Area Couple Suing Animal Hospital After Death of Dog

(This story was posted by Joe Dowd and written by Andrew Coen.)

A Farmingdale native and his wife have filed suit against a West Islip animal hospital claiming that actions by its surgery department led to the death of their young pet dog.

Following the death of their 3-year old yellow lab named Buoy, Mary Kate and James Tischler of Seaford filed a lawsuit in Suffolk County Supreme Court on April 5 against the Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island (VMCLI) in West Islip, and the head of the animal hospital’s surgery department, Dr. Gregory D. Herndon.

The lawsuit accuses the center with veterinary malpractice, negligence, negligent misrepresentation, lack of informed consent, property damage, and punitive damages arising from VMCLI's prescription of a medication known as carprofen (brand name Rimadyl®) to Buoy.

“Buoy was a true member of our family, and we would have done anything to save his life,” said Mary Kate Tischler, who has also been forced to rebuild her home on Narraganset Avenue following flood damage caused by Tropical Storm Irene and Superstorm Sandy. “He was a 110-pound lap dog, a loyal friend and playmate, and his antics brought joy to everyone who knew him.”

VMCLI officials did not respond for comment on the Tischler’s lawsuit against them. The veterinary center is described on its website as a "28,000 square foot, state of the art, 24-hour, emergency and multi-specialty referral practice." 

The lawsuit alleges that, as a result of a series of “grossly negligent and unlawful acts and omissions”, VMCLI prescribed Rimadyl to Buoy without providing the Tischlers with any warning that the medication was well-known to cause serious adverse side effects in dogs, including kidney damage and death. Buoy allegedly suffered acute kidney failure as a result of taking Rimadyl and underwent several weeks of dialysis treatments in an attempt to save his life, which cost the Tischlers more than $25,000, according to the complaint.

After Buoy’s condition did not improve, the Tischlers had to have him euthanized on March 2, 2013, the lawsuit states.

Mary Kate Tischler, who grew up in Stony Brook before settling in Seaford, said she has fond memories of Buoy’s short life including giving him the nickname of “‘The Comic Genius” after sinking his teeth into a kiddie pool on a hot summer day and dragging her across the yard.

“The tragedy is that he was only 3-years old and we were not provided with any warnings that Rimadyl could put his life at risk,” she said. “By filing this lawsuit, we hope to raise public awareness of the risks associated with this drug, so that other pet owners can make informed decisions before administering Rimadyl to their own pets. Buoy's passing has left a huge void in our lives that will never be filled.”