Published Reports on LIVS —
Dr. Catherine Loughin & Dr. Dominic Marino

Attestation of Dr. Tomas Infernuso, DVM

"It is consistent with past behavior that LIVS in effect contradicts its own previous endorsements and manipulates records to undermine its former residents."

— Timothy B. Glynn, Esq., quoted in NYSCEF Doc. No. 37, Index No. 156635/2019

The City NYC reported that a Manhattan resident filed a lawsuit against Long Island Veterinary Specialists after his 14-year-old border collie died following MRI procedures at the Plainview facility. According to The City's reporting, the lawsuit charged that a doctor at LIVS "lied about her expertise, ordered an unnecessary — and dangerous — MRI and proposed risky surgery designed to make more money." (link)

The City reported that the dog's regular veterinarians at the Animal Medical Center in Manhattan had assessed the limp as likely due to arthritis. According to the lawsuit as reported by The City, after MRI procedures at LIVS the dog was left unable to walk. The lawsuit alleged the dog "suffered from urine and fecal burns during his stay at the Long Island clinic." (link)

The City reported that the plaintiff filed a complaint against Long Island Veterinary Specialists with the NYS Office of Professional Discipline, sued LIVS civilly, and worked with State Sen. Liz Krueger on a proposed legislative reform package. The plaintiff sought $25,000 in compensatory damages plus punitive damages and pledged to donate any award to an animal charity. (link)

LIVS attorney Alexander Bateman Jr. denied the allegations, telling The City the clinic's doctors "are always scrupulous in treating pets in their care," and that veterinarians who considered the MRI unnecessary "are either lacking in sufficient education and experience, or were provided incomplete and inaccurate information." (link)

The New York Post reported in July 2019 that a dog owner claimed their pet died following an MRI procedure at a Long Island veterinary facility. The article was published immediately after coverage of the lawsuit against Long Island Veterinary Specialists, constituting a second published account of an alleged adverse MRI outcome at a Long Island veterinary facility in the same period. (link)

The International Business Times reported on the lawsuit against LIVS, stating that court documents alleged the facility conducted "two costly and risky MRI's during which the pooch was forced into a position that damaged the spine and left it paralyzed." (link)

According to IBTimes' reporting on the lawsuit, a LIVS technician reportedly told the dog's owner she had "seen this [paralysis] happen before and it is because of how they twist and position the dog for the MRI." (link) The suit, as reported by IBTimes, alleged LIVS's "office culture of pushing unnecessary, inappropriate and lucrative services…designed primarily to maximize LIVS's profits" caused the dog's suffering and death. (link)

LIVS denied all allegations through its attorney, stating that outside veterinarians who considered the MRI unnecessary "are either lacking in sufficient education and experience, or were provided incomplete and inaccurate information." (link)

MEAWW reported on the lawsuit against LIVS, noting the suit alleged LIVS staff attributed the dog's post-MRI paralysis and incontinence to medication rather than spinal injury. According to MEAWW's reporting, the owner alleged he was not permitted to observe physical therapy sessions, and a nurse told him the dog had missed at least two scheduled treatments. (link)

When the dog was finally transferred, that facility's veterinarian reportedly told the owner the spinal injury was "due to improper handling, positioning or impact during and after the MRI," and that the procedure was "totally inappropriate for a mild limp and way too risky, especially since they already knew arthritis was causing the mild limp." (link)

The New York Post reported in August 2025 that grieving pet owners alleged a Long Island animal hospital charged $2,500 per night while providing false information about their pet's condition. The owners stated they discovered the true state of their pet only upon arrival, contradicting updates they had been receiving. (link)

The City NYC and NBC New York reported on a five-year analysis of NYS disciplinary records, finding the Board of Regents took 70 disciplinary actions against approximately 12,000 licensed veterinary professionals between 2013 and 2019. The investigation found that vets found to have botched procedures "were often back at work within a few months, rarely ordered to undergo additional training, and never had to personally post a notice on their office front doors." (link)

The investigation reported that the Office of Professional Discipline's own director of investigations acknowledged in a FOIL response he lacked the resources to physically review 1,202 outstanding complaint files. (link)

The City NYC reported that New York remained one of only 13 states classifying pets as property, meaning malpractice damages are typically capped at the animal's market value — making legal action against facilities like LIVS financially impractical for most pet owners. Attorney Karen Copeland was quoted: "There should be more accountability on the part of vets. It's not good. They give vets so much latitude. It's pretty incredible." (link)

The City also noted that veterinarians in New York "are also rarely disciplined for faulty care and the probes can drag on for years," per its own 2019 investigation. (link)