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Faaiza Asmal, owner of Sultan the cat. Asmal took Sultan to a vet, but the cat went missing while allegedly in the vets care. Photo: Itumeleng English
A vet at the centre of a criminal and animal cruelty investigation has been accused of malpractice by the owners of a cat that he lost.
The cat’s owners were then allegedly told by staff they had no proof they had brought the cat to the clinic.
Faaiza Asmal dropped her cat, Sultan, off at the Blairgowrie Veterinary Clinic last Monday so that he could have a wound on his nose cleaned. “We were told that he would have to stay overnight,” said Asmal.
The following day, Asmal was told by the owner of the clinic, Dr Patrick Thenga, that the cat had gone missing while being bathed.
However, Asmal and her husband Muhammed said they were refused entry when they arrived at the clinic.
“We were told that Dr Thenga wasn’t there,” said Muhammed. “Then one of the workers standing at the door told us that we didn’t have proof that we left the cat there.”
Attempts by The Star to contact Thenga on Monday failed.
Last week, The Star reported that a Belgian Shepherd that Thenga was supposed to have euthanised had been found alive in Soweto.
The Roodepoort SPCA found the dog and were able to contact the owner, Greg Byrne, after a scan revealed an ID microchip.
Byrne initiated a search for his other dog, which Thenga was supposed to have put down, but the dog wasn’t found.
It is believed the dog was run over.
Byrne has laid a charge of fraud against Thenga. The SPCA is also investigating him and plans to charge him under the Animal Protection Act. It has also informed the SA Veterinary Council.
In the days after Sultan went missing, the Asmals tried to contact Thenga, but he never returned their calls.
“This is not the way to handle this matter,” said Muhammed.
But there is a happy ending to the story. The Asmals found Sultan in the early hours of Saturday morning after nights of driving around the suburbs bordering the clinic.
Asmal said the cat had recovered and was doing well.
The couple said they had spent R1 400 on printing leaflets, which they had distributed in the area.
Chris Theron, the managing director at the Roodepoort SPCA, was informed of the incident by the Asmals.
He said it had affected the public’s confidence in vets.
“We are extremely concerned and we believe this needs to be investigated,” he said. - The Star
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Judy, wrote
I am not saying that what Dr Thenga did was right but I think it is disgusting that an owner wants his dogs put down because they are "old" and doesnt even have the guts to stay and watch it being done.
Tom, wrote
Listed in the Government Gazette of June 22, 2007 are four incidents involving Thenga that occurred between 2003 and 2007.
Anonymous, wrote
Patrick Thenga has been caring for my animals for 8 years. He is a compassionate and caring vet and has always taken excellent care of the animals. I have friends who also go to Patrick with their animals, one of them is at present boarding in his kennel, and they have only had excellent service from him. If you ask me any person who wants a perfectly healty dog euthenased should already be called to question. I have heard many other stories of animals dying while in the care of vets but never read of it in the newspaper. Why is that.
Anonymous, wrote
Finally this’ VET’ Patrick Thenga, has been caught my family and I have had personal bad experience of bad surgery, lack of care and our pets been euthanised and we always had a bad feeling about this vet. I strongly believe my dog that was supposedly euthanised is still alive. He should be closed down and locked up for the rest of his life. PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM THIS MAN!
Anonymous, wrote
i hope Mr Patric you are not slaughtering the animals for selling its meat. anythign is possible here in Mzantsi. S.A has turned into a DEN of all evil and our officails are doing nothing about it, every body just comes into our country and do as they please, very sad.
fuzzy, wrote
Very SAD... if you google this Dr Patrick Thenga, i see he has led to the deaths of many peoples pets, and also has been found guilty of 'unprofessional conduct' at least four times.
Anonymous, wrote
Well, I wont be using that Vet... perhaps they can put him in lock up and just forget to send him to trial...
Nikki, wrote
He should be BANNED from practicing veterinary science in any shape or form... this is a disgrace to the profession and to the concept of human decency... sies man.
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