2023 Citations and Disciplinary Actions

Licensed Citations

Mei-Tal, Chaim (VET 5528)
Northridge Pet Hospital (HSP 3151)
Northridge, CA
On May 15, 2023, a $5,000 citation was issued to Chaim Mei Tal (VET 5528) and Northridge Pet Hospital (HSP 3151) for the following: failure to ensure, as the Managing Licensee, that Northridge Pet Hospital met the minimum standards; veterinary assistants obtained and administered controlled substances without a Veterinary Assistant Controlled Substance Permit; failure to train unregistered assistants in the area of radiation safety prior to operation of radiographic equipment; failure to verify whether required sanitary attire was being used; failure to keep the surgery suite free of non-surgical supplies; the controlled drug safe was unlocked and accessible to all staff member; failure to enter all required information into the drug logs; failure to post a notice of “No Staff on Premises”; record keeping violations. (BPC §§ 4829.5; 4836.1; 4840.7 (b); 4854; & 4883 (c), (g)(3), (j), & (o); & CFR, Title 21, §§ 1301.75 (a) & (b); & 1304.22 (c); & CCR, Title 16, §§ 2030 (d)(3), (f)(6), (g)(1-5) &(11); 2030.05 (b) & (c); 2032.3 (a)(1), (9), & (11); & 2032.4 (b)(1)). Click here to obtain a copy of the action or view the licensee’s profile.

Popa, Don Dumitru (VET 12935)
San Jacinto, CA
On April 17, 2023, a $5,000 modified citation was issued to Don Dumitru Popa (VET 12935) for the following: failing to provide postoperative pain control; failure to ensure, as the Managing Licensee, that Ramona Animal Clinic (HSP 5347) met the minimum standards for fixed veterinary premises, including aseptic surgical services and a controlled substance log; and record keeping violations. (BPC §§ 4829.5 (d); 4883 (c), (g)(3), (i) & (o); CFR, Title 21, § 1304.11 (a) & (c); & CCR, Title 16, §§ 2030 (f)(6) & (g)(3); 2032.3 (a)(2), (5), (7) & (9); & 2032.4 (b)(6)). Click here to obtain a copy of the action or view the licensee’s profile.

Hicks, Terry Robert (VET 6321)
Palm Desert, CA
On February 24, 2023, a $5,000 citation was issued to Terry Robert Hicks (VET 6321) for THE following: failing to perform a dental procedure on a patient without indication of a plan or cause and without obtaining informed consent prior to the procedure, failing to obtain and secure intravenous access to a patient prior to or during anesthesia or when cardiopulmonary arrest was recognized, failing to perform orotracheal intubation on a patient prior to providing Isoflurane general anesthesia, during the dental procedure, or after initiation of basic life support during arrest, administering an inappropriate dose of epinephrine to a patient during cardiopulmonary resuscitation, failing to place an intravenous catheter, orotracheal intubation for end-tidal carbon dioxide monitoring/drug administration, and placement of electrocardiogram during care of the arrested patient, and failing to perform a physical examination of a patient within 12 hours prior to the administration of general anesthetic. The citation was satisfied on March 20, 2023. (BPC § 4883 (i) & (o); & CCR, Title 16, § 2032.4 (b)(1)). Click here to obtain a copy of the action or view the licensee’s profile.

Unlicensed Citations

Gross, Gabriele “Gabi”
Orange County, CA
Effective April 27, 2023, a $5,000 citation was affirmed and fine was reduced to $4,000 and was issued to Gabriele “Gabi” Gross for the following: practicing veterinary medicine without a license by representing herself as providing veterinary services such as examining, diagnosing, and recommending treatment and was legally recorded interpreting and providing opinion on blood tests, examining, assessing health, diagnosing, and prescribing treatment, for an equine patient. (BPC §§ 4825 (a) & (b) & 4826 (a) & (b)). Click here to obtain a copy of the action.

Moland, Aisha (RVT 16344)
Sacramento, CA
Effective April 6, 2023, the license of Aisha Moland (RVT 16344) was issued a three (3) year probationary registration. Respondent is prohibited from supervising students, interns, or residents. Click here to obtain a copy of the action or view the licensee’s profile.

Byrd, J. Wade (VET 10381)
Lake Elsinore, CA
Effective April 5, 2023, the license of J. Wade Byrd (VET 10381) was placed on probation for four (4) years. Respondent is prohibited from supervising students, interns, or residents. Click here to obtain a copy of the action or view the licensee’s profile.

Lee, Perng (VET 7870)
La Palma, CA
On February 16, 2023, an Accusation and Petition to Revoke Probation was filed against the license of Perng Lee (VET 7870) for the following: negligence and/or incompetence -unnecessarily euthanizing a patient; unprofessional conduct – administering drugs without establishing Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship and failure to establish a Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship; and violated probation – failure to obey all laws. (BPC § 4883 (g) & (i); & CCR, Title 16, § 2032.1 (a), & (b)(1-3)). Click here to obtain a copy of the action or view the licensee’s profile.

Kotlarenko, Marina (VET 11011)
Los Angeles, CA
On January 27, 2023, an Accusation and Petition to Revoke Probation was filed against the license of Marina Kotlarenko (VET 11011) for the following: negligence and/or incompetence -  administering Dexamethasone SP to a patient with a known heart murmur, failure to document a patient’s physical examination, assessment, history and weight; unprofessional conduct - failure to establish a Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship; incomplete medical records; and violated probation – failure to obey all laws. (BPC § 4883 (g), (i), & (o); & CCR, Title 16, §§ 2032.1 (b)(3) & 2032.3 (a)(1), (a)(6), & (a)(8)). Click here to obtain a copy of the action or view the licensee’s profile.

Constantino Gomez, Miguel Angel (VET 21227)
San Diego, CA
On May 19, 2023, an Accusation was filed against Miguel Angel Constantino Gomez (VET 21227) for the following: negligence – failure to perform a physical examination of patient; failure to recognize patient’s neck swelling as a hematoma from a jugular puncture; failure to perform a physical examination within 12 hours of general anesthesia on patient; failure to perform further evaluation or diagnostics of patient, despite showing signs of petechiae; failure to recommend or run a complete blood cell count on patient who was showing signs of potential thrombocytopenia; failure to perform a physical examination of patient when presented for the second time, after discharge from surgery with neck swelling; & record keeping violation. (BPC § 4883 (i) & (o); & CCR, Title 16, § 2032.3 (a)(11)). Click here to obtain a copy of the action or view the licensee’s profile.

Botros, Samir S. (VET 12321)
AAA Animal Hospital (HSP 2972)
Orange County Humane Society (HSP 37676)
Huntington Beach, CA
On May 19, 2023, an Accusation was filed against Samir S. Botros (VET 12321), AAA animal Hospital (HSP 2972), and Orange County Humane Society (HSP 37676) for the following: unprofessional conduct – dispensing dangerous drugs without medical necessity to six patients and failure to establish a Veterinarian-Client-Patient-Relationship for two patients; failure to comply with minimum standards for Orange County Humane Society and AAA Animal Hospital; failure to post X-ray regulations at premised facility; failure to complete X-ray safety training for seven unregistered veterinary assistants; failure to comply with sanitation requirements; failure to provide drug consultation to nine patients; violation of Board regulations – lack of supervision of veterinary assistant for one patient; and record keeping violations – as veterinarian for ten patients and as Managing Licensee for 14 patients. (BPC §§ 30255 (b)(2), 4170 (a)(2), 4829.5, 4836.1 (b), 4840.7 (b), 4854, 4855, 4883 (c), (g)(3), & (o); CCR, Title 16, §§ 2030 (d), (f)(4), (6), & (10), 2030.05, 2030.5, 2032.1, 2032.3 (a), (1), (4), (5), (7-11), & (13), 2032.4 (b)(1), & (6), & 2035 (c)). Click here to obtain a copy of the action or view the licensee’s profile.

Khalek, Ahmed A. (VET 7353)
Angelus Pet Hospital (HSP 163)
Glendale, CA
On May 19, 2023, an Accusation was filed against Ahmed A. Khalek (VET 7353) and Angelus Pet Hospital (HSP 163) for the following: negligence – failure to administer an adequate dose of Epinephrine when cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed on a patient, and provide humane treatment by failing to minimize pain and distress before and after performing procedures on eight patients; unprofessional conduct – failure to establish a Veterinarian-Client-Patient-Relationship before treatment on 14 patients, and altering medical records; record keeping violations; failure to adhere to proper sanitary attire protocol; failure to post Title 17 radiological notice; failure to show proper collimation of radiographs; failure to comply with law concerning expired drugs and maintain a drug log; failure to maintain drug security controls; and failure to maintain accurate or complete drug logs. (BPC §§ 4169 (a)(4), 4342, 4854, 4855, & 4883 (c), (g), (g)(3), (i), & (o); CCR, Title 16, §§ 2030 (g)(11), (f)(4) & (6), 2030.05 (b), 2032, 2032.05, 2032.1 (a) & (b)(2), 2032.2, 2032.3 (a)(1), (2), (4), & (7-12), & (b)(6), 2032.4 (b)(1) & (6), & 2032.35; CCR, Title 17, § 30255 (b)(2); & CCR, Title 21, §§ 1304.22 (c), & 1301.75). Click here to obtain a copy of the action or view the licensee’s profile.

Mumah, Emmanuel Tamajong (VET 17511)
Abel Veterinary Hospital Inc. (HSP 38969)
Milpitas, CA
On March 23, 2023, a First Amended Accusation was filed against Emmanuel Tamajong Mumah (VET 17511) and Abel Veterinary Hospital Inc. (HSP 38969) for the following: negligence/incompetence – failure to order and/or perform appropriate testing, failure to recommend monitoring at a 24-hour animal care facility, failure to recommend appropriate diagnostic testing, failure to perform physical examinations, failure to properly prescribe and/or evaluate a patient after dispensing medications, failure to refer a patient to a specialist, proceeding with elective surgery despite abnormal examination findings, failure to discuss abnormal physical examination findings with owner, failure to recommend a physical examination; and unprofessional conduct – altering medical records; and record keeping violations. (BPC § 4883 (c), (g), (i), & (o); CCR, Title 16, § 2032.3). Click here to obtain a copy of the action or view the licensee's profile.

Buntrock, Larry Richard (VET 5614)
Citrus Heights, CA
On March 20, 2023, an Accusation was filed against Larry Richard Buntrock (VET 5614) for the following: negligence – elective surgery without having sufficient diagnostic studies and recommended amputation during surgery without scientific information supporting; recommendation; and illegible and incomplete medical records. (BPC § 4883 (i) & (o); & CCR, Title 16, § 2032.3 (a), (a)(6), (9), & (12)). Click here to obtain a copy of the action or view the licensee's profile.

Singh, Baltej (VET 20170)
Lathrop, CA
On March 16, 2023, an Accusation was filed against Baltej Singh (VET 20170) for the following: negligence committed during the care and treatment of five patients, incompetence evidenced during the care and treatment of two patients, inhumane treatment during the care and treatment of three patients, anesthesia violations committed during the care and treatment of three patients, and recordkeeping requirement not met during the care and treatment of four patients. (BPC §§ 4883 (i) & (o), & 4855; & CCR, Title 16, §§ 2032.3 (a)(7-9), (11-13) & (c)(2)(A-C), 2032.4 (b)(4), & 2032.05). Click here to obtain a copy of the action or view the licensee's profile.

Campos, Juan (VET 13721)
Corona, CA
On February 28, 2023, an Accusation was filed against Juan Campos (VET 13721) for the following: negligence - patient was euthanized and their thorax was held down with pressure for two minutes until patient’s residual bradycardia and agonal breaths stopped, failed to provide humane treatment to a patient when he euthanized them, and failure to create an adequate written record. (BPC §§ 4883 (i) & (o); 4885; & CCR, Title 16, § 2032.05 & 2032.3 (a)(6)). Click here to obtain a copy of the action or view the licensee’s profile.

Slaton, Daniel (VET 15324)
Thousand Oaks, CA
On February 27, 2023, an Accusation was filed against Daniel Slaton (VET 15324) for the following: negligence - placing a screw hole too close to osteotomy site, incorrectly prescribing dilute cefazolin to assist in the healing of an incision, failure to provide appropriate doses of medication, failure to correctly administer medication, failure to complete routine examinations, failure in prescribing correct medications at the appropriate time, failure in completing preoperative planning concerning a substandard surgery, failure to complete an adequate written record, failure to show tibial tuberosity connected to the tibia, failure to provide humane treatment and violation of adopted regulations, and failure in creating an adequate written record. (BPC § 4883 (g), (i), & (o); & CCR, Title 16, §§ 2032.1 (b)(3) & 2032.3 (a)(1), (a)(6-13)). Click here to obtain a copy of the action or view the licensee’s profile.

Speir, James E. (VET 13859)
Lambertville, NJ
Effective April 21, 2023, the license of James E. Speir (VET 13859), was surrendered. Click here to obtain a copy of the action or view the licensee’s profile.

Robbins, Gretchen (RVT 6971)
Antelope, CA
Effective April 5, 2023, the license of Gretchen Robbins (RVT 6971) was surrendered. Click here to obtain a copy of the action or view the licensee’s profile.

Tibayan, Rey G (VET 6356)
Diamond Bar, CA
Effective January 2, 2023, the license of Rey G. Tibayan (VET 6356) and Pet Crusade Animal Health, Inc. (HSP 7120) were surrendered. Click here to obtain a copy of the action or view the licensee’s profile.

Park, Hong Rak (VET 6707)
Fullerton, CA
Effective April 3, 2023, Hong Rak Park (VET 6707) was granted a Petition for Reinstatement of his Veterinarian License (VET 6707) and placed on probation for three (3) years. Petitioner is prohibited from supervising students, interns, or residents; shall not practice veterinary medicine until a supervisor is approved by the Board or its designee; shall not have any new legal or beneficial interest in any veterinary business, firm, partnership, or corporation for the duration of Petitioner’s probation; and shall not manage or function as the responsible licensee manager for any veterinary hospital for the duration of Petitioner’s probation. Click here to obtain a copy of the action or view the licensee’s profile.

Sandhu, Davinder Singh (VET 11425)
Modesto, CA
On May 16, 2023, a Petition to Revoke Probation was filed against the license of Davinder Singh Sandhu (VET 11425) for the following: failing to comply with terms of probation: complete continuing education, complete ethics training, submit quarterly reports, and pay cost recovery.Click here to obtain a copy of the action or view the licensee's profile.

Ziegler, Angie Christine (RVT 8448)
Ladera Ranch, CA
On April 25, 2023, a Petition to Revoke Probation was filed against the license of Angie Christine Ziegler (RVT 8448) for the following: failing to comply with terms of probation: submit quarterly reports, cooperate with board staff, submit probation monitoring costs, maintain a current and active license, submit cost recovery, participate in continuing prevention and support groups, and submit to drug testing. Click here to obtain a copy of the action or view the licensee's profile.

Zucco, Clifford Allison (VET 11701)
Williams Animal Clinic (HSP 2927)
Williams, CA
On May 23, 2023, an Accusation was filed against Clifford Allison Zucco (VET 6300) for the following: failure to keep facility and equipment clean and sanitary, failure to ensure premises met the minimum standards, nontransferable premises registration, violation of law regulating dangerous drugs and controlled substances, connection with illegal practitioner, aiding and abetting unlawful activity, and violations of Veterinary Medicine Act, and Williams Animals Clinic (HSP 2927) for the following: operating without a responsible Licensee Manager, suspension of Licensee Manager, unlicensed practice of veterinary medicine, failure to meet minimum standards. (BPC §§ 125, 4825, 4853 (f), 4853.6 (a)(1-2) & (c), 4854, 4883 (b), (c), (g)(3), (h), (j), & (o); GC § 11529; CCR, Title 16, §§ 2030 (a), (b)(5), (c), (c)(2), (d)(2), (f)(2), (6), (8), (10), (g)(6), (7), (g)(8)(B), (9), (11), & (h); 2030.05; CFR, Title 21, § 1301.75; & HSC § 111335). Click here to obtain a copy of the action or view the licensee's profile.

Volz, Charles Winston (VACSP 1115)
Dos Palos, CA
San Jose, CA
Effective April 3, 2023, the license of Charles Winston Volz (VACSP 1115) was revoked Click here to obtain a copy of the action or view the licensee's profile.