Jamestown Veterinary Clinic announces closure of long-running practice after rival vet banned

Vet services in a Mid North town are being cut off after a practice was forced to close following a barrage of unwarranted negative community sentiment over a rival vet’s lifetime ban.

A Mid North veterinary practice is closing down due to relentless online bullying over the lifetime ban of a rival vet – despite having nothing to do with its closure.

Clare Valley Veterinary Services’ Jamestown clinic announced it would shut in an email to customers last week, blaming a shortage of vet industry professionals and the “social and emotional toll of the negative backlash, verbal abuse, and online vitriol” over the lifetime ban of rival vet Dr Geoffrey Warren.

Dr Warren, who ran Geoff Warren Veterinary Clinic, received a lifetime ban from veterinary practice in September last year after a police investigation into squalid conditions at his Jamestown clinic.

Written by Clare Valley Veterinary Services owner Dr Louise Lehmann, the email indicated community speculation about the reporting of Dr Warren to animal welfare authorities contributed to the decision to close up shop in Jamestown.

“Unfortunately, due to the current economic climate and the ongoing shortage of veterinary industry professionals, we have made the decision to close our Jamestown branch,” the email read.

“In addition to the reasons stated above, although we played no part in the recent complaints made against Dr Warren and his subsequent deregistration, the social and emotional toll of the negative backlash, verbal abuse, and online vitriol we have received from a substantial portion of the community has also significantly aided our decision.”

The Clare Valley Veterinary Service's Jamestown clinic will close its doors next month. Picture: Facebook

The closure leaves the Mid North towns of Jamestown and Peterborough without veterinary services and will force residents to drive around an hour to Port Pirie or Clare to access care for pets.

Last year, the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal was told Dr Warren, who had been practising as a vet in the Jamestown region for around 40 years, should be disallowed from working as a vet again.

The Tribunal heard witnesses described the surgery as “awful”, “sickening”, “atrocious” and having an “overwhelming smell of urine”.

One witness said she was “ashamed of the state of the surgery” and that she had “never seen a surgical facility like that in nearly 40 years of practising”.

Dr Geoffrey Warren is confronted as RSPCA officers search his practice after reports of its condition. Picture: Supplied/SACAT

However, a petition by members of the Jamestown and Peterborough community contained comments describing Dr Warren as “a modern day St Francis of Assisi” and claimed he was being “targeted”.

Animal Rescue Peterborough manager Jason O’Connell said the lack of veterinary services had already strained other animal welfare groups in the area.

“We’ve often had instances where we have to call national parks services repeatedly but because of where we are there are no national parks officers that can come out to us,” he said.

“We also often get called out by police to put animals down because no one else is able to do it.

“I’ve been out here doing this for 17 years and it’s tough to see animals not getting the care that they need.”

RSPCA spokesperson Carolyn Jones said it had been difficult to find short term fixes for regional veterinary demand issues.

“We’re very concerned at the current shortage of vets not just in metro area but across regional South Australia,” Ms Jones said.

“We’re also concerned about people having to travel long distances to seek veterinary care and are hoping this shortage in the labour market will be increased by a higher intake of veterinary students in future.”

The Jamestown Veterinary Clinic is set to close its doors on February 3. Clare Valley Veterinary Services were contacted for comment.