Two men were handcuffed and placed under arrest in Southwest Miami-Dade after police discovered they were allegedly operating an unlicensed, cash-only veterinary clinic out of a home. WSVN reported officers found a scene of confused pet owners and their animals waiting for services from supposed veterinary professionals who lacked the proper credentials.
According to NBC6, Miami-Dade Police responded to an anonymous tip received last year after a pet owner's dog underwent a procedure at the residence which led to an infection and the eventual amputation of the animal’s tail. The investigation culminated on Saturday morning with the arrest of David Blondin, 68, and Robert Hernandez Ferra, 48.
During the raid, investigators encountered numerous pets awaiting medical procedures and seized "many, many bottles" of prescription animal medication that had been purportedly obtained using the license of a legitimate veterinarian. These medications included powerful sedatives like sodium pentobarbital and ketamine. "What our investigators encountered were a line of vehicles and animals and patients ready to be seen by these unlicensed veterinarians and veterinary technicians," MDPD Detective Andre Martin detailed in a statement obtained by WSVN.
Neighbors expressed surprise and concern upon learning of the operation next door, with Fernando Alarcón, a resident of the area and a pet owner himself, stating, "This is a surprise for me," in an interview with WSVN. The clinic, which was recommended through word of mouth, according to Detective Martin, appeared to function as a clandestine service, sidestepping government oversight by being a cash-only business.
The Miami-Dade Police Department is now urging anyone who had their pets treated at this fraudulent clinic to come forward and contact authorities.
