Latest news with #BluePearl
CBS News
16-07-2025
- CBS News
Man says Pittsburgh-area emergency vet euthanized his son's lost dog without trying to contact him
A Butler County family is blaming a local emergency vet for killing their lost dog over the Fourth of July holiday. Roy Meyerl said his son Brandon has owned Rowdy, a 7-year-old American bully, with his wife Michele since he was a pup, and like most dogs, he is scared of fireworks. "They were having their picnic, and the neighbors next door started really blowing off some big stuff," Roy Meyerl said. "So at that time, my son went upstairs to check on the dog and check on the house and so on and the dog got out the front door." Meyerl said Rowdy got loose around 9:30 p.m. on July 4. "He ran across the street. It's happened before, so my son figured he'd come back, so he gave it a little bit. No dog, no dog, no dog," Meyerl said. Within an hour, Meyerl said a neighbor called his son about a lost dog. "A neighbor called and said, 'Hey, any Blue America bullies up there at all?' And this, again, this is a pit bull, but this dog will lick you to death," Meyerl said. "And at that point they said, 'Oh man,' he says, 'My neighbors, who are elderly, found the dog on their doorstep and sent it off to a vet. They drove it to a vet.'" By 11:30, Brandon was on the phone with BluePearl in hopes of picking up Rowdy when he said he got unexpected and shocking news. "They said, 'We're sorry, sir, we've euthanized your dog," Meyerl said. "What is the reason the vet gave for doing that?" KDKA investigative reporter Erika Stanish asked. "They said he was panting and he was in distress. He was panting and hot in distress," Meyerl said. Now, the Meyerls want answers to why the vet euthanized their dog without attempting to contact them first. "He had a collar on. He was chipped. He had a tag on, the whole nine yards," Meyerl said. "He was here for less than three hours, and they put a needle in my dog, in our dog, and they killed our dog." The Meyerls said Rowdy was healthy and had no prior medical issues. "This dog will lick you to death. In my opinion, with pit bulls, it's how you raise a dog. The dog is a loving, great dog," Meyerl said. According to paperwork provided to KDKA-TV by the family, BluePearl stated that Rowdy was brought in "after being found outside of a good Samaritan's house and panting." A vet at BluePearl then diagnosed Rowdy, who is referred to as "Blackberry" in the paperwork, with "heat stroke" and "upper respiratory obstruction." In a summary of treatment and procedures, the paperwork states, "No microchip was found and no collar was found for identification. Due to severely guarded to grave prognosis Blackberry was humanely euthanized." "This is a butcher shop behind me. That's what it is. They kill dogs, and they killed our dog. That's what I want the public to know," Meyerl said. "If this dog's leg would have been hanging off, hit by a car, sure, we would have never been here. Thank you very much for putting my dog out of misery. This dog was panting from the Fourth of July for God's sakes!" The Meryels said when they went to pick up Rowdy's remains, the vet refused to release him until they paid $320 for his "cremation/dignity package." Meanwhile, the Meyerls said Rowdy was never cremated at all as they received and carried out his body after paying, later taking him to their own vet to be cremated. "Yeah, so that was for putting a needle in and killing our dog. They charge us 400 bucks. Yep. Never a call. Never, 'Hey, man, I think we might have screwed up here.' What happened?" Meyerl said. KDKA-TV reached out to BluePearl for comment. A spokesperson said they can't comment on individual cases. KDKA-TV then asked BluePearl what their standard policy is when a lost or stray dog shows up at the vet office. A spokesperson sent this statement: "Whenever a good Samaritan brings an animal or stray into any one of our hospitals, we make a concerted effort to locate the owner. Our routine protocol is to scan for a microchip in the first instance." KDKA-TV then asked what steps, if any, are taken to locate an animal's owner. "Once the patient is deemed in stable and healthy condition, if we are unable to detect a microchip, we partner with local rescue organizations to provide care until the owner is located, or a loving home is established," a BluePearl spokesperson said. KDKA-TV asked in what case an animal would be euthanized and how quickly those decisions are made. A spokesperson said, "In scenarios where the patient presents in advanced critical condition or with catastrophic injury, we must prioritize the welfare of the animal and make decisions that are most humane. This is in line with the commitment made by all veterinarians to ensure the prevention and relief of animal suffering."
Forbes
09-07-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Joint Blood Drive Highlights Need For Pets And People To Donate Blood
One blood donation from a cat or dog can save the lives of up to three other pets. Courtesy of BluePearl Pet Blood Bank An innovative blood drive aims to increase the flow of blood donations by both people and pets. On July 10, employees of Mars Veterinary Health can visit the Mars Petcare headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee, to donate blood with the American Red Cross of Tennessee and also have their dogs screened as potential blood donors through the BluePearl Pet Blood Bank. (BluePearl Pet Hospital is a specialty and emergency arm of Mars Veterinary Health). While many Americans are aware of the need for human blood donors, fewer are aware that animal hospitals need dogs and cats to donate blood to help save the lives of other pets, according to Lenore Bacek, DVM, MS, DACVECC, vice president of clinical affairs at BluePearl Pet Hospital. 'There's definitely a lack of awareness that our pets have the same needs,' she said. 'They need blood transfusions for all sorts of medical conditions and emergencies, just like people do.' Around 950 dogs and cats currently participate in the pet blood bank program. While most domestic cats have type A blood, exotic breeds often have type B, which is extremely sought after because it's so rare, according to Dr. Bacek. 'When we find a type B donor, we are very excited to have them in the program,' she said. One blood donation from a cat or dog can save the lives up to three other pets, and BluePearl Pet Blood Bank sends a notification to pet parents of donors whenever their blood is used to help another pet. Cats and dogs who donate blood receive perks like free exams and annual bloodwork. getty In addition to the reward of saving the life of another animal, feline and canine blood donors receive a free checkup before every donation and free annual bloodwork. 'I think that is a tremendous financial savings for them,' Dr. Bacek said. 'And we are working with VCA and Banfield, our two sister business units in North America, and they've offered up some discount visits.' Requirements For Dogs And Cats To Donate Blood To Pet Blood Bank The BluePearl Pet Blood Bank is completely voluntary, though the hope is enrolled dogs and cats will donate blood about every 12 weeks, or around four times a year, according to Dr. Bacek. To qualify for the program, dogs must weigh at least 50 pounds and be 1-8 years old. Cats must also fall into that age range and weigh at least 10 pounds. Both species must be considered healthy, be up to date on certain vaccines like rabies and distemper, and take year-round flea, tick and heartworm preventive medication. Dogs and cats cannot be fed a raw diet out of concerns of salmonella transmission; raw poultry diets can also put cats at risk of contracting bird flu). They also can't be taking certain medications or have received a blood transfusion to quality as donors. While most cats are sedated to donate blood, many dogs simply lie still while donating, Dr. Bacek noted. 'It's nice when they're friendly, calm and have a good disposition,' she said. 'We can certainly sedate them, but some of the dogs don't need sedation.' Some dogs don't require sedation while donating blood, which takes about 10 minutes. Courtesy of BluePearl Pet Blood Bank The Blood Donation Process For Dogs and Cats The blood donation process for dogs and cats is 'very, very safe' and only lasts about 10 minutes, according to Dr. Bacek. Afterward, they are typically spoiled with treats and love from the veterinary team, as well as toys and bandanas that read 'I'm a Hero.' Some repeat canine donors are excited when they arrive because they've enjoyed past donation experiences so much. 'It's very quick and we try to make it a very calming, peaceful process,' she said. It can also be a rewarding process. For instance, at a pet blood donor appreciation event in Tampa, Florida, Dr. Bacek and other attendees were touched when a golden retriever who received a blood donation met the blood donor – a Labrador retriever – who saved his life. A Labrador retriever relaxes alongside the golden retriever saved by his blood donation at a ... More BluePearl Pet Blood Bank donor appreciation event in Tampa, Florida. Courtesy of BluePearl Pet Blood Bank So knowing a beloved dog or cat saved another beloved pet through blood donation is often the greatest benefit of participation. 'There is a component that's just very emotional,' she said. 'It's really special to know that your pet actually helped save another pet.' In fact, Dr. Bacek and her husband are enrolling their two cats, Bert and Ernie, in the BluePearl Pet Blood Bank program in hopes of saving the lives of other cats. She hopes tomorrow's joint blood drive inspires other pet parents to do the same. Dr. Lenore Bacek is enrolling her cats, Bert and Ernie, as donors in the BluePearl Pet Blood Bank ... More program. Courtesy of Dr. Lenore Bacek 'We just want people to understand that it's not scary,' she said. 'It's very, very vital for our hospitals to have these products.'
