Investigation Reveals Vaccine Clinic Conducted Without Veterinarian Oversight in Alachua County

The investigation's “Findings of Fact” report revealed that Fehl was previously involved in planning a vaccine clinic in May 2026, sponsored by the Banfield Foundation. ACAR Relief Veterinarian Dr. Hudak informed the investigators that attendance was much lower than expected and offered the unused vaccines to Fehl, but the follow-up meeting she sought did not occur.

Documents included in the investigation showed a text conversation in May between Fehl and a veterinary professor at the University of Florida, where Fehl sought student volunteers for a larger clinic on either August 22 or August 29. However, the professor indicated those dates were unsuitable, and it's unclear whether Fehl pursued alternative arrangements.

Interviews with veterinary staff and Interim ACAR Director Dianne Sauve indicated that having a veterinarian present at vaccination clinics is standard practice and legally required for rabies vaccines. While Florida statutes allow certain exceptions for animals in custody of an animal control authority, investigators clarified that privately owned pets were vaccinated during the August clinic, thus violating state law.

The report found no evidence that ACAR’s leadership was involved in planning the clinic, nor were there any approved documents or guidelines regarding the event. Furthermore, no approval was found for the use of County resources such as staff, vaccines, or microchips.

While Dr. Hudak was mentioned in discussions about the number of vaccines available for the clinic, she denied recalling any conversations about it. Similarly, staff veterinarian Dr. Emma Johnson also denied having discussions related to the event. After the clinic, D’Azzo reportedly claimed she had notified Dr. Johnson about the lack of a veterinarian scheduled, but Dr. Johnson did not remember the conversation, with no corroborating response from a veterinary student who allegedly witnessed it.

Prior to the clinic, D’Azzo sent an event list that included the August 22 clinic to Public Information Officer Andrew Caplan, but did not include Sauve. The event went largely unpublicized by the County's Communications Department, and information about it was shared primarily through an informal messaging group on August 20, along with postings on the ACAR Facebook page just before the event.

During the clinic, held on August 22, 29 pets were vaccinated, although details about the pet owners were not disclosed. Volunteer Chris Deutsch later reported that at least 12 of the pet owners were ACAR employees, with at least 30 pets owned by staff receiving vaccinations. Total vaccinations administered reached 122.

Dr. Johnson expressed that she discovered her name and license number were used on certificates for the vaccinations after the clinic. Investigators confirmed that Fehl directed a Senior Staff Assistant to fill out vaccination records using Dr. Johnson’s credentials, which led to some records being altered to falsely indicate she examined the animals. The documentation remains unchanged as of the investigation's conclusion, leaving no official records of the rabies vaccinations for pet owners.

Fehl allegedly suggested to colleagues that Dr. Hudak had forgotten about the event when queried about the absence of a veterinarian, although the investigation found no evidence supporting this claim. Moreover, several staff members reported that Fehl had been informed weeks prior that Dr. Hudak was unaware of the vaccine clinic.

Neither D’Azzo nor Fehl participated in the investigation interviews. The inquiry concluded that Fehl organized the clinic without necessary approvals or adequate staffing, showing a disregard for available resources from the Banfield Foundation and failing to adhere to legal requirements for rabies vaccinations. The report also indicated that both Fehl and D’Azzo were aware of the legal distinctions regarding rabies vaccination statutes.

While the investigation aimed to assess whether action against employees was warranted, the documents provided to Alachua Chronicle did not specify any disciplinary measures following the findings; both D’Azzo and Fehl are no longer employed by the County.