Dog struck in the face during surgery
Indianapolis, IN (US)

Incident Date: Sunday, May 1, 2011
County: Marion

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: James Speiser, DVM

An Indianapolis veterinarian is charged with beating a vertebrate animal, after police said he hit a dog in the face during surgery.

According to the probable cause affidavit, two veterinary technicians with the Indianapolis Veterinary Emergency Center contacted the Indianapolis Animal Care and Control on a complaint of animal cruelty.

The veterinary technicians said they were assisting Dr. James Speiser with a rhinoscopy procedure on a 6-year-old Great Pyrenees dog back in May. In the procedure, a thin, tube-like instrument is inserted through the nose for examination.

The workers told police while the dog was sedated, Speiser attempted to insert a scope up the dog's nose. One of the workers said the dog sneezed and stated it was common to do so. The worker said the doctor began swearing and ordered more sedative for the dog.

The probable cause stated the doctor returned shortly after the dog was further sedated and attempted the procedure again. The worker told police the dog sneezed a second time, so the doctor punched the dog in the nose out of anger.

The worker said the procedure continued without further delay. According to the workers, the doctor later apologized to them for striking the dog.

Police said there was no visible injury to the dog after being punched. The dog was returned to his owner the next day.

Indianapolis Animal Care and Control contacted the dog's owner to inform him of the allegations four days later. The dog's owner said he was not aware of the incident and said his dog was currently at the clinic for a follow-up procedure.

Police said it was later discovered the dog passed away during the second procedure. Police were told the dog died while he was being sedated. Officers interviewed employees at the Indianapolis Veterinary Emergency Center and found Speiser had not begun treating the dog when it passed away. Furthermore, police said no inappropriate behavior was observed by the employees.

The dog was sent to Purdue University for a necropsy. The probable cause stated there was evidence of a recent medical procedure and infection in the right ear and nasal cavity, but the necropsy was unable to determine the cause of death.

Speiser was charged with one count of beating a vertebrate animal, which is a Class A misdemeanor.

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