A petition to Gov. Ted Kulongoski is on the counter at the Low Cost Spay and Neuter Clinic in Empire on Monday, while several clients wait with their animals to be treated on the last day the clinic will be open. The Oregon Veterinary Medical Examining board mandated the clinic be closed due to violations of Oregon Administrative Rules. World Photo by Susan Chambers

COOS BAY - After seven years of service and more than 18,000 procedures, a veterinary clinic in Empire shut its doors on Monday under a ruling from the Oregon Veterinary Medical Examining Board.

The Low Cost Spay & Neuter Clinic offered its last day of service on Monday, after the board issued an emergency suspension order of Dr. William Powell's license to practice veterinary medicine and a notice to permanently revoke his license. Board members ruled that Powell, the owner and veterinarian at the clinic, had violated a number of Oregon Administrative Rules.

But that didn't stop clients from swarming the facility to get a last bit of care for their animals and to support Powell in the clinic's final hours.

Powell, 76, said he saw hundreds of people and their pets during the past weekend. The clinic has provided spays, neuters and some emergency operations for the past seven years, first at the Pony Village Mall in North Bend, and the past 21/2 at 132 N. Wasson St., in Coos Bay.

“Everybody is trying to get something done,” Powell said. “I feel privileged to have this kind of a turnout.”

Nearly 40 people stood outside the clinic in a strong wind Monday afternoon, holding neon-colored signs with phrases such as “Save Our Spay and Neuter Clinic,” and “Help Control Our Pet Population, Keep Dr. Powell's Low Cost Clinic Open,” while a few of the supporters shared stories about Powell's tireless work for their pets. Together, they recalled moments when they had called the veterinarian late at night because a dog was suffering or when he cared for an animal without pay.

“I told Dr. Powell that I would give him the pink slip to my trailer if he would (treat my dog),” said Sandra Torres, a park host at the Nesika Campground near Allegany, who didn't have the money to have a foreign object removed from her Chihuahua's stomach. “He said ‘I don't want your pink slip. We're going to work and we're going to save Jessy.'”

Torres said other veterinarians in town wouldn't care for her pet because she can't afford to pay the prices that many quoted.

“This is wrong and it's an injustice to the community,” Torres said, while holding a sign in support of the clinic. “He has saved lives, and he has helped people who can't afford this. He has compassion not only for pets, but for people.”

Kari Jaffe, a woman who came from Brookings to support Powell, said the veterinarian cared for her Pekingese, Amy, whom she held in her arms.

She said Powell pulled Amy's bad tooth for $250 less than what she was quoted by other veterinarians.

“I think it's a travesty, I do,” Jaffe said, of the closure, contending that it is occurring because other veterinary practices were losing business. “I come here and this place is always packed.”

According to a letter dated July 2, from the Veterinary Medical Examining Board, nine violations included not providing an adequate in-house laboratory; inadequate housing of animals; allowing veterinary assistants to induce anesthesia; improper record keeping; performing surgeries without a cap and gown; the surgery room not being in a designated area or the surgery room not being clean or orderly; failure to obtain client permission before using unorthodox or nonstandard methods of treatment; failure to properly isolate patients with serious infections or contagious diseases; and failure to perform diagnostics.

“All of the above demonstrate a pattern or continuous course of negligence, ignorance, incompetence, or inefficiency in the practice of veterinary medicine,” the letter states. “Again, the Board recognizes your long professional career and your concern for the needs of your community. However, given the prolonged nature of the substandard conditions and practice, the Board is compelled to do its duty to protect the public and therefore undertakes the proposed actions described herein.”

The letter also stated that if Powell signed this agreement, the only public information that would be released would be the settlement document stating that he agreed to voluntarily surrender his license.

Powell said he preferred to go public with the charges because he believes they are false. He said he had expected his clinic to be shut down at some point.

“It's a raw deal that I expected. They tried everything else,” Powell said. “The kicker of it is, you can't fix something that ain't broke.”

He said he believes many of his clients, who can't afford more expensive veterinary services, will have nowhere to go to seek care for their pets.

“They are up that creek without a paddle,” Powell said. “I'd like to stay.”

Shawn Gayhart, a veterinary assistant who works with Powell and at Coos County Animal Shelter, said she expects to see the population of unwanted animals rise without his services. Gayhart's Web site, http://www.pilandranch.com has provided a rebuttal to the board's allegations as well as information on how to sign a circulating petition. She and other supporters also have started a letter-writing campaign to Gov. Ted Kulongoski.

“We feel really bad that it's the animals that are going to suffer,” Gayhart said.

Although Powell and his supporters contend the violations are unfounded, the executive director of the state veterinary board, Lori Makinen, said they do hold water. She added that the board offered him a stipulated agreement and could not talk about the case until it is signed by all parties.

“I can confirm that the letter was sent to him. The allegations in the letter are accurate,” Makinen said.

She said she and board members were aware that there would be a great public outcry surrounding the closure of the clinic.

Regarding Powell and his patients' belief that the closure is related to other veterinarians in the area losing money to his inexpensive practice, Makinen said there could be resentment in the community, but, “this is not what this is about.” If a veterinarian who was hated in a community did not make any violations, the board would not shut him down, Makinen said. Conversely, she said, “the board can't ignore its duty just because someone is very well-liked or popular.”

A document will be released later today to officially suspend and revoke Powell's license.

Dr. Karl Jernstedt of the Morgan Veterinary Clinic in Coos Bay would not answer questions about the clinic closing, or what it might mean for the community. He said there are highly skilled veterinarians in the area who “provide excellent service to the low cost need.” Jernstedt added that veterinarians provide free spays and neuters to four animals per month at the shelter through the South Coast Veterinary Association.

“How can we be lower cost than free?” he asked.

Several opponents to the closing of the clinic attended Sen. Joanne Verger's town hall meeting Monday night at the Coos Bay Public Library. Since it was the first time Verger had heard about the issue, she did not commit to fighting on behalf of their cause. However, she did say she would make inquiries into the matter.