'Vets For Pets' endangered

HARNETT COUNTY Dr. Guy Beretich has been ordered by the state veterinary medical board to surrender his license, but he is refusing the request.

Veterinary officials say three complaints have been filed against Beretich, questioning his competency and his compliance with state regulations by allowing unlicensed workers examine and treat animals and providing inadequate medical treatment to some animals.

"They are very serious, as far as the other two allegations, I don't feel I did anything wrong," Beretich said.

And on PETA's web site, it claims Beretich ran a no kill shelter and a puppy mill at his Dunn hospital.

Beretich denies PETA complaints, but doesn't take the allegations lightly.

The state board has reprimanded Dr. Beretich and ordered the 77-year-old veterinarian to surrender his license by June 30.

Dr. Beretich says he's going to fight the board's actions. He has hired extra help and improved his records keeping, because he says his biggest problem was being overworked doing what he loves.

"Sometimes fatigue, I got sloppy, but the animals didn't suffer," he said.

Several of his patients' owners are supporting Beretich's efforts.

"I'm impressed with him, we have been coming here 15 years," pet owner Fred McDaniel said.

Charlotte Avery lives near Raleigh, but brings her pets to Beretich's Dunn clinic.

"I can't say enough good things about him," she said. "He won't give up on your animals, he won't turn them away."

And more than 2,000 people have registered on a Facebook page "Save Vets For Pets," in support of Beretich. Several customers are also passing around petitions.

"People are human they make errors and if he did make the errors he can correct them, but he does not need to be shut down or anything because he is a good person," pet owner Debra Thompson said.

Dr. Beretich has asked for an administrative hearing, if found guilty of the allegations he could face civil penalties and lose his license.

According to reports, Dr. Beretich's license has been suspended twice in the past 54 years once in 1985 and another time in 1988.

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