The Animal Kind Vet controversy

[quote="brooklynpotter"]dr gibson, i am once again impressed that you chose to come to brooklynian.com when bad accusations have been leveled against animal kind. it's always shown me that you're honest, care about your reputation, and want the people in the neighborhood to hear your side of the story. (you remain my favorite vet at AK and your animal handler is the only one who's every been able to pick up my evil harriet without her going berzerk.)

I know the "animal handler"
that Brooklyn Potter is referencing here and let me tell you this staff member at AK is a dog and cat whisperer!

Ok, I'm going to do a mea culpa here - mostly.

I said that if the story was true, at a minimum the people involved did not follow standard procedures for handling an aggressive dog in a veterinary situation. And I said that I'd have to question the actions of the other staff involved (presumably the 3 witnesses) just as much as Dr. Morehead's. I still have those questions and hope the media follows up on them. Because as great as mine and others' experiences at Bergh have been, we would need to know if there was a breech in those procedures. (I had to take an aggressive dog to them once and they did very well by him).

But the tone I used was not an acceptable way to react to a story like this - I should have used my filter better. Whatever happened, it probably involved split-second actions and reactions; and it would be wrong to even appear to jump to conclusions about a person's character based on that sort of thing.

I do not know Dr. Morehead but am absolutely sure that he deserves the great amount of confidence he's receiving. We're talking about one dog out of many thousands that he has helped. And I don't know Dr. Gibson either but have heard wonderful things about him personally (he treated a greyhound I used to walk, if memory serves).

My general analysis of vets in Brooklyn is probably based 15% on personal experience and 85% on word of mouth.

I haven't been in there myself since 2007, but I did feel like the pace was a bit hurried and institutional. Granted, that institutionalization helps provide for high tech machinery and lots of specialists - which we're fortunate to have in the community. But it was just a feeling I got. (In contrast I love the feeling of being at Hope Vet - another money making enterprise.)

What I've heard about Animal Kind really breaks down along two lines: people with dogs who have specialized issues speak glowingly of them (and usually have one or two vets who work exclusively with them). But healthier dogs with less problems are more likely to be juggled around, and their folks often wind up with other solutions.

On the whole I'd say they're one of the good guys.

Oh, I know that veets! Discussions like these are the whole point of the internet, to me. I only regret their role in diminishing similar conversations in the street, but I still do my part.

(oh and I also regret that I don't know who you are, going around and anonymously saying nice things about me online).

I also want to chime in with support for Animal Kind. In my two years as a Park Slope dog owner I have never had less than great experiences there. I have seen a number of the vets and, most recently, Dr. Morehouse whom I had decided to request from now on! I agree that we are very lucky to have a top-notch animal hospital/emergency facility right here in the neighborhood. Let me add that before I became a dog owner I was considering adopting a pup from North Shore who had a few medical issues. I called AK for advice and Dr. Patile took my call, spent lots of time answering questions, contacted North Shore, had the medical records faxed, analyzed the problems, and stayed in touch with me! This at no charge for someone who may or may not have become a regular client. I did not adopt that dog but, needless to say, when I did get my dog there was no question that AK would be the place for us.

As for the accusations against Dr. Morehouse--I don't know what to make of them. None of us really does. It just doesn't make sense to me that he would act so inappropriately. I do hope that the investigation answers the questions and that he is exonerated sooner rather than later.

Well on a previous thread you said you know who I am. (note to anyone else curious: I'm the guy walking 3 or 4 dogs down 5th Ave and grunting to keep them in line; and I use commands no one else would even dream of: "hail fellow, well met" "be a mensch" "face," and so on.)

I also have little interest in remaining anonymous.

I just remembered that Dr. Morehouse did treat one of my dogs. Freddy had some surgery on his foot and had some stitches. The estimated healing time was 10 days and half way through I had removed the Elizabethan Collar so he could have dinner. I forgot to put it back on immediately and within two minutes the little imp had removed 3 of the 6 stitches. This was 9pm on a Sunday night and I called AK and was there in three minutes and luckily Dr. Morehouse was on duty. I was so upset with the thought that we would need to put the little guy under again and re-stitch the wound.. I know I was fairly hysterical. The doctor calmed us down, dealt with the situation conservatively and waived the $80 emergency fee that is customary in the office after regular hours. This was no 5 minute visit. It took close to half hour before we sorted the situation out, fixed the little guy up and took him home.

No kidding.. with all these accolades for this doctor people will start to request him at AK>

Man, it fucking sucks to be accused of shit in the media. When did you stop beating your wife?

In fairness to the dog owner - from what I read he didn't go to the ASPCA accusing them of killing his dog - he did this AFTER they came to him to exhume his dog - obviously he wondered why. I may have done the same in his place

Animal Kind and Dr. Mateyak are our "go to" place for our two dogs and one cat. We've been going there for about 10 years and we've never had a problem.

A compassionate and incredibly well run organization.

Jamzer wrote: It seems that Bullet (gotta love a person who names their dog after a thing that kills people) died from natural causes. Some people here owe Dr. Morehouse an apology. I'm sorry to see a good person's name dragged through the mud here.

http://gothamist.com/2010/02/02/accused_dog_kicker_gets_suppport_fr.php

I don't think that's what the article says. It seems to say that Animal Kind says the dog "died of the illness he had when he arrived at the ASPCA." It does not say that the ASPCA agrees, or any other governing body or court cleared him.

I'm still not saying that Dr. Morehead did or did not do anything wrong, but that this article does not clear anything up.

I was over at AK last night and briefly spoke w/Dr Morehead. As I mentioned in an earlier post he's a personal friend of mine. John's genuinely touched by the support of his colleagues and many clients who have called in. And yes, he's fully aware of the other things people have said about him. The switchboard at AK has dealt with calls from people as far away as California to express their (negative) opinion.

I did not ask John to go into details of what happened 3 years ago; nor would I post them if he had. I just wanted to post that I personally felt the support of his colleagues. Their support and Dr Gibson's support and belief in him are genuine.

I have been a client of AK for 7 years. I care a great deal about continuity of care and when Dr. Murphy left (as I recall, to move cities), we tried out a couple of docs at AK, but eventually switched (permanently) to Dr. Morehead to care for our 4 dogs and, over the years, the 3 feral kittens we have rescued from our yard. He's so good that we have stuck with AK, in spite of moving from Park Slope 4 years ago to a neighborhood that's about a 30-minute drive away.

Dr. Morehead has dealt with all of our routine check-ups, minor illnesses (ear infections, stitches following a fight with a feral cat, etc), as well as performing dental surgery and, for one of our dogs, a femoral head ostectomy.

Dr. Morehead is the *epitome* of professionalism. He listens, he *thinks*, he explains (in as much detail as I care to hear), he does research in his own time to get to the bottom of issues we're facing. I have never felt rushed, ignored, or not taken seriously. (And, to be clear, I am a very medically conservative -- borderline hypochondriac -- when it comes to the dogs' health. Got a droopy eye? In we go. Scratching too much? Back we go. I am determined that these dogs get the best life they possibly can, and that includes the best health care.) Of course, this means that I spend a fair bit of money at Animal Kind, but I honestly don't think that has anything to do with Dr. Morehead's treatment of my dogs, or his general demeanor. He's smart, thoughful, thorough, and kind.

I know nothing about these allegations, but my own (years-long) experience of Dr. Morehead tells me that this is a good, gentle soul who cares deeply about animals.

veets wrote: [quote=pastoralia]Man, it fucking sucks to be accused of shit in the media. When did you stop beating your wife?

Perfectly describes the situation in one sentence!

Jamzer wrote: This whole thread belongs in the "When Did You Stop Beating Your Wife Hall of Fame" for misleading headlines. It's a shame that Dr. Morehead can't clear his name while this thread is out there.

You're absolutely right. The headline of this thread has been changed.

Subject: Re: Dr Morehead

petsitter07 wrote: in the daily news it states that one of Dr Morehead's co-workers seen him punch and kick the dog. Dr morehead's co-worker was another Vet.


Thanks
Toniann

Being a vet and a co-worker does not make it true. So much politics and backstabbing happen in an office environment that I can only give little weight to "one" person's story. I will need more proof than that.