The medical director at the Pennsylvania SPCA was fired yesterday after shelter officials learned he was the attending veterinarian at a Philadelphia kennel, according to a Fox 29 report.
Dr. Ravi Murarka was employed by the PSPCA for two decades and his work saving sick and injured animals was featured prominently in the recent Animal Planet series, Animal Cops: Philadelphia.
But he apparently also worked as a veterinarian at a local licensed kennel that had recently received a poor inspection report. A state inspection on March 5 revealed Blood Brothers kennel kept eight dogs in a poorly lit basement with broken fencing that posed a threat to the dogs. The kennel owner was cited for failing to have proof of rabies shots for two of the dogs. The shelter said it dismissed Murarka because of a conflict of interest.
To see the story on Fox 29 last night click here.
Unbelievable. Why was this just discovered? How can the PSPCA employ such people and get away with it? Something needs to change.— Garrett- Lets see, vet has been working there for 20 years vs. an alligation. There has to be more to this story. For instance, when did he 'do work' for them? How much work was involved and was he paid for it? Sounds to me the powers that be didn't want to pay him his salary b/c he had been there for a long time and his salary is probably higher than what they could pay a vet just out of school. They are trying to cut costs.
- Regardless- Ravi Muraka is a kind and compassionate person. Wrongdoing on his part is very hard to believe. His employers however have a track record that speaks otherwise.— Ono Doken
- i would like to hear more about the story. was dr. muraka working in the home? was he able to see the conditions himself? i think fox 29 said something about the dogs possibly being bred to fight so i'm wondering if this is the main 'conflict of interest.' just seems like there are a lot of holes for such an abrupt termination (again). i can't imagine how difficult any kind of job at the spca must be and the burnout rate is incredible. there should definitely be some accountability somewhere but with everything going on, i don't know who would even want these jobs, no matter how much someone loves animals :(— bushkasmom
- I am a friend of Dr Ravi Murarka and stunned to know what happened to him after around 18 years of dedicated service with SPCA. As far as I know Dr Ravi Murarka, he is a very down to earth and has great love towards animal and admirable passion towards his work. He is always there to help the animals. Just to bring out recent event which I came across with him. We had a get together last week on Saturday at one of my friend place. Dr Ravi was also invited. We came to know that he could not attend as he was operating on 100+ Cats in Easton Animal Hospital in Lehigh Valley in Easton, PA. I believe it was during same time he was terminated but still continuing to provide his voluntary services. I am still in disbelieve and feel very sorry for him for the things he has to undergo after his dedicated 18+ years of service at SPCA.— S_Prince
- I have known Dr. Murarka since a long time. He is a very patient, helpful, caring Vet who has the deepest compassions and concerns for animals. Whenever i need help with my dog, he has made sure that my dog gets the best care and treatment. I have also seen and heard of his dedication and concerns to save so many animals as also evident in the Animal Planet series.I marvel at what he has done for animails .His commitment to SPCA is admirable. I am sure that SPCA has a very prommsing 18-year-record of his diligence and dedication to SPCA and his profound care for all the animals!!! I wonder how can SPCA afford to lose him!!!!!!!!— kyawtun
- I know Dr. Murarka over 10 years and seen his good work being done for PSPCA. The story looks like a frame up. A person who kept the kennel in such a condition and with false report, there is a high chance that he can cheat a doctor by not letting him know about his pets history. Dr Murarka had his own clinic since long time and even PSPCA site had mentioned it in his resume. Being a veterinarian I know that there is a remote chance that the clients coming to the clinic give complete information about their pets or what they plan to do with them. Fox news claim that they could be potentially be sold for dog fights is a claim that can be used on any pit-bull owner. If they have the proof that the owner of the dogs was doing so they would not have used the word "could be". Within last year PSPCA has forced a number of color minority veterinarian and technicians from their center who have worked for long. There is something more to the story than what has been told.— animallover
- Garrett, I wonder... have you ever worked with Dr. Murarka? Have you ever even met him? Please don't contribute to the destruction of his reputation when you know zero facts about the situation or the man.— kittysaver
- This has such an odor. The man is a true hero. He helps animals NO ONE else will help. One of the good guys at the hellhole PSPCA slaughterhouse masquerading as a "shelter." So let's see, the state licensed the kennel and he provided vaccines but he was supposed to not vaccinate dogs because he had some duty to decide if the kennel the state licensed was in actuality acceptable? Does anyone even know if this vet ever even saw this kennel? Not that it matters, passing approval on kennels is not his job. Maybe without him these poor dogs would have had no one at all. This is so trumped up. Harrise Yaron, Board Chair and the acting President Beth Anne White...NO sheltering experience. Yaron actually sued a township because her 10 year old got cut from a soccer team (she lost and got ordered to pay 30K in legal fees--nice lady, huh?) These people don't care about animals. Dr. Murarka does and now these poor animals are totally at the mercy of the board and president. So sad. Using poor homeless animals to carry out a personal agenda.— lilanimaluvr
- The SPCA made a big mistake to get rid of a very loving and dedicated Dr. He is the only person that the SPCA actually had who cares about the animals and wants to treat them not just Euthanize them because it is easier or cheaper than treating them.. If it was not for the experiance and devotion of Dr. Ravi Murarka my now one and a half year old white kitten named Chloe would no longer be with me. Dr. Murarka was voluntering at an animal shelter in Jersey on his vacation doing spays and neuters. I brought Chloe and my dog Chance there to get fixed. Everything went well for Chance but Chloe was not so lucky. I picked them up when I recieved a phone call saying they were all finished and doing great. When I got them home I noticed Chloe was being really lethargic and she was pale, her nose ears the pads on her feet everything was white. I rushed her back to the clinic and Dr. Murarka opened her back up to fix what he thought was a broken stitch, unfortunitly that was not the problem. Chloe had a lot of blood in her abdomen and was dying from so much blood loss. Dr. Murarka quickly rushed her to his clinic in Philly and started to give her a blood tranfusion. He stayed with her all night at his clinic on his own time and saved my cats life. It was not known at the time of surgery but Chloe had an unknown blood clotting disorder. Dr. Ravi Murarka went above and beyond what any other vet would have done to save my cats life. If it was any other Dr. doing surgeries that day she would prabably not be with me today. Dr. Ravi Murarka did all this because he is in this business for all the right reasons, to care for animals. I met Dr. Murarka that day never to prabably see him again after he fixed my animals, but after everything he did for Chloe and seeing his passion for his work Dr. Ravi Murarka is now my Veterinarian for all my animals.— llavacca
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