Vet Tech Accused of Swiping Pets' Medications

A 30-year-old Sarasota woman faces a host of charges after deputies say she stole drugs from two veterinary clinics she worked for.

Both Critical Vet Care, 4937 S. Tamiami Trail, and Companion Animal Neurology, 7005 S. Tamiami Trail, reported thefts of controlled substances back in May, the sheriff’s office stated in a media release. Those crime reports prompted an investigation that led detectives to Danielle Bennett, who was a former employee of both clinics.

“When contacted by investigators, she admitted stealing controlled substances including, fentanyl, midazolam and diazepam,” the media release stated.

Bennett turned herself into the sheriff’s office Wednesday and was charged with four felony counts of grand theft of a controlled substance. She was booked into the Sarasota County Jail and later released in lieu of $6,000 bond.

Sheriff Tom Knight warns that as the state has clamped access to prescription drugs through doctors and medical facilities, veterinary clinics may see a rise in thefts and encounters with pet owners seeking pharmaceutical drugs for their own personal use.

“Pharmaceutical diversion is generally thought of as an offense perpetrated only by persons visiting practitioners, like physicians, dentists and others who treat people,” Knight said in the media release. “The increased efforts of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and the effectiveness of the Florida Prescription Drug Monitoring Program have caused some people to seek controlled substances from nontraditional sources like this.”

Booking photo courtesy of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office