In memory and honor of one very special cat. How Edward J. Nichols, DVM, Crestway Animal Clinic, San Antonio, Texas, treated Suki. 

 

Do you need to file a complaint against a veterinarian? Enter site above.

 

WE WILL NEVER FORGET... WE WILL NEVER BE SILENCED....WE WILL NEVER FORGET... WE WILL NEVER BE SILENCED....WE WILL NEVER FORGET... WE WILL NEVER BE SILENCED...

Lawsuit Update - Settlement Annoucement Made AND THE CASE WAS DISMISSED

On July 21, 2005, Edward J. Nichols, DVM, Crestway Animal Clinic, San Antonio, Texas, filed a lawsuit against the owner of this site, seeking a permanent injunction to dismantle vetabusenetwork.com and enjoin me from expressing my opinions about him and his treatment of Suki. 

 

Nichols FAILED to get an injunction against me or this site (see order denying injunction here) 

 

Nichols FAILED AGAIN on appeal (see 4th Circuit COA decision here) 

 

 After 2 1/2 years of litigation, this matter was set for trial on March 10, 2008. 

A settlement announcement was made in Bexar County District Court, and

 

THIS CASE WAS DISMISSED WITH FINALITY ON MARCH 10, 2008.

 

 

Read

 

Suki's Story 

 

and

What Happened to Suki...and What Happened to Me: A Timeline

From Suki's Story:

"Here is what I get to live with for the rest of my life: Edward J. Nichols, DVM, putting Suki into an induction box where she had to inhale halothane and nitrous oxide while I knew nothing about it. Ed Nichols extracting a tooth without my permission or even having the simple human decency to inform me of anything he was doing to her. Ed Nichols not giving Suki IV fluids after recording “v. dehydrated” on her chart. The unbearable and eternal agony of now knowing Suki lay dying, dehydrated in a cage, at Crestway Animal Clinic, while I had no idea at the time. And these horrifying events are only the tip of the iceberg.

And finally, the most bone-chilling knowledge of all: Had Suki not lived long enough to be seen by second opinion vets, I would have never known what had been happening. I must repeat this so you understand: Had Suki died at any time at Crestway Animal Clinic, at home with me, or during the four weeks of March 22 and April 19, 1999, before I got her to other vets  – I would have never known what really happened to Suki. As it is, I will never really know how much she might have suffered, but I do know that my grief and pain will never end.

Don’t ever lull yourself into thinking that this can’t happen to you. I would have said the same thing before I was forced to live through this nightmare. 

My only hope is that Suki’s Story helps somebody reading these words.  If only one pet guardian learns something from what happened here, if only one animal is helped by any of this, if only one veterinarian makes the ethical choice to treat our companions as the family members that they are, then my brave and beautiful Suki did not die in vain."  

   

 - Julie Catalano

Founder, vetabusenetwork.com

 

Read  the complete Suki's Story here, including lab work and patient chart from Crestway Animal Clinic.

 

 

Truth is [justice’s] handmaid, freedom is its child, peace is its companion, safety walks in its steps, victory follows in its train... -  Sydney Smith

 

Do you need to file a complaint against a veterinarian? Start here.

What state are you in?    

Texas residents, go to Texas Page  

  

  

 

 

 

Check out the new States Project on vetabusenetwork.com that will monitor legislation, veterinary board actions, news and media coverage, web sites, and other related links from your state 

 

In 2005, Edward J. Nichols, DVM, and Edward J. Nichols DBA Crestway Animal Clinic filed a lawsuit against me and  SOUGHT AN INJUNCTION TO FORCE ME TO REMOVE ALL CONTENT RELATING TO HIM, CRESTWAY ANIMAL CLINIC, AND HIS TREATMENT OF MY CAT SUKI. 

AT A HEARING ON JULY 28, 2005, NICHOLS REQUESTED A TEMPORARY INJUNCTION. THIS REQUEST WAS DENIED BY THE TRIAL COURT WHO REFUSED TO GRANT A TEMPORARY INJUNCTION.  

NICHOLS APPEALED THAT ORDER. THE SAN ANTONIO COURT OF APPEALS AFFIRMED THE TRIAL COURT'S ORDER DENYING HIS REQUEST FOR A TEMPORARY INJUNCTION(Read appeals court decision here)

NICHOLS' LAWSUIT SEEKS TO OBTAIN A PERMANENT INJUNCTION TO DISMANTLE THIS SITE AND ENJOIN ME FROM EXPRESSING MY OPINIONS ABOUT HIM AND THE SERVICES HE RENDERED TO SUKI. 

--Julie Catalano, founder, vetabusenetwork.com 

 Update! The lawsuit that the vet filed against me was settled AND DISMISSED on March 10, 2008. See timeline at What Happened to Suki...and What Happened to Me

 

What are SLAPP lawsuits?  

SLAPP is an acronym for "strategic lawsuit against public participation," a category of lawsuit viewed as an attempt not to win in court, but to harass a nonprofit group or publication that is raising issues of public concern. -- sfgate.com

Read about SLAPP suits - Check out 

SLAPPing Back for Democracy

If you know of any other lawsuits being filed by veterinarians against citizens, send information to speakout@vetabusenetwork.com 

First Amendment Section

 

  Veterinary incompetence, negligence, and abuse are alive and well in the United States and all over the world. Every day, untold numbers of defenseless animals are left in the hands of some negligent, incompetent doctors who inflict cruelty, injury, and death on our pets -- and get away with it. 

Millions of people take their pets to vets every year. Although skilled, competent veterinary care certainly outweighs  the incidences of negligence and abuse, the damage that those veterinarians do is incalculable in terms of animal suffering, public health and safety, consumer fraud, and the emotional devastation caused by knowing that our beloved pets were harmed or destroyed by the very person entrusted with their care. 

If you believe that no veterinarian anywhere would ever deliberately harm an animal...never abuse client or public trust...never abuse their positions as doctors...or would never violate the laws of their profession...you will learn that public record, disciplinary actions by vet boards, and increasing media coverage on this ugly and disturbing subject say otherwise. 

And if you think that it can't happen to you and your pet...think again.

First time visitors, please read Disclaimers and Guidelines and Mission Statement

 

[Blue Ribbon Campaign icon]

Copyright 2008 Julie Catalano. Original text and photographs may not be reproduced, reposted, or distributed without permission.

 



This Webring Website is owned by:
Julie Catalano
Site Name:
The Veterinary Abuse Network
Free Site Ring from Bravenet Free Site Ring from Bravenet Free Site Ring from Bravenet Free Site Ring from Bravenet Free Site Ring from Bravenet
Get Your Free Web Ring
by Bravenet.com