Cherry Eye Surgery Without Anesthesia
Unlicensed employees cut eye glands from conscious dogs on a near-daily basis, without anesthesia, blood control, or aftercare.
What this is
Cherry eye is the prolapse of the nictitating membrane gland — the third eyelid. Proper treatment is medication or a delicate surgical procedure performed by a veterinarian under anesthesia. At Ridglan, the procedure was performed by three unlicensed employees (Leah Staley, Jim Hiltbrandt, Al Olson) who cut the gland out with no anesthesia, no blood control, and no aftercare. Dogs were held down by other staff while the procedure was performed.
Why it happens
Cherry eye is common in beagle breeding colonies. Rather than pay for veterinary treatment, Ridglan delegated the surgery to untrained staff as a cost-saving measure. Gilbertson testified it was a 'standard operating practice' tracked on a whiteboard.
Impact on animals
Dogs thrashed in pain, yelped, and bled profusely during the procedure. The wholesale removal of the nictitating membrane leaves dogs with chronic 'dry eye' — a permanent painful condition. Dr. Rosenberg testified the procedure amounts to mutilation.