Although the owner and sole proprietor of this business is Dr. Lawrence C. Mauer, a veterinarian who reportedly crushed a puppy to death in 2003, and many if not all of the practice consists of home visits from Dr. Mauer, his website suggests otherwise. There are images of attractive young women in scrubs (they are stock photos) in sleek, modern examination rooms. And, there’s even a video describing ‘the hospital’s’ offerings, which include, the video says, ‘surgical procedures..all in the comfort of your home.’ What the video does not mention is that Mauer had his license placed on a 2-year stayed suspension in April 2017 by New York state’s Education Department’s Office of the Professions after he ‘admitted to the charge of doing exploratory surgery on a cat without a sufficient basis for said procedure,’ according to the enforcement action. There is also no mention of a 2003 report alleging that Mauer fatally crushed a puppy’s windpipe:
Thorpe said that Mauer said to the little black dog, “You don’t bite the doctor,” and grabbed the dog’s neck and stomach, leaving the dog limp.
“I think I hurt your puppy, I think I crushed his windpipe,” Mauer said, according to Thorpe.
Mauer then took the dog into another room to try to resuscitate him, Thorpe said. About 15 minutes later, the dog was brought from the room, still limp.
“It was soaking wet and wasn’t moving. I rubbed his head and blood came out of his mouth,” Thorpe said.
Mauer sent the couple to their home in Sackett Lake, saying they’d be updated on the pup’s condition. A half-hour later, the Thorpes called Mauer, who told them the dog had died.
“He said it was an accident, but how do you do to a little puppy what he did?” Thorpe said.
– Times Herald-Record, “Routine visit to vet proves deadly for playful puppy” (Sept. 30, 2003)
The Canine Review spoke briefly with Mauer in February 2020 to confirm that he is actively practicing. We also confirmed in June 2020 with the USDA that Dr. Mauer is, as his website says, USDA-accredited.
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Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of doing exploratory surgery on a cat without a sufficient basis for said procedure.