The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration executed a search warrant at the Lowell Animal Hospital Wednesday for information about a canine cough prescription, according to the hospital.
Lowell Animal Hospital, located in the 17000 block of Morse Street, first posted on Facebook Wednesday morning that it would be closed “until further notice,” before issuing a second post that it would reopen at 2 p.m.
Later in the day, the hospital posted an update that staff received “an unexpected phone call that the DEA sought to execute a search warrant for records related to a single canine cough prescription they perceived was being prescribed with too much frequency.”
“In compliance with the subpoena, the records for this single canine cough prescription were disclosed to DEA officials, a review of records reveals the issuance of this prescription falls in line with dosage instructions,” according to the animal hospital’s post.
The hospital post states that the frequency and duration of the medication are what led to the subpoena, and it has complied with providing the agency with all the information it requested.
“We understand and appreciate that the DEA has the duty to observe and investigate any perceived prescription anomalies,” according to the post.
A receptionist at the hospital told the Post-Tribune Thursday to refer to the statement posted on Facebook before ending the call.
Luis Agostini, a spokesman for the DEA Chicago Field Division, confirmed that the Drug Enforcement Administration Merrillville District Office executed a federal search warrant at the Lowell Animal Hospital Wednesday morning “as part of an ongoing investigation related to alleged diversion of controlled substances.”
“The canine cough prescription narrative originated from Lowell Animal Hospital, not the DEA. The search warrant that was signed by a federal judge out of the Northern District of Indiana is currently under seal,” Agostini said. “Additional information will be made available at the appropriate time.”
akukulka@post-trib.com
