Accused Dog Kicker Gets Support from Co-Workers, Pet Owners

Park Slope's Animal Kind Clinic insists ASPCA colleagues didn't tell the whole story—or much of the story at all—when they accused veterinarian John Morehead of kicking a dying Rotweiller named Bullet at the Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital. In an email to Gothamist, the pet hospital that now employs Dr. Morehead wrote that he is an "exemplary" and "excellent" veterinarian, adding that "allegations of his causing a dog's death which were printed in the Daily News are false. The dog—who was aggressive toward Dr. Morehead—died of the illness he had when he arrived at the ASPCA."

Animal Kind's director Dr. Mark Gibson, along with 40 of his co-workers, signed the statement that affirmed Morehead "has never abused a patient. He has proven to be an animal lover through his behavior shown by the love of his own pets, his patients and their owners that call on him for veterinary care." In their opinion, the Daily News story was sensationalized to "sell newspapers and to persuade the ASPCA into settling a lawsuit in favor of the plaintiff."

But there's more to investigate, since the letter doesn't name Bullet's cause of death, and suggests that there was an altercation between the doctor and his canine patient, even if the alleged kicking and punching colleagues witnessed was self-defense. Some animal lovers might still take issue with him, but others whose pets have been treated by Dr. Morehead are rallying around the cause. One owner, whose dog Oliver was successfully diagnosed with seasonal allergies by Morehead, blogged, "He's goofy and sweet and totally awesome, and despite the fact he sticks thermometers up Oliver's ass, even HE loves him." "Seriously," she wrote, "Leona Helmsely would have kicked a dog sooner than Dr. Morehead.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Sabrina Jaszi in News on February 2, 2010 3:43 PM

Comments [rss]

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

facts: (1)dog was old and sick. (2) dog died the next day after Dr. Moorehead kicked him. (3) Dr. Moorehead never inform the owner of the incident or that he kicked his dog. (4) ASPCA exhumed the body to determine if the kick caused the death but the body was too decomposed. (5) Doctor never reported this incident but his colleagues reported his action.

Doctor claims it was self defense. Typical animal abuser defense.

youngpro

im sure the doctor did not know the dog was going to die the next day. face it, you lose feline. he hit the dog in self defense mode.

and no, im not a city worker.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

facts: (1)dog was old and sick. (2) dog died the next day after Dr. Moorehead kicked him. (3) Dr. Moorehead never inform the owner of the incident or that he kicked his dog. (4) ASPCA exhumed the body to determine if the kick caused the death but the body was too decomposed. (5) Doctor never reported this incident but his colleagues reported his action.

Doctor claims it was self defense. Typical animal abuser defense.

youngpro

felix, i suggest you understand the difference between 'fact' and 'allegation.' there may have been 5 or even 500 witnessesl; these are still allegations.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

The doctor himself admitted he kicked the dog. Why are you so obtuse?

youngpro

fact: the doctor admitted hitting dog in self-defense. again, read the FACTS, felix.

why aren't you at the animal rights protest on Varick/Houston outside the federal building right now? (i presume youre not if your blogging here).

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

self-defense against a sick dog who dies the next day and which he failed to report his incident to the hospital and owner. damn, your logic fails miserably. what protest? I assume you are a city worker.

juniorapple

I worked with Dr. Morehead personally. I really can't believe that he would ever do something like that. He is one of the sweetest most respectful doctors out there. I know AK is an expensive hospital but he always tries to not go through any unnecessary procedures. He's actually the only vet I take my pets to now. I have never seen him get angry at a pet that attacked him. Heck he even saved me a few times from getting bit especially from a rotti that almost took my arm off, without hurting the patient.

On a side note Felixthecat who do you think you are posting up someone's facebook of an ex-worker. Do you stalk the people that work there?

whitecastlerock

Thanks for posting this. The doctor has been tried and convicted by the court of commenters here based on a few published stories and opinions on the internet. felixthecat has ruined the site for me with the bi polar, stalking commentary. He then accuses others of stalking him when they refute his bullshit.

youngpro

Today's (fake) banner headlines:

-economy in shambles, worse than predicted

-terrorist thraet by summer

-cat stuck in sewer drain

Felix thinks all attention should be dedicated to the fucking cat and that we should stop living unless we can save that cat.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

youngpro, the ghetto animal hater and whitecastlerock, a bitter fat ass. Where any of you presence when he kicked the dog? NO, but the colleagues who reported him witness the kicking. I don' care if you don't believe he is capable of doing such a thing. That is not a fact. The fact is that Dr. Gibbs admitted that Moorehead kicked the doctor but he did so in defense. How would you feel if your last day on this earth was being kicked while you were sick. shame on you.

Antigone1000

i agree with felix on this one. there is another vet and a couple of employees who said he kicked the dog. Dr. Gibson admits something (doesn't specify punch or kick)happened. The AsPCA exhumed the body--what did they find? All we need now are the details--

hunter.blatherer

Indeed we need to know the details. But to do that we need to know what procedures Dr. Morehead and others in the room were instructed to follow and what they all actually did in the situation. Instead you seem to want to focus on only one man in the room.

Antigone1000

Well, HB, until I have any reason to believe anyone else was at fault, who should I focus on? The only person named and accused is Dr. M. Yeh, I suppose I could imagine another...mmmmmmm... 4 or 5 people in the room who all beat the dog, but why would I do that??

hunter.blatherer

Your comments (which I read before responding to!) suggest that you belong in this skit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PrheWm2bF4

Now, I have cats, dogs and a child to prepare to care for, so I'm done refuting your calls for premature conviction via gothamist. Good day to you.

juniorapple

So I talked to my old co-workers to find out what was going on. Apparently the colleagues at the ASPCA who saw what Dr. Morehead did had an internal investigation on the matter. The closed the case citing that he was not the cause of the dog's death. Now to the present there is a lawyer who is trying to sue the ASPCA. He looked through all the cases that they had and found this one to be good to bring a lawsuit since it had the fewest details. Lawyer contacted dog's owner and now the owner is suing about this case 3 years later.

Antigone1000

so you think that, as long as he didn't kill the dog, it was okay to punch or kick him? I don't at all. If I ever left my animal with a vet and later found out he had been punched or kicked, I would do something about it, be it bringing a law suit or just getting the guy fired.

juniorapple

I'm not saying that. I'm saying it was probably self defense and not intentional. Dr. Morehead could have been using his leg to keep the dog at a distance from him, but I wasn't there so I couldn't say. I'm not sure if this was in front of the owner or not either. I think it's weird that the workers there also saw him do 2 different things was it a punch or a kick. But I also think its weird the guy decides to sue 3 years later.

Antigone1000

The incident may have happened three years ago, but I don't know when Bullet's person found out about the allegations of abuse--it may have been recently.

hunter.blatherer

We also don't know the instructions given by supervisors, who probably weren't even in the room, which could have contributed to the situation.