Sir lunch alot
Sir Lunch Alot was a 4-year-old, 84-pound black Lab mix described as friendly, social, and sweet. On February 7, a volunteer alerted Animal Health that he had kennel cough. An Animal Tech 2 — not a veterinarian and not a Certified Vet Tech — concluded everything was normal and recommended continued monitoring.
On February 8, another volunteer reported that he was lethargic and trembling. On February 9 at 7:30 a.m., a CVT evaluated him — the same CVT involved in the case of Bruce, another dog who died. In her notes, quoting a volunteer, she wrote: “Dog standing facing outdoors with low head and profusely drooling. Would not move. Eyes red. Would not move or take treats.” She observed yellow eye and nasal discharge and started kennel cough medication “per protocol.” Again, this was not a veterinarian making the diagnosis — raising serious concerns under Oregon statutes governing the practice of veterinary medicine.
At 10:00 a.m. that same day, another volunteer reported that Sir Lunch A Lot looked awful — drooling excessively and not moving. The volunteer had to clean his kennel around him because he would not stand. They went directly to Animal Health to stress his deteriorating condition. Three hours later, he was found lying on his side with labored breathing, vomit, diarrhea, and blood in his kennel.
He was transported on a gurney to Animal Health, where he died. According to records, that was the first and only time he was seen by a veterinarian. That’s two dogs dead in two weeks due to apparent medical negligence — with others seriously ill. The response has been to create a new monitoring system for volunteers. But lack of observation is not the problem. Volunteers repeatedly raised urgent concerns. The problem is what happens — or fails to happen — after those warnings.
When volunteers report medical emergencies, it can take hours — sometimes longer — for a dog to be evaluated by one of the shelter’s three veterinarians. We still do not know whether this is routine kennel cough or a more serious contagious respiratory disease. Some of these untreated dogs have been adopted into the community.