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Vet Charged With Treating Human, Patient Loses Toes

GREELEY, Colo. (CBS4) - A patient had to have several toes removed after police in Greeley say a veterinarian provided medical care to him.

Police said Thursday Fran Freemyer, 78, was unauthorized to provide medical treatments to humans but did so for at least one person. He was cited for practicing medicine without a license.

Police said North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley contacted them earlier this summer about a 58-year-old man who said they were treated by Freemyer. The patient, whose identity is not being released, had to have surgery to remove three toes after seeing Freemyer.

Freemyer works at Eldred Small Animal Hospital at 1825 9th Street. Police Sgt. Susan West said Thursday the man went to him with a foot ailment and the vet gave him ointment. The problem got worse and he went to a hospital.

Freemyer told The Associated Press on Thursday that he was giving a dog skin cancer treatments and that the owner took some of the medicine home and gave it to their neighbor without his knowledge.

"I don't treat people," Freemyer said.

He said the dog, a Jack Russell terrier named "Scooter," had lesions on his back and he rubbed it with a thick topical ointment and sent the dog home. He said the woman who owns the dog somehow got some of the medicine, and when a neighbor complained of a similar ailment on his foot, the dog owner thought the medicine would help.

Police said they are concerned Freemyer may have treated other people and are asking for help from the public in investigating that.

Additional Resources

Greeley police released the following information related to this case:

At this time, police believe others may have been treated by Dr. Freemyer and are asking that anyone who may have received treatment or who may have information regarding this investigation to contact Detective Mike Heck at 970-350-9617.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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