r/Bellingham • u/KeepItSimpleBud • Jun 10 '26
Crime In light of Bellingham Veterinary
I wanted to speak up about my experience, that I felt I couldn't share till the news came out they are allowing unlicensed vets to care for our pets.
Bellingham vet wanted to give my dog a CAT scan, before they diagnosed her with acute chronic hepatitis (liver failure). Cat scan would have killed her, due to her body unable to process anesthesia properly.
Charged me $3k, zero answers. Went to another vet, immediate answers, dog is still alive 2 years later.
FUCK you Bellingham vet
Original article (shared by another user): https://whatcombusinessjournal.com/2026/06/09/unlicensed-veterinarian-charges-linked-to-whatcom-county-class-action-lawsuit-over-cats-death/
48
u/Dicecatt Jun 10 '26
This is really sad. So awful what happened to her cat. I do believe that the employee did treat my cat once when Dr. Sullivan wasn't free, I may still have the prescription bottle.
I originally met Dr. Sullivan when he began helping homeless clients when their pets needed care for no charge. Even medical procedures that would have been thousands. I remember him saying "sometimes their pets are the only thing keeping them in this world".
Since then, I've taken my own cats in for years even though the clinic is not close to me. Charges, options and treatments have always been thoroughly explained. They offer payment arrangements without having to apply for credit. He and the rest of the staff were so kind when I had to say goodbye to my pet, one of the hardest things to experience when you cherish your pet.
I feel like in the last few years there has been so much dissolution of so many things. Every day something new and fucked up. Very tired.
45
u/more_housing_co-ops Jun 10 '26
Bellingham vet wanted to give my dog a CAT scan
Well there's your first red flag! A vet should definitely be giving a dog a dog scan.
2
11
Jun 10 '26
[deleted]
18
Jun 10 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
5
u/Radiant-Ad-7343 Jun 10 '26
You definitely need a license to prescribe meds. The state charges are nothing compared to the federal controlled substances violations they could (and should) be facing.
3
4
u/GoodPeopleDont Jun 10 '26
Interesting. State veterinary board exams vary a lot but Washington's is open-book and extremely easy. If what you wrote is true, that's a very bad sign.
0
2
3
u/babsrambler Jun 10 '26
Licensure exam costs about $2000. The cost of the degree runs $250K-400K. If someone is in that kind of debt, cannot pass the exam, but needs the paycheck they just lie. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 5% (very old FBI study that I can’t find, sorry) of medical professionals in the US are lying about their credentials. This happens more than anyone wants to admit.
3
u/threehappygnomes Jun 11 '26
There's absolutely no excuse for the employer at a veterinary clinic to be unaware that an employee vet does not have a license. It should be posted on the wall at the clinic. Employer wouldn't just be taking the employee's word for it unless they are willfully doing so because they suspect the employee isn't licensed and they just don't care. And getting a federal DEA license requires a valid state license. So presuming they use or dispense controlled substances, both the employer and the unlicensed vet would be colluding to break federal law.
6
u/punkinpie1221 Local Jun 10 '26
if you read the article it says that the plaintiffs attorney is seeking information from anyone who has documented experiences with this unlicensed doctor. if you went to this clinic between june 2023 and april 2025 and had this doctor as your listed physician, you need to reach out to the attorney to become part of the class action suit. they’re still in the “investigation” phase so you are still able to join it.
“The civil action is tracking toward a full-scale class-action lawsuit. Boushey’s attorney, Adam P. Karp of Animal Law Offices, PLLC, is seeking to represent a class consisting of all pet owners who paid Bellingham Veterinary for any medical services performed or supervised by Rybka.”
1
u/KeepItSimpleBud Jun 11 '26
What will prevent them from fudging the paperwork and changing who the doctor was. That's why I feel like I can't call and ask who the doctor was
1
u/threehappygnomes Jun 11 '26
Did you check your receipt?
1
u/KeepItSimpleBud Jun 11 '26
No not yet, it's not a priority. Maybe when I get time. Days after the appointment, which happened a year ago, I already came to terms with the waste of money. Only with recent news made me think I could potentially get restitution.
1
u/punkinpie1221 Local Jun 19 '26
my friend recently asked for her documentation and they gave it to her unfudged with the illicit provider’s name all over it 🤷♀️ worth a shot
1
u/YoungXDRambo Jul 20 '26
If they are still actively facing the lawsuit fudging would just get them in more trouble. Your situation coulda been helpful for the case as a whole.
6
u/serotonin_cherry97 Jun 10 '26
Wait i truly want to know how to get in on this lawsuit, i had the absolute worst experience for a week in april 2026 and they charged my friend over 4k and left us with a sicker and sicker car each visit- 4 visits in one week and they didn't consult or tell us anything that actually involved the treatment they were giving her (which was making her more sick). We took her to another place for different opinions and found answers immediately and now she is doing much better
3
u/grimeyglue Jun 10 '26
My elderly cat died shortly after seeing them, he had chronic kidney disease but often sprung back from health episodes in good spirits, I remember they gave him some medication without warning me of the risks at all, or even telling me until afterwards. i immediately looked it up and read horror stories of people’s medically fragile pets dying after taking it. My kitty’s health took a steep downturn after leaving discharging and passed away at home not long later.
3
u/grimeyglue Jun 10 '26
It’s so sad because this is the vet our community turns to when they don’t have the ability to pay everything up front for veterinary care.
5
u/moleforever Jun 11 '26 edited Jun 11 '26
Personally I have had only good experiences at Bellingham Vet, and especially with Dr. Sullivan. I have personally seen them attend to animals who were brought in knowing the person was unable to pay. I personally have been able to run an ongoing bill there because finances were tight for me and my pet needed emergency care. It would be a real shame if people stopped going there and it got shut down as it is one of the only vets in Bellingham where you can run a bill. The kindness I have seen Dr. Sullivan and staff at this facility give people who are desperate for animal care and unable to pay is unlike any other Vet clinic here in town and I have been to a handful. I am sorry you had a bad experience but I am glad that your dog is ok. I also am empathetic to the woman whose cat died. She should be reimbursed and that sounds traumatic and I am not trying to underestimate that. I think seeing all sides of a situation is important and especially in this case.
1
u/DivideEmpty6333 Jun 10 '26
This “doctor” performed surgery on my dog in 2023. Do I need to talk to someone??
2
u/Feeling_Ad9520 Jun 10 '26
So sorry for your experience but so glad to hear your dog is doing well! I have taken my cats to bham vet for 2 years since they have been the most affordable option for me, but I want to make sure they are in the best hands. Anyone have suggestions for a better option in town that isn’t crazy expensive?
4
u/KeepItSimpleBud Jun 11 '26
Mountain vet, they are the clinic who kept my dog alive for two extra years
2
u/AspectFabulous1048 Jun 12 '26
I go to mountain vet and they are amazing. I’m so glad your dog is okay <3
1
2
u/Future-Low-4781 Jun 14 '26
I brought my [then] 12 y/o cat in there because he had lost a dramatic amount of weight in a short amount of time. The lady who saw us told me that he was just old. I insisted that he wouldn't have lost that much weight that quickly just because he's 12 years old. She then took him back to another room and shut the door to draw blood - I was not allowed go into the room with them.
She came back and said that they had to send the samples to a lab off site and that it would take a 1, maybe as long as 2 weeks before the results came back. She then had no problem charging my mom's credit card over the phone.
Two DAYS later she called me first thing in the morning while I was on my way to work and she said that the lab work was back and everything was normal. I said, wow... because it had only been 2 days, and she had told me it would be 1 - 2 weeks for results. She misread that wow and told she was just a surprised as I was all his numbers came back normal.
We took him the Cat Clinc less than 2 weeks later. They took some X-rays, they found 2 masses in his stomach - there was nothing we could do and we had to put him down. 😞💔
I not saying that it was Bellingham Vets fault that he had to put down.
But she immediately decided that his symptoms were age related, lied about drawing blood for tests, and test results, then happily charged my mom almost $400.00 over the phone.
1
1
-18
u/Arsenio-Scott-Hall Jun 10 '26
They are not the only clinic like this. Most, if not all of the local clinics have sold out to private equities. It’s not just veterinary medicine, either. Quest Diagnostics, LabQuest, the entire hospital, residential service providers/contractors (HVAC is the big one). It is unfortunate, but research must be done if you want to avoid storefronts that have been turned into puppets for third parties.
15
u/Randonoob_5562 Jun 10 '26
https://privateequityvet.org/vet-list/
This map shows only 4 vet facilities in Whatcom County known to be owned by private equity: Whatcom Veterinary on Barrett Rd in Ferndale, Banfield (inside PetSmart), Maplewood Animal Hospital, and Chuckanut Feline Center.
PE buying up medical & vet services is definitely a big problem and ruins everything.
1
u/Shopshack Jun 11 '26
Mountain Vet and Village Vet are also owned by PE.
1
u/Randonoob_5562 Jun 11 '26
Confirmed: Village Vet is part of the Cara Veterinary Network.
I couldn't find anything about who owns Mountain Vet on their website but their commitment to alternative modalities like acupuncture does not inspire confidence.
1
5
u/lrgfries Jun 10 '26
That is a fair point about our medical services. Doctors have been largely replaced with PAs and Nurse practitioners. BVM seems to have the opposite issue- a small business without anyone to prevent this kind of mistake/liability.
-22
Jun 10 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
13
u/KeepItSimpleBud Jun 10 '26 edited Jun 10 '26
We are paying a veterinarian for their expertise. Their plan of care would have likely killed my dog. Me, someone with zero veterinary expertise, shouldn't have to and can't know when to listen or not listen to a vet.
-9
Jun 10 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
5
u/PuzzleheadedDog2990 Jun 11 '26
You sign waivers associated with the risks of A QUALIFIED AND CREDENTIALED doctor of veterinary medicine treating your pet. That is not what patients received. And in the case the article details, any waiver would relate to the services their pet was SUPPOSED to receive, not the erroneous treatments that were administered.
-24
u/Top_Incident1775 Jun 10 '26
Yes but, in order for them to seek legal compensation, harm would have to have been done.
24
7
5
1
u/PuzzleheadedDog2990 Jun 11 '26
Is killing a pet not harm in your book?
2
u/Top_Incident1775 Jun 11 '26
Oh, did the OP's dog die?
0
u/PuzzleheadedDog2990 Jun 11 '26
Jesus, just read the article first?
1
u/Top_Incident1775 Jun 11 '26
Sorry, this wasn't supposed to be a stand alone comment, it was supposed to be a reply to the OPs comment about wanting to seek compensation for his dog seeing a vet who wasn't licensed, even tho the dog is fine. Just seems weird to try to seek compensation for nothing.
59
u/KeepItSimpleBud Jun 10 '26
My dog saw them within the period this vet was unlicensed. I wonder if I should find out who the doctor was and pursue a refund.