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'Upsetting': Vet says break-in at clinic likely tied to drugs

'It's probably the fentanyl and ketamine, and we don’t have that,' says Barrie veterinarian
04232024vetclinicbreakin
An employee cleans up broken glass after a break-in at Simcoe Veterinary Hospital on Steel Street in Barrie on Tuesday morning.

Barrie police responded to a break-in this morning at a small veterinary clinic in the city's east end. 

Just before 7 a.m. on April 23, officers arrived at the scene at Steel and Duckworth streets to find a glass door smashed.

Police were responding to a call about an “unsecured premises,” Barrie police communications coordinator Peter Leon said, adding there was no further information available as the investigation continues.

Veterinarian Katrin Schmidt, owner of Simcoe Veterinary Hospital, told BradfordToday and InnisfilToday she believes the incident occurred around 2 a.m.

She thinks the perpetrator was after the controlled drugs used in veterinary medicine and did not take any of the cash on hand.

“The police were very prompt and very thorough,” Schmidt said. “We have security cameras, so there is footage. The neighbours were very helpful, and they have footage as well.

“It's probably the fentanyl and ketamine, and we don’t have that,” she speculated. ”A lot of the stuff they’re looking for is probably not what we have.”

Schmidt described the incident as “upsetting and people feel violated.”

She also noted they've had to reschedule some of their patients, and they hope to be up and running again this afternoon.



Kevin Lamb

About the Author: Kevin Lamb

Kevin Lamb picked up a camera in 2000 and by 2005 was freelancing for the Barrie Examiner newspaper until its closure in 2017. He is an award-winning photojournalist, with his work having been seen in many news outlets across Canada and internationally
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