A Scottsdale dog is redirected to a less glamourous clinic location

Complaint: Complaint 18-23
Respondent: Paul Barrett
Premises: Eye Care for Animals Phoenix
Related: 18-64

The complainant had eye surgery done at Eye Care for Animals' aesthetically-pleasing Scottsdale location by a veterinarian named Urbanz. The dog later managed to remove his e-collar, and the complainant thought he might have torn out some stitches. She called the 24-hour help line for the clinic and spoke with someone at the Gilbert location; she claims that the contact there told her the e-collars they hand out are basically just for show and laughed at her. The contact also apparently said that they could wait until tomorrow and spend a lot of money or come in right now and spend even more money. The complainant just waited until the next morning and called the original Scottsdale location to learn that there was nobody there to see the dog, but she was offered a spot at the Phoenix location.

The complainant went there and was shocked, shocked to find herself on the wrong side of the tracks. There were homeless people around the premises, the receptionists weren't nice at all, and the hospital apparently had a bug infestation and doors propped shut with chairs. She included pictures of those in the complaint so you can see them yourself. Anyway, it turns out the dog was okay, but the place was still nasty, so she complained to the Eye Care for Animals hospital chain. The original doctor, Urbanz, later told her that she had been abusive to staff and that she wouldn't see her dog again, but another specialist in Scottsdale was still willing to.

The complainant was concerned about the "ghetto" practice along with the bait-and-switch of centers and doctors. The veterinary board sent out an inspector who determined that the practice was, in point of fact, no longer nasty or "ghetto". The Investigative Committee did offer that the complainant could file a complaint against Urbanz for no longer seeing her dog, which she later did.

Paul Barrett appears as the respondent here because he was the responsible veterinarian for the entire premises. You'll be reading more about him in 20-15 when he strangles a dog in another Eye Care for Animals hospital.

Motions

Investigative Motion: Dismiss with no violation

Source: December 12, 2017 AM Investigative Committee Meeting
People:
David Stoll Respondent Attorney
Paul Barrett Respondent
Roll Call:
Alex Casuccio Aye
Christine Butkiewicz Aye
Ed Hunter Aye
Mary Williams Aye
Ryan Ainsworth Aye
Result: Passed

Board Motion: Schedule informal interview

Source: February 2, 2018 Board Meeting
Proposed By: Robyn Jaynes
Seconded By: Julie Young
Roll Call:
Christina Bertch-Mumaw Absent
Darren Wright Aye
J Greg Byrne Absent
Jessica Creager Aye
Jim Loughead Aye
Julie Young Aye
Nikki Frost Absent
Robyn Jaynes Aye
Sarah Heinrich Nay
Result: Passed

Board Motion: Dismiss with no violation

Source: April 4, 2018 Board Meeting
People:
Paul Barrett Respondent
Proposed By: Jessica Creager
Seconded By: Christina Bertch-Mumaw
Roll Call:
Christina Bertch-Mumaw Aye
Darren Wright Aye
J Greg Byrne Aye
Jessica Creager Aye
Jim Loughead Aye
Julie Young Aye
Nikki Frost Absent
Robyn Jaynes Aye
Sarah Heinrich Aye
Result: Passed

The primary source for the above summary was obtained as a public record from the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board. You are welcome to review the original records and board meeting minutes by clicking the relevant links. While we endeavor to provide an accurate summary of the complaint, response, investigative reports and board actions, we encourage you to review the primary sources and come to your own conclusions. In some cases we have also been able to reach out to individuals with knowledge of specific complaints, and where possible that information will be included here.