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July '07: Animal clinic closure sparks protest
Wednesday, January 02, 2008 | 1 comment(s)
After seven years of service, a low-cost veterinary clinic in Empire shut its doors July 9, 2007, under a ruling from the Oregon Veterinary Medical Examining Board.
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.
The closure also ignited yowl of debate.
“This is wrong and it’s an injustice to the community,” area resident Sandra Torres said, while holding a sign in support of the clinic.
The Low Coast Spay & Neuter Clinic had provided more than 18,000 procedures at Pony Village Mall in North Bend and later in Coos Bay’s Empire area for the pets of many low-income residents. But the clinic closed after the Veterinary Board issued an emergency suspension of Dr. William Powell’s veterinary license and a notice to permanently revoke his license.
Board members ruled Powell, the clinic’s owner and veterinarian, had violated a number of Oregon Administrative Rules, including not providing an adequate in-house laboratory, inadequate housing of animals, improper record keeping, the surgery room not being clean or orderly, and a variety of other violations.
A large crowd gathered in protest and to support Powell on his final day at work, but that didn’t deter state officials.
“The allegations in the letter are accurate,” said the executive director of the state veterinary board, Lori Makinen.
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.
The closure also ignited yowl of debate.
“This is wrong and it’s an injustice to the community,” area resident Sandra Torres said, while holding a sign in support of the clinic.
The Low Coast Spay & Neuter Clinic had provided more than 18,000 procedures at Pony Village Mall in North Bend and later in Coos Bay’s Empire area for the pets of many low-income residents. But the clinic closed after the Veterinary Board issued an emergency suspension of Dr. William Powell’s veterinary license and a notice to permanently revoke his license.
Board members ruled Powell, the clinic’s owner and veterinarian, had violated a number of Oregon Administrative Rules, including not providing an adequate in-house laboratory, inadequate housing of animals, improper record keeping, the surgery room not being clean or orderly, and a variety of other violations.
A large crowd gathered in protest and to support Powell on his final day at work, but that didn’t deter state officials.
“The allegations in the letter are accurate,” said the executive director of the state veterinary board, Lori Makinen.
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