A Herefordshire-based vet has been reprimanded after her “dishonest” treatment of a cat.

Dr Janine Parody failed to inform the owner of a cat named Shadow that she had not ended the cat’s life.

Instead, the disciplinary committee heard that she acted dishonestly when undertaking a treatment plan for Shadow, involving sedating and castrating him, and when she was involved in and/or directed the removal of a microchip, before taking him home while working at Castle Veterinary Group in Framlingham.

Between December 23 and 31, 2021, she took Shadow home without informing or obtaining consent from his owner and failed to make adequate records regarding Shadow.

The committee concluded that it was not proven that Dr Parody removed the microchip to mislead others about his identity, and that, in this respect, she had therefore not acted dishonestly.

In relation to whether Dr Parody was acting dishonestly with failure to make adequate clinical records, the committee also found this not proven.

The committee also heard the incident occurred when the practice was under pressure during the COVID-19 pandemic and that Dr Parody had acted in a way she thought best for Shadow’s welfare, which clouded her judgement.

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The committee heard how this had been an isolated incident, and Dr Parody "had a long and unblemished career".

Dr Parody told the committee there had been quite a toxic atmosphere at the practice and everyone was under a lot of pressure, but stressed how different things were now. She had moved to Hereford to be close to her parents and has much more support. The practice she now works in is very supportive, she said.

After deciding that a reprimand was the most appropriate sanction to impose, committee chair Paul Morris concluded that Dr Parody was "most unlikely to ever make such a flawed set of decisions again".

"The committee was satisfied that Dr Parody does not represent a risk to animals going forward, indeed from the character evidence it is clear that she always puts the welfare of animals first," he said.

"She has also shown, since this episode, that she can work under pressure and not resort to making bad decisions.”