An Ontario veterinarian who was suspended for misconduct after being seen on video abusing pets in his care has returned to work at a St. Catharines clinic, but he hasn鈥檛 received a warm welcome.
Veterinarian Mahavir Singh Rekhi did not speak with reporters as he left Skyway Animal Hospital on Wednesday. The veterinarian exited through a crowd of angry protesters, some of whom had been standing outside the office all day.
Rekhi鈥檚 licence to practice was re-instated following his suspension last summer. He pleaded guilty to professional misconduct at a College of Veterinarians of Ontario hearing in July.
Rekhi was suspended after video surfaced, showing pets being choked and mistreated. Four employees filed a complaint about the mistreatment.
The veterinarian was given a $10,000 fine and a 10-month suspension. As part of the ruling, he was also given the option of reducing the suspension to six months if he attended training programs.
Natalie Perrault, who is a former client of the animal hospital, protested outside the clinic Wednesday. Her message for Rekhi was simple: 鈥淛ust give up your licence because I鈥檓 not going anywhere.鈥�
Perrault said: 鈥淲e bring our animals here trusting these people and just for them to do that. It鈥檚 unacceptable.鈥�
Others came to the clinic to support the veterinarian. 鈥淗e don鈥檛 kill any dog, he don鈥檛 kill any cat, just he mistreated,鈥� one man told CTV Toronto. 鈥淗e paid the punishment. Now he should be allowed to do his work.鈥�
But another woman told CTV Toronto that there鈥檚 鈥渘o forgiving anybody that does that to animals.鈥�
The OSPCA said its still determining whether to lay any animal cruelty charges in this case.
With a report by CTV Toronto鈥檚 Scott Lightfoot
