This institution does not protect the public from veterinarians who perform well below practice standards. Even when the complaints committee determines that important standards have been breached by veterinarians and even when animals are harmed or die due to the actions of such veterinarians, offending vets seldom receive anything more than mildly worded written “advice”. Almost entirely lacking in transparency, the CVO does not post information about negligent, substandard veterinarians on the public register, unless the veterinarians have been disciplined. Few are disciplined. As a result, members of the public lack critical information they could use to protect themselves and their animal friends. Be sure to ask any vet you see about the risks, dangers, and alternatives to a procedure that he or she wants to perform on your pet. Resist any tendency to decide based on “trust”. You are wise not to trust. Vets are required to inform you about the risks, dangers, and alternatives; they are legally required to have you provide written informed consent. However if they do not inform you, and even if the written informed consent is lacking in your pet’s file (because one was never signed), there will be no consequence for the vet. Likewise, if your pet is to be anesthetized, he or she is to be monitored and critical values related to heart rate, oxygenation, and blood pressure are to be recorded every every 5-10 minutes in an anesthesia monitoring record. Such a record is required of vets. Again, however, if no record is made and therefore nowhere to be found in your pet’s medical file (and your companion animal dies), the veterinarian will more than likely receive nothing but “advice”—even when the complaints committee has noted the absence of the form. Sadly, the public is entirely on its own when it comes to vets who have been found performing below standard. It has no way of knowing about dangerous vets because of the lack of transparency of this organization. My opinion, having lost a pet to a negligent vet, evidently guilty of misconduct (even abnormal blood test results were not communicated—though CVO policy is ostensibly that a vet is to communicate and provide an explanation for such results) is that the CVO is a sham regulatory body. Its actions indicate that it is far more invested in protecting members who should not be shielded than it is in doing the right thing: holding substandard vets accountable for the sake of defenceless animals and the public. The CVO needs to grasp that the public demands more: transparency and accountability. Concerned pet owners, if they have the means, are advised to seek legal recourse in order to achieve some measure of accountability. The CVO is not there to serve the public. It creates standards and policies but quite evidently has little interest in enforcing them. Last word: appalling. Read Less

1. The College of Vets doesn't investigate because they don't know HOW to investigate. 2. Would you strip someones license-- a fellow licensed colleague when they pay you $2K+ a year to be licensed to your association. NOT. 0/5 Read Less

A crime against animals is a crime against mankind and society, and is evidence of no regard for any living being, but even more abhorrable because these little animals were more helpless. It is my view that the CVO needs to raise the bar by instilling tougher penalties and holding despicable veterinarians such as Dr. R more accountable. This veterinarian is a disgrace to the profession and I wish him exiled to No-Man's Land. I no longer feel safe leaving my pet alone with any veterinarian. Read Less

UTTERLY DISGUSTED!! There is video evidence... VIDEO... not here-say... UNDENIABLE PROOF that Mahavir Rekhi was abusing animals... He PUNCHED them! and you suspended his license for 10 months? Your review board should be FIRED! You just made it acceptable for people to abuse animals, because they figure if they get caught, they will get a slap on the wrist. UTTERLY DISGUSTED!! Read Less

Poor action demonstrated with the disciplinary of Dr. Mahavir Singh Rekhi abusive vet from St. Catharine's. Caught on camera abusing sedated pets and abusing others under his care. Suspended sentence with retraining a mere pittance for the abuse. License needs to be revoked.. Shame on you CVO you should be leading by example. Read Less

The College of Veterinarians of Ontario should be ashamed of themselves. This organization is a total disgrace and should be shut down immediately for re-instating proven animal abuser Dr Mahavir Singh Rekhi. All veterinarians are suspect now as it is clear that animal abuse is condoned by this organization. I suggest that everyone contact their local MPP and MP and complain about the decision by the CVO to re-instate the scumbag doctor and push to have the CVO shut down for good as it has totally failed in its duties to protect animals and regulate abusive doctors. And as for you CVO - may the Karma of your sickening actions haunt you for the rest of your pathetic lives and I hope that your organization closes its doors in bitter disgrace for good! Read Less

I'm so disgusted at the ruling for Mahavir Singh Rekhi!!! And to see that he is back on the job. He tortures animals and yet he is somehow deemed fit to work again with them??? This is a complete disgrace to the profession and it's a huge epic fail by the college!! If this were a paedetrician doing this to a child, they wouldn't just lose their job, they'd be in prison!! What he did was illegal, and you just let him get away with it. Hope you're proud! Shame on you!!!! Shame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Read Less

The College of Veterinarians of Ontario fail to support the animals and pet owners who put their trust in veterinarians they license. Dr. Mahavir Singh Rekhi was caught many times on camera behaving sadistically towards animals in his care and should be banned from ever practicing as a vet again. He was given a ten-month suspension that may be reduced to as little as four months. This suggests veterinarians they license cannot be trusted with your pets. Read Less

Absolutely appalling decision for the CVO to allow something like Rekhi to continue practicing. For money! You're doing it for money! Don't tell me there is a shortage of vets. Don't tell us that you deserve our confidence. I believe I'll file a complaint with my MPP over your actions. And I encourage everyone to do the same, until they revoke whatever pathetic authority you claim to have. You did it for money. That's it. A suspension is a vacation. The penalty is a joke and a pittance. You let his lawyer role over you. You cowards. But you got your money. That's all the mattered. Video evidence isn't even good enough... What's required? The death of animals in his "care"? You have no moral authority. You have lost the confidence of every single person who has a pet. Enjoy your jobs... Read Less

Thanks for basically negating any faith or trust I would have in vets due to the institution that trains them basically state that abusing animals = fine / 4 months suspension. Congratulations for further solidifying abuse against animals. Seriously, this is not a case of bleeding hearts not understanding medical practices. This is a case of a person who should not be around animals as clearly he likes to inflict pain on them. This is a person who pretends to be a decent human being to engender trust and profit himself; while in private he abuses the animals for no reason. Additionally, the excuse that he was a vet from India with different values, is a racist BS excuse. Also, you can find his home address on canada411. Read Less

Congratulations College of Veterinarians. With your help we will never be able to make the crime fit the punishment . With your overwhelming support and your educated panel of judges who can deem that a 10 month suspension and a online class then can drop his sentence to 6 month and oh yes 3 drop in visit for 2 years at $400.00 a visit is a adequate disciplinary suspension. I am discussed at your lack of empathy for the animals that were involved in this case, The trust that was breached can never be given back. Where is the support that these animals and their family members need to enable them to trust again with out fear? Who is helping them?? Not the Collage that's for sure. The collage should be able to release how they determine the necessary punishment in these cases, So we the public know for to fight the enabler's. Let's stand up for animal right.Read Less

The suspension of Dr. Rehki is a joke he should never be allowed to practice ever again. He should also be charged with animal abuse. By the way where are the so called Humane Society people and how come they haven't charged this man? The only reason that I gave you a one star rating is that if you don"t pick a star you can't post your message. Read Less

I put a complaint in about a veterinary hospital because I wasn't given itemized receipts or details of supposed testing that was done and the pet died the same evening I brought it home from that hospital, plus the rest of the communication from the hospital was just an attempt to dismiss me rather than answer any questions.  After writing back and forth for an entire year, and some fairly vicious things being said about me by the veterinary hospital in question,  they came up with one and only one recommendation for the veterinarian.  You need to remember if you file a complaint with this organization, that although they say they protect the public among other things, veterinarians pay to be members of this organization.  So who do you think their decisions are going to favor?  My advice to pet owners :  With veterinary clinics and hospitals...Caveat emptor! Read Less