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N.S. vet agrees to give up licence, sell practice after mistakenly euthanizing dog

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A Nova Scotia woman wants to raise awareness around a serious disease that can come with dogs being adopted out of the United States. The adoption agency that worked with her and her rescue say every dog is checked by a vet before being transported to Canada and that there are always risks with illnesses developing in rescues. Alexa MacLean has more – Feb 8, 2021

A Nova Scotia veterinarian is losing his licence to practice medicine after mistakenly euthanizing a dog last August at his Port Hawkesbury, N.S., clinic.

The Nova Scotia Veterinary Medical Association says Dr. Sietse Van Zwol will also have to sell his practice within 12 months.

Dr. Frank Richardson, registrar for the association, says since the dog’s death, Van Zwol has only been permitted to practice in the presence of two other vets and forbidden from euthanizing animals.

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He says Van Zwol agreed to the terms and has apologized to the dog’s owner and fellow veterinarians.

Richardson says he thinks way the complaint was dealt with was reasonable.

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Arlene Fougere, owner of the mistakenly euthanized dog, says she’s satisfied with the decision, but she declined to comment further when reached by phone.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 9, 2021.

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