Investigation ongoing into suspended Sheb. Co. Humane vet



SHEBOYGAN (WITI) -- A veterinarian for the Sheboygan County Humane Society told authorities his boss bought drugs illegally. Days later, that boss suspended the vet over a dog fighting incident. Now, the Humane Society they both work for has brought in their attorney to sort it all out.

Dr. Frederick Lord has worked at the Sheboygan County Humane Society for the last decade. He told FOX6 News the dog fight that led to his suspension was nothing out of the ordinary. He believes the whole thing was retaliation by his boss for telling police she bought drugs using his credentials.

The Sheboygan County Humane Society's attorney disagrees.

"We had an incident here involving a fight between two dogs sometime in March and my job is to take a look at or speak with people who were involved in that incident to make sure that it was handled properly," Brad Backer said.

Backer is an employment lawyer working for the Sheboygan County Humane Society. The investigation he referenced centers around Dr. Lord. Dr. Lord says the accusations he didn't handle the incident properly are absurd.

"Everything that transpired was well within the expectations of normal shelter -- my own normal shelter experience based upon 10 years of seeing the same thing happen over and over here," Dr. Lord said.

Dr. Lord points to the recent felony charge against his boss, Sheboygan County Humane Society Executive Director Eilene Ribbens. She is accused of illegally ordering 1,000 pills of prescription painkillers using Dr. Lord's credentials. Not long after he turned her in, she suspended him.

"It's all, it's too closely, the charges against Ms. Ribbens," Dr. Lord said.

"Not as far as we're concerned. We think they're totally unrelated," Backer said.

Regardless of the motivation behind his suspension, Dr. Lord has a number of supporters. He has been the shelter's only veterinarian for the last decade, and many of his clients don't want to see that change anytime soon.

"Loved it.  Loved it, loved the people, loved what we did.  It was worth something in your life and I miss it immensely," Dr. Lord said.

The Sheboygan County Humane Society Board President did not comment on Dr. Lord's suspension or the felony charge Executive Director Ribbens faces. She did confirm, however, that Ribbens is also suspended while that investigation is ongoing.

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