We trust veterinarians with the health and well-being of our beloved pets. They are trained professionals we turn to for care and compassion. It’s a field built on empathy, not just for animals, but for their worried owners too. But what happens when that trust is shattered? It’s hard to stomach, but sometimes, individuals in this respected profession cross a dark line into criminal behavior. This list explores ten unsettling cases where veterinarians became criminals, a stark reminder that wrongdoing can appear in the most unexpected places, even among those sworn to protect and heal.
10 Prentiss Madden’s Bad Practices
Prentiss Madden, a 40-year-old veterinarian, appeared successful, known for his engaging and charismatic personality. However, a dark secret lurked beneath the surface. In 2021, a federal court in Miami sentenced him to 22 years in prison. Madden was found guilty of creating and distributing videos of himself sexually abusing dogs. Authorities also discovered an extensive collection of thousands of child pornography images in his possession.
During his trial, Madden mentioned a traumatic childhood and struggles with depression. However, he chose not to use these as excuses and accepted responsibility for his actions. He stated, “This is never who I planned to be or thought I would be.” The judge handed down the maximum sentence allowed by law for his horrifying crimes.
9 Puppy Mules
Drug smugglers constantly seek new ways to bypass authorities. One particularly cruel scheme involved a Colombian veterinarian named Andres Lopez Elorez. He exploited the demand for Colombian puppies in the United States in a gruesome manner. Elorez surgically implanted packages of liquid heroin into the stomachs of live puppies.
Once the puppies arrived in the U.S., they were cut open to retrieve the drugs. Tragically, at least three dogs died as a result of this barbaric procedure. Elorez was indicted in 2005 but managed to evade capture until 2015 when he was found in Spain. Extradited to the U.S., he received a six-year prison sentence in 2019. Richard P. Donaghue, a New York District Attorney, aptly commented, “Dogs are man’s best friend and, as the defendant is about to learn, we are drug dealers’ worst enemy.”
8 Not a Taxing Job
While tax evasion might not seem as violent as other crimes on this list, the U.S. government takes it very seriously. The Breitlauch sisters, Karin, 58, and Linda, 64, learned this an expensive way. They ran a large veterinary practice in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, with Karin as the vet and Linda managing finances.
Karin was even named Pennsylvania Vet of the Year in 2009 by the state professional association. However, their Creature Comforts practice faced allegations of animal abuse from some clients. While those claims remained debated, their guilt in tax fraud was clear. The sisters withheld federal income taxes from employee paychecks but never sent the money to the IRS. They also failed to pay social security contributions. Ultimately, they were ordered to repay nearly $2.5 million and were both sentenced to one year and one day in prison – ironically, at the taxpayers’ expense.
7 Wendi Mae Makes a Splash
Veterinarian Wendi Mae Davidson used her access to animal tranquilizers for a sinister purpose: murdering her husband, Michael Severance. The couple married in 2004. In January 2005, just before a planned wedding reception in Michael’s home state of Maine, Wendi reported him missing.
She told San Angelo, TX, police that Michael was drinking heavily, wanted to leave the Air Force, and might disappear. Investigators, including Texas Rangers and Air Force personnel, found suspicious activity on Wendi’s computer. She had searched for how to pass a polygraph test and the effects of water on decomposition. Authorities placed একটি tracker in her car, leading them to a ranch she visited frequently. When confronted, she confessed to her family that she had found Michael’s body and placed it in a pond there. Police discovered Michael’s body weighed down with car parts and cinder blocks; he had been stabbed 41 times. An autopsy revealed he was drugged with animal tranquilizers and stabbed post-mortem. Wendi received a 25-year sentence but maintains her innocence.
6 Javier Diaz—Not a Dog’s Best Friend
Doctor Javier Diaz faced multiple charges that painted a grim picture of his veterinary practice. One charge alone, for issuing a rabies vaccination certificate without administering the vaccine, showed his disregard for proper procedures. However, his treatment of animals under his care was far worse, and shockingly, some of it was caught on camera.
Diaz was recorded kicking and punching animals. He hit a kitten with dog nail clippers and then forced the clippers into the cat’s mouth, causing significant injury. He also choked a Shih Tzu. Three brave employees from his clinic reported him to the police. An investigation by local police and the Humane Law Enforcement Unit of the local SPCA led to the closure of his practice in Westchester County, New York.
5 Not a Platinum Practice
In 2018, convicted drug dealer Scott Bennet survived being shot in the face by a hitman. He then returned to running his Platinum Vets and K9 Fertility clinic in Strathaven, Scotland. While police were aware of Bennet’s connections to organized crime, his veterinary practice initially seemed legitimate. The clinic specialized in the lucrative “designer” dog trade, including collecting and exporting sperm from valuable dogs.
However, Scott, his wife Lynne, an Italian vet named Enrico Saccone, and a clinic staff member, Nicol Hamill, eventually attracted the attention of Scottish authorities. The four are now facing 19 different charges related to animal abuse following an investigation by multiple agencies. Curiously, after the arrests, the business announced ambitious plans to expand its operations. Bennet had also initially built his business premises without planning permits, obtaining them only later, adding to the suspicious circumstances.
4 Too Many Puppies
In 2019, French police raided a veterinarian’s practice in Obersteinbach, near the German border. They rescued 19 dogs and five cats from inhumane conditions. The vet, who was not named by French authorities, had reportedly neglected the animals severely.
It turned out she had moved to France after losing her license to practice in Germany. Clearly, the proper care of vulnerable animals was not her priority. Instead, she was breeding them to sell puppies and kittens. The rescued animals were taken to a nearby shelter and made available for adoption. This case makes one wonder why someone with such little regard for animal welfare would choose the veterinary profession.
3 Rigging the Race
The world of horse racing involves significant amounts of money, and accusations of doping have long plagued the sport. One such case involved four veterinarians: Kevin Brophy, Renee Nodine, Christopher Korte, and Fernando Motta. They all worked at the Penn National Race Track in Pennsylvania.
These four vets were charged with doping horses over an extended period, from 1986 to 2014, although not all were involved for the entire duration. Their system was straightforward: a trainer would order drugs, and the vets would administer them to horses shortly before a race. To cover their tracks, the vets would backdate their records to make it appear as though the drugs were given well before the race, aligning with regulations. The court placed all four on probation and fined them $5,000 each.
2 Dead Dogs Dumped
In 2012, a disturbing discovery was made along a Westchester highway: bags filled with dead animals. Tests revealed that the animals—dogs, cats, and even a lizard—had been euthanized and then frozen. This procedure suggested a veterinarian had followed standard practice for euthanasia. However, dumping the remains by the roadside was anything but normal.
Agencies that properly dispose of deceased pets charge a fee for their services, a cost this clinic apparently wanted to avoid. One might think a bit more care would be taken to not leave such damning evidence so openly. Police managed to trace some of the pets back to their owners and found a common link: a clinic in the Bronx owned by Doctor Andrew Manesis. Unbelievably, the New York Veterinary Licensing Board did not discipline Doctor Manesis, and he only faced three misdemeanor charges for his actions.
1 A Questionable Case
Our final entry presents a situation that sparks considerable debate and isn’t a clear-cut crime in the same vein as the others. In 2006, an owner brought his purebred dog to a clinic to be euthanized. The dog, though not old, suffered from frequent seizures. The owner paid the veterinarian the required fee and left, believing the service would be performed.
However, the vet did not euthanize the dog. Instead, the vet medicated the animal and then sold it to a new owner, without informing the original owner of this decision. Was the vet wrong? Did the vet save a life? On one hand, the vet was paid for a service that wasn’t rendered and then profited again by reselling the dog. This certainly seems unethical, but was it criminal? This case raises complex questions about professional obligations and moral choices.
The trust we place in veterinarians is immense, making these stories of criminal behavior all the more disturbing. While the vast majority of vets are dedicated, compassionate professionals, these cases serve as a somber reminder that no profession is immune to individuals who betray their oath and the trust placed in them.
These stories are truly unsettling. Which case shocked you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
