Illegal vet

[Borderdawn]

Great news! 

[jetcleo]

He's fine now thanks, the MRI didn't show anything wrong so vet believes it was psychological or a muscle injury.

 

[Borderdawn]

Yes I can imagine how the prices have gone up, I saw my friend today who's dog hd the scan, it was in fact 7yrs ago!  Hope your Cat is ok now.

[jetcleo]

I paid around £2000 for an MRI on my cat about 18 months ago.  Thank heavens for insurance.

I didn't know about that vet until i read on here, scary and sick at the same time  .  I live so close to Lincoln as well can't believe i hadn't heard about it!!!

[Borderdawn]

BD, I don't know what country you're in, but your figures are very strange, maybe they're affected by insurance. Polly, one of my cats, was ill a few months ago, and my vet, who isn't particularly expensive, said that an MRI would be approx £2,000. His consultation fees are usually about £16.

Im right here in the UK.  The MRI on the dog, was a few years ago, it was done at Bristol university, feel free to check if you wish. A consultation fee normally here is £30.00.

I have MRI scans on the NHS about every year or so (I'm epileptic) and know that if I paid, they would cost about £10,000. I suggest that the cost you quote has been affected by the BUPA cover.

No, you are wrong here, I self funded my treatment, NO insurance, Ill happily show you the quote if you like, plus a run down of my treatment. I paid £295 for the MRI scan, the wait on the NHS was 3-5mths, the wait at the BUPA hospital was and hour and a half!

As I have REPEATEDLY said, I am NOT defending him, just saying the media hype has taken over again and the truth has been stretched all directions.  What he did WAS wrong, but the media has expanded on it, saying he said he was a Vet, when he never did any such thing.

[Hippykitty]

BD, I don't know what country you're in, but your figures are very strange, maybe they're affected by insurance. Polly, one of my cats, was ill a few months ago, and my vet, who isn't particularly expensive, said that an MRI would be approx £2,000. His consultation fees are usually about £16.

I have MRI scans on the NHS about every year or so (I'm epileptic) and know that if I paid, they would cost about £10,000. I suggest that the cost you quote has been affected by the BUPA cover.

This guy wasn't just handing out drugs of dubious origin, he was DIAGNOSING animals - something which only a trained and devoted vet should do. If the report was correct, he gave antibiotics to a dog the reporter told him was bleeding from the teats. These symptoms could indicate cancer, but he hadn't even seen the dog.

As to the supposed vaccinations, he was probably injecting water!

Shooting an animal as a method of pts is as bad as drowning kittens as a method of feline birth control - it went out with the dark ages (for most people!).

[Mark]

Here's the video for anyone that hasn't seen it. Make your own mind up.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_6950000/newsid_6955000/6955007.stm?bw=bb&mp=rm&asb=1&news=1

[blackcat]

he took responsibility for diagnosing and treating animals. To the uninformed public, or those who do not care enough to enquire, that means he was impersonating a vet. While costs are extreme in some circumstances, there are alternatives to paying for prescription medicine like VetUK. He acted irresponsibly and beyond the scope of his skills. While I agree the reporting of the case was highly emotive and subjective, his actions were inappropriate in the extreme and it is appropriate that he be charged for them. Sorry BorderDawn, I know when it is a friend who finds themself in this position it is hard to be entirely objective but he was not behaving responsibly.

[Borderdawn]

I dont agree with all of that, but do agree he did wrong.  The media has shouted its mouth off again, he never told me or anyone else I know of that knew him, he was ever a Vet, which is what these papers are saying.  I dont doubt he made money, I just dont think that the media hype is justified when they are lying about what actually was said.
Dawn.

[Mark]

I agree a lot of vets charge ridiculous prices but others don't. Wasn't this man "prescribing"  antibiotics etc without really knowing what he was doing? for that kind of treatment, a vet might charge a consultation + meds = around £50.00. Anything more serious would be covered on insurance if they were willing to spend £10.00 a month on their animal's welfare. This isn't really about vets - I don't think he was providing a service, he was making money, its about a self-proclaimed animal healer who has been caught and rightfully been punished if far too leniently. Hopefully its a warning to other quacks out there.

[Borderdawn]

He hasnt denied it mark. The costs that vets impose on the public is a very valid one and I ersonally dont think its justified at all!

Comapre it to me! I paid 1 month ago, £150 to see a private consultant, then £295 for an MRI scan, then, one week later £4019 for spinal surgery, all at a BUPA hospital.

My friend paid for her Dog, £199 plus VAT to see a veterinary specialist, £1000 plus VAT for an MRI scan and £7000 plus VAT, for spinal surgery.  So how can they justify that?

[Mark]

Owners are as much to blame who were trying to save money by buying meds from him than paying full cost for a qualified vet who would have undergone years of expensive & extensive training, have a building and its upkeep to pay for, staff, insurance, etc etc. I'm sure most of his "customers" knew that he wasn't a vet. I think some vet charges are extortionate but a lot of it is justified.

As for the "Putting dogs down" for £20.00 - That is unforgivable and I hope he rots for that. I saw the undercover video so there's no denying what he did.

[Cheesecat]

If the facts in that article are correct, he's very lucky to have got away with 12 months imo.

The annoying thing about our justice system is he will be out in 6 

[Borderdawn]

I dont disagree he was wrong, but he did NOT in fact cause harm to any dog he gave meds to, this enquiry has been going on for ages, they couldnt find any evidence that he harmed any dog, nor could they say that the drugs given to the reporters dog "Synulox" would harm that either, its an anti-biotic thats used every day, and can be as a precautionary measure too.  Im not trying to defend him, but the media propaganda has taken hold and convieniently witholds some of the facts.
Dawn.

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

If the facts in that article are correct, he's very lucky to have got away with 12 months imo.

If someone contacts you saying they have an animal with certain symptoms, any response other than "take it to a vet" is totally unacceptable.  It appears that he gave the reporter drugs for a sick dog based on a description of symptoms.  If he's not a vet that's disgraceful and could have been lethal.

[Borderdawn]

I have known Len French for around 10yrs.  He has some magnificent Salukis and Greyhounds.  He has never ever said, nor implied to me that he is, was or ever had been a Vet.  Just bringing the drugs in is illegal in itself, and no evidence was given to say he had harmed any animal at any time.  He did put dogs down, but of course, he was not convicted of anything illegal in that respect.  A very well known dog exhibitor and breeder was taken to court for exactly the same thing, strangely enough, nothing much was said, dont know why.  Thing that gets me, is if he had stabbed somebody, beaten an old lady to a pulp or killed somebody while drunk driving, he would have got 6 points on his lisence and a fine!
Dawn.

[blackcat]

I have this 1st hand from my ex who was a prison officer. Lets hope he gets it 

And I have it first hand from the bikies I used to hang with and my cousin-in-law who is the leader of the South Coast American Motorcycle club in NSW - a lot of his friends have tatts and other badges of merit - they have offered to come over and beat up the boy for me if he mucks me about any more (I have thanked them and declined their offer, well-intended but not terribly useful )

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

What a horrible man - I'm glad he's been found out.

But I do wonder why people actually used him as a vet - if I turned up and he behaved in the manner described in that article I'd be straight out of the door never to be seen again.  He certainly wouldn't get his hands on my cats.  Unless he was in an area where there are few vets and it was a long way to travel to another.

[Mark]

I would imagine this is a rare case. They should be looking at the companies that supplied him with the drugs. Dawn - please send in the organ grinder 

Pinkbear said a lot of bikers are cat lovers. The same goes for cons. Perverts, "people" who mistreat animals, old lady bashers etc get a 2nd punishment when they are inside, while the "screws" turn a blind eye - I have this 1st hand from my ex who was a prison officer. Lets hope he gets it 

[blackcat]

why would anyone do that? That is seriously weird behaviour (apart from illegal and not so good for the animals treated) but why? Clearly he did not like animals and was not motivated by ensuring their well-being (in a strange and twisted sort of way), but he can not have been making all that much of a profit either, so - why???

[Sam (Fussy_Furball)]

Just been watching this report on our local news!  Least this  got sent down ... but it makes you wonder how many others there are out there.

[Ralph's mum (angie)]

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[Angiew]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6954392.stm