State charges 210 cats put to death by unlicensed veterinarian

Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2001 | 10:25 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A Las Vegas man, who has been called the Dr. Kevorkian of the animal world, has been charged with practicing veterinary medicine without a license and putting 210 cats to death.

This is the biggest case in recent years of an alleged unlicensed veterinarian, the state Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners said.

The board said Sam Ockene operated a clinic out of a trailer in his driveway and treated mostly cats.

Deputy Attorney General Matthew Dushoff said Tuesday that Ockene was like "Doctor Kevorkian of the animal world, only he didn't have a license." He was referring to Dr. Jack Kevorkian, who is serving a prison term in Michigan for putting to death terminally ill patients who did not want to live any longer.

Records seized at the Ockene trailer show that at least 210 cats, some as young as 2 days, were killed, Dushoff said. There is no indication the owners agreed.

"Vets can euthanize. He's (Ockene) not a vet. He killed them with lethal injection."

The records also indicate Ockene performed numerous surgeries on other animals, including neutering. Thirteen cats and three dogs were also found at Ockene's residence, Dushoff said.

Ockene and his attorney, Patrick McDonald, could not be reached for comment.

The state veterinary board said Ockene has no license and has never been licensed as a veterinarian, a veterinarian technician or a euthanasia technician.

Also found in the trailer were an operating table, syringes, animal medication, intravenous tubes, authorization labels to perform euthanasia, sutures, animal medical records, animal cages, testing kits for parvo, distemper, AIDS and leukemia and numerous other items relating to veterinary medicine.

Dushoff said Ockene kept records of the age, name and condition of the animals he put to death. But there aren't any records whether the owners approved of the killing. Even if they approved, it would still be a crime since Ockene was unlicensed, said the deputy attorney general.

The investigation began when a complaint was filed with the veterinary medical examiners, said Debbie Machen, administrative director of the board. She said the investigation was turned over to the attorney general's office.

The felony count of practicing without a license carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Ockene is also charged with misdemeanor counts in the killing of all the cats. Each count has a maximum fine of $1,000, six months in jail and up to 120 hours of community service.

No court hearing has been set.

Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa said, "The public feels very strongly that animals deserve professional treatment."