OSAKA - Police investigating the deaths of seven dogs and cats at a pet shop have discovered that the business allegedly obtained powerful prescription drugs illegally from a veterinarian for several years, allowing unlicensed staff to administer the medicines in an apparent effort to reduce operating costs.
Four people, including Yasuyuki Amami, the head of the company operating the pet shop, are suspected of instructing employees without veterinary licenses to administer highly potent drugs to nine dogs and cats, seven of which subsequently died.
In a related investigation, veterinarian Hiromi Noda and another individual are suspected of selling pharmaceutical products to the pet shop without the required authorization in February this year.
Further police inquiries have revealed that Noda and his associates are believed to have been supplying medicines illegally to Amami's pet shop for several years, suggesting that the practice was not an isolated incident but part of an established arrangement.
Investigators suspect that Amami and others sought to reduce personnel expenses and other operating costs by obtaining medicines directly from Noda and having unlicensed employees administer them instead of relying on qualified veterinarians.
Police believe the practice was carried out systematically, with staff repeatedly instructed to administer the drugs despite lacking the necessary veterinary qualifications.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the suspected illegal drug supply arrangement and the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the seven animals, focusing on whether cost-cutting measures led to repeated violations of veterinary and pharmaceutical regulations.
Source: YOMIURI
