| NEWARK
— Dover Township veterinarian Gregory
P. Kerrick, who allegedly committed animal
abuse and threatened clients with physical
harm, has been sentenced to 12 months probation
and ordered to undergo psychiatric treatment
after admitting that he violated a court
order that barred him from practicing veterinary
medicine, Attorney General Zulima V. Farber
and Consumer Affairs Director Kimberly Ricketts
announced.
Kerrick
pleaded guilty yesterday to contempt of
court at a hearing before Superior Court
Judge Vincent J. Grasso of Ocean County.
Following Kerrick’s guilty plea, Grasso
sentenced the veterinarian to probation
and ordered him to stay away from his practice
at the Dover Veterinary Hospital. In addition,
Kerrick was ordered to undergo treatment
from a psychiatrist who must submit monthly
reports to the Ocean County Probation Department.
The reports must detail Kerrick’s
compliance with the psychiatrist’s
treatment recommendations.
The
contempt of court charge was brought by
the state in February. In its complaint,
the state alleged that Kerrick continued
to practice as a veterinarian and to charge
and collect fees for his services despite
a November 2005 court order and prior orders
by the Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners
dating back to May and September 2005 requiring
him to stop practicing veterinary medicine
in the state of New Jersey.
“We
are pleased with the court’s decision,”
Director Ricketts said. “Dr. Kerrick
showed an alarming disregard for the welfare
of animals in his care and their owners.
We will not permit him to continue practicing
veterinary medicine in New Jersey in defiance
of board and court orders.”
The most recent violation occurred in January
2006 when Kerrick arranged to make a house
call to treat a cat, the state’s complaint
alleges. During the house call, Kerrick
allegedly examined the cat, drew blood from
it and provided medicine. Kerrick allegedly
charged and collected a fee of $248.
Kerrick’s
license was temporarily suspended by the
Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners in
September 2005, pending a full hearing,
after the board found that Kerrick’s
“erratic behavior demonstrates an
extensive pattern of violent conduct to
animals, clients and employees, gross negligence
in his treatment of an animal and extremely
poor judgment.”
-more-
Shortly
afterward, the state filed suit in Superior
Court in Ocean County to enforce the board’s
suspension order, after it discovered that
Kerrick was still practicing veterinary
medicine. In November 2005, Judge James
D. Clyne issued a final judgment prohibiting
Kerrick from practicing veterinary medicine
in New Jersey.
Deputy
Attorney General Kevin R. Jespersen is handling
this matter for the state.
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