Director of Agriculture maintains new vet is qualified

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The Director of Agriculture Filifaatali Mike Fuiava has no plans to replace the newly hired veterinarian Dr. Kenneth Lameta.

The director says up to now his office has not received a single complaint concerning the new vet, although he has heard that there have been comments on social media and other forums about him.

The director believes a group inside the department is responsible for the negative comments about Dr. Lameta, mainly because he is not US trained and certified.

The director says suggestions that Dr. Lameta hasn’t practiced for a long time are not true. He had a private clinic in Samoa before moving here and in fact asked to delay starting at his position because he had already scheduled operations at his clinic.

KHJ News understands, however. that a Customs dog handler sent an email to the director expressing a lack of confidence in the vet’s handling  of drug-sniffing canine.

When the dog was taken to the DOA vet on May 8 according to the canine’s handler, the vet just squeezed and continued to squeeze the dog’s abdomen as if he was trying to pop something.  Then he said the dog needed an x ray and walked away.

The dog handler expressed the opinion that the vet “wasn’t knowledgeable enough” for his position.

Another complaint  made known to KHJ News was from a dog owner who believes her dog died after the vet gave her pet the wrong medicine.

Director Filifaatali said he has full confidence in Dr. Lameta and for now, they are awaiting the Health Regulatory Board to hold a meeting to review his application to practice medicine in the territory.