries and it was only like 40 bucks.

[kj8750]

106. Armagh

[Shell Beau]

33. My aunt got her dog cremated for $25.

[kj8750]

107. worchester

[kj8750]

105. oxford

[Shell Beau]

10. That they are. TAking my dogs to the vet for their shots ends up

costing me bunches. That isn't counting if they have some sort of ailment. And the emergency after-hours clinic? $75 just to walk in the door. That doesn't include any examination, etc.

[ddeclue]

13. still a lot cheaper than people medicine.

[Shell Beau]

18. ok. And where did that come from? Were we discussing that?

I so thought we were talking about pets.

I happen to be a person. And I happen to take some medication. I also have a small child.I know about medical costs thankyouverymuch.

[kj8750]

111. Aberdeen

[uppityperson]

28. so? What does that have to do with the topic at hand?

[kj8750]

112. inverness

[kj8750]

110. sunderland

[kj8750]

108. truro

[kj8750]

109. truro

[farmout rightarm]

20. Years ago our Golden Retriever developed throat cancer...I took him to the vet

(we give our doggies and kitties the best care we can) and she said he might live another year with several thousand dollars in treatment. He had a cancerous cyst in his throat that had gotten as big as a golf ball and was growing...I cut it out one night with some sharp scissors and he was able to eat properly for the first time in months. Now I don't pretend to claim I can understand dog-talk but it sure seemed that he was grateful
for that short reprieve...the old fellow (17 years) never stopped loving us as far as we could tell. He made it almost 2 years after that and I really believe he was as happy as he seemed to be. On his last day, he was
in the house and laid his chin on my leg and looked at me with those loving eyes...I patted his head, he
turned and walked down the steps to the patio and within 10 seconds and simply fell over dead. I won't ever
regret doing that small 'surgery' on my big golden buddy.

[Shell Beau]

56. You cut out his cancerous cyst with scissors?

Did you numb it? Was there lots of bleeding?

I understand how hard it must be when you can't afford to keep your baby dog alive but can afford to put them down. That does sound extreme though and it seems like it could cause a painful death for the dog.

I had 2 goldens growing up,and I think they are the most awesome dogs. Sounds like yours lived quite a long time for a big dog. Must have been hard to say goodbye. I have a golden mix now. He is 112 lbs. He is huge. He is mixed with Australian shepherd. If we ever rescue a full breed again, it will be a golden or a basset hound. Something in me wants a basset hound. I already have a name for him. Floyd. :)

[kj8750]

114. plymouth

[kj8750]

113. preston

[MerryBlooms]

50. $49 for the office visit

and then $100 for euthanization at my vet. Then the cold hard fact of body disposal. :( you can have your loved one cremated for another $200 + urn, or another $25 for disposal at the county landfill, because you're not allowed to bury your pet on your property anymore. Sharing your life and home with a cat or dog now days has truly become a luxury. So sad.

[Forkboy]

58. That's about what it was for my father when he took his cats.

I do think he was allowed to bury them where he wanted though, not sure. I know when my old cat had to be put to sleep my father and I climbed a mountain and buried him up there, but that was awhile ago now.

[kj8750]

115. lichfield

[zx_3500]

65. So true

[kj8750]

104. Chichester

[Manifestor_of_Light]

4. My big sister did the same thing.

Operated on our big collie, out in the front yard. Dog had an abscess the size of a golf ball on her elbow.

This was almost 30 years ago.

[kj8750]

116. norwich

[farmout rightarm]

8. Good grief

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7648841&mesg_id=7648863

[kj8750]

117. portsmouth

[Greyhound]

17. Ever since the vets decided that they too, like the dentists, would rather become a

millionaires rather than merely helping animals, this kind of thing is becoming more and more common.

[a la izquierda]

29. not my vet.

he's a bit pricey, but not outrageous and certainly not in it to be a millionaire. i guess i'm lucky.

[Shell Beau]

44. My vet also. He works with all of his "baby's" parents on costs.

He allows a payment plan if it is over $300. He calls all the pets "babies". He also sends sympathy cards when one crosses the rainbow bridge. Bedside manner is about as important as skill when it comes to any doctor, IMO.

[kj8750]

120. Otago

[kj8750]

119. chichester

[farmout rightarm]

30. Sadly, you are exactly right...in MANY cases. My niece recently got her vet license

that she pursued because of her love of animals. I am desperately hoping she keeps that motivation...too many do not.

[kj8750]

121. madrid

[kj8750]

118. Bristol

[undeterred]

24. I know some human surgeons do this.

But they probably would do a pretty good job, especially on something like a cyst.

[kj8750]

122. derbyshire

[w4rma]

45. He shouldn't have been charged. (nt)

[kj8750]

123. andover

[madville]

54. My granddad used to do all the care for his dogs himself

Shots, vaccinations, infections/abscesses, stitches, cysts, etc. He was pretty good with it. These were all mostly hunting dogs though. If you do it correctly I don't see why that should be a crime.

[kj8750]

124. alliston

[NYC_SKP]

57. I operate on myself, and I'll damn well operate on my dog if I choose to. Sue me.

What this man did isn't anything thousands of others haven't done over generations of animal husbandry.

He did it poorly, though, without proper disinfectant, and that is sad.

I've done more than one thing on my own body without ill effect, using scalpels and disinfectants.

I've never, however, done anything like this with my animals, but then I'm not living on S.S.

:patriot:

[zx_3500]

67. to each his own

[kj8750]

125. burlington

[mantis49]

59. "heinous crime" is a little over the top

Just sayin'

[kj8750]

126. newfoundland

[flvegan]

60. The problem is in the level of surgery he attempted.

Yeah, we administer meds here at our rescue. We even put in/remove stitches, drains, etc. My partner/roomie is an advanced vet tech and has done all of this stuff a million times. No big deal. However, we'd never consider removing a cyst or any other form of surgery of that level.

Yes, vet care is expensive and I don't have issue with him trying to help his dog, but this was way beyond the ability of anyone without proper training, evidenced by the need for the pros to fix his mess.

[barb162]

61. Oh, that poor dog. Where did this guy get local anesthesia

that he knew he would work and where the hell did he get surgery skills. He shouldn't have any other animals. EVER.

[zx_3500]

66. he probably made it himself

[zx_3500]

63. what a terrible man

[Name removed]

68. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[kj8750]

80. appalling.