


A former “Best Vet of the Year” claims she was canned after exposing a Long Island animal hospital that used unlicensed physicians and overdosed pets with fentanyl, a Brooklyn Federal Court lawsuit charges.
Dr. Mariana Pardo, 42, of Westchester, was hired in July 2022 as a critical care specialist at the Animal Surgical Center of Long Island.
Pardo was hired by the hospital’s founder, Dr. Tomas Infernuso, to establish the Oceanside center’s emergency department, according to the Jan. 10 filing.
Infernuso “lured Dr. Pardo into a highly dysfunctional and unethical veterinary practice,” the suit charges. “Dr. Pardo quickly became aware of a litany of unlawful and unethical practices taking place at ASC.”
Pardo expressed concerns that ASC used unlicensed veterinary technicians to do medical records, monitor anesthesia and administer intravenous meds, the documents charge.
care specialist at the Animal Surgical Center of Long Island. COURTESY OF Dr. Mariana Pardo
In January 2023, an assistant gave an animal 20 times the recommended dose of fentanyl, leading to an overdose that Pardo “was luckily able to reverse,” court papers claim.
The practice “exposed ASC’s patients — peoples’ cherished pets — to serious danger,” the court docs allege.
After Pardo, a 15-year vet, reported the issues to the human resources department, she claims Infernuso retaliated by “harassing her, refusing her pregnancy accommodations and eventually terminating her employment” in May 2023, the complaint charges.
practice,” the suit charges. Facebook Dr. Tomas Infernuso
The Brooklyn Federal Court lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
Infernuso “flouted numerous laws that are in place to ensure that animals receive appropriate medical care and then doubled down by firing Dr. Pardo after she raised complaints about this conduct,” said her attorney, David Gottlieb.
Pardo was named “Best Emergency Veterinarian of the Year” for 2023 by veterinary news group DVM360.
Infernuso did not return messages.