The original complaint against Dr. Sheridan contains the following allegations:

RUPERT'S STORY

On or about October 15, 1999, Dr. Sheridan received for treatment a domestic short-haired orange tabby cat named Rupert for a urinary tract infection.

On or about October 16, 2000, Dr. Sheridan was trying to get a urine sample from Rupert, but was unable to do so.

Dr. Sheridan instructed Joy Cromer, a veterinary assistant, to bring him a leash. It was the kind of leash that gets tighter the harder it is pulled, like a noose.

Joy Cromer suggested that Dr. Sheridan sedate Rupert, but Dr. Sheridan became angry and again told Joy to get the leash.

Dr. Sheridan looped the leash around Rupert’s neck and held him up in the air while Rupert was gasping and fighting for breath.

Rupert was about to pass out, with his tongue hanging out, a bluish color and his bowels and bladder released. On or about October 16, 1999, when Rupert was to be picked up from Dr. Sheridan’s office, Dr. Sheridan’s staff asked Rupert’s owner to come to the back room to get Rupert because they could not get him out of his cage.

Rupert was hissing, which his owner had never seen him do before. Dr. Sheridan explained that Rupert was just a little uncomfortable from his urinary tract infection.

Later that evening, after Rupert had been taken home from Dr. Sheridan’s office, he vomited all over the floor, had severe diarrhea, and was wheezing and coughing very loudly.

The owner took Rupert to the Emergency Vet in North Charleston on Montague Avenue, but the Emergency Vet office could not determine what was wrong with Rupert.

On or about October 18, 1999, the owner brought Rupert back to Dr. Sheridan, who examined him.

Dr. Sheridan told the owner and her mother that the problem was Rupert’s urinary tract infection.

On or about November 30, 1999, to explain why Rupert was wheezing and having trouble breathing, Dr. Sheridan diagnosed Rupert with heart disease and prescribed Lasix, a heart medication, to be given in 12. 5-milligram tablets twice a day.

Relating to Rupert’s treatment, the owner’s parents, paid the following:

1. For the charges by Dr. Sheridan on October 15, 2000, $39.50
2. For the treatment by the Emergency Vet on October 18, 2000, for coughing and vomiting, $90.14.
3. On October 18, 2000, for charges by Dr. Sheridan, $58.80.
4. For alleged testing and diagnosis of Rupert with heart disease, on or about November 19, 2000, $103.90, and on November 30, 2000, $85.80.

Once the owner learned what Dr. Sheridan had done to Rupert, she took Rupert to Dr. John D. Ohlandt, D.V.M., who examined Rupert, took x-rays and determined that Rupert did not have heart disease.

On or about August 14, 2000 Dr. Ohlandt stopped the prescription for Lasix, which Dr. Sheridan had ordered.

Dr. Ohlandt found that in the opening to Rupert’s trachea, the right side was only opening partially, 20% to 30% of the width of the left side. This damage was still present ten months after the incident, and appeared to be permanent damage.

Since the incident, Rupert’s personality has gone from affectionate to defensive.