Kirkpatrick’s home was raided by law enforcement this past weekend, and dozens of animals, alive and dead, were removed from her home north of Creal Springs.
“Criminal charges are not going to help in this case,” said Davis, of Carbondale. “She needs assistance of various kinds, and especially mental health assistance.”
Friends described Kirkpatrick, a longtime veterinarian who recently had her license suspended, as a wonderful, dedicated veterinarian, who cared deeply for the pets she served, as well as their owners, and who appears now to be in desperate need of assistance herself -- even though she won’t ask for it.
Kirkpatrick said earlier this week that she was ashamed of her predicament, didn’t think her living situation was OK, but had hoped she could pull through.
Mental health treatment generally requires an individual to personally seek it, however, Illinois law allows for an involuntary examination if prompted by a court, law enforcement or a qualified medical or mental health professional.
Williamson County Sheriff Bennie Vick has said repeatedly that his staff has no reason to think Kirkpatrick is in need of immediate intervention, though dozens of people who describe themselves as friends or former clients have taken to social media, emailed and called The Southern asking what they can do, and why she isn’t being assisted.
On Tuesday, Kirkpatrick told the newspaper that she had been continuing to live in the squalid conditions of her home that is covered in feces and urine. She has been without power for nearly three weeks. Police deemed its condition unfit for any living thing. They removed the dogs, cats, pigs and various other animals. They left Kirkpatrick behind, doubting she lived there. On Wednesday, she was reportedly staying with a family member.
“We haven’t done anything,” Vick said late Wednesday afternoon, when asked if a welfare check had taken place for Kirkpatrick. “I don’t know if anyone else has or not. At this time, we don’t have any plans to. We just don’t. Like I said, I haven’t talked to her. I don’t know what she’s like. [The responding captain] didn’t have any concerns about her. I trust his opinion.”
Vick said that to intervene he believes she would have to be an immediate threat to herself, as in suicidal, or a threat to another person.
Dr. Rakesh Chandra, a psychiatrist with Shawnee Behavioral Health, said it’s his opinion that she “needs to be treated” even though Kirkpatrick has maintained she is not “mentally ill.” Chandra said he has reached out to State’s Attorney Brandon Zanotti to suggest he request that a judge require she be seen by a psychiatrist, who would establish an appropriate treatment plan.
Chandra said he is not her psychiatrist, but is a longtime friend who has taken his dogs to Kirkpatrick over the years.
“The bottom line is she’s a very good vet and a very caring human being,” Chandra said. He said his message to Zanotti was: “Please get her before a judge and ordered to be sent for treatment.”
Chandra said Zanotti returned his call Wednesday evening, and while he couldn’t discuss the particulars of the ongoing investigation, assured Chandra that he understood the complex nature of the situation.
“He said he has to follow the law regarding the case and her practicing without a license,” Chandra said, relaying his conversation with Zanotti. “But he’s going to try to get her treatment because he’s heard from a lot of people who have said the same thing, that she’s a good person going through a hard time.”
Chandra said someone suffering a serious mental illness is often the last to have insight into what’s going on, and she might not be fully aware that she has lost the ability to care for herself.
Several people told stories of Kirkpatrick sitting up late at night with them when their pets were sick, even crying with them when they passed away.
Davis, a friend, said that when her husband died several years ago, and she struggled with depression,
Kirkpatrick was “emotionally supportive of me.”
“The reason I mention that is I think some people may assume she cared only about animals and not people. I considered her a friend. We would commiserate together sometimes. If I had any idea it was leading to this, I would have tried to force her to let me help her, but you can’t force help.
Danielle Shultz, of Carbondale, another former client, said Kirkpatrick was her veterinarian for 10 years. Nine years ago, she said, her dog developed a chronic illness. She said Kirkpatrick treated the pet with “knowledge and competence while she treated all of our family with compassion.” The dog went on to live another year, she said.
“I don’t think Dr. Kirkpatrick ever turned away a sick animal, even when the owner could not pay,” she said, noting how incredible a sacrifice that was in a low-income area where there are many people who may only bring their animals to a vet if there is something drastically wrong.
Schultz added: “She rescued animals that nobody else wanted. She saved animals that had been abused and discarded. She is a good person.”
(The Southern - May 28, 2015)
Earlier:
it always astonishes me when people defend these abusive kooks.
ReplyDeleteThis is a mental illness that can sneak up on any caring animal lover who loses their grasp on reality. I know, I've seen it in my own family.
ReplyDeleteIt's also animal abuse.
Until and unless we figure out how to identify and intervene with these truely mentally ill folks, we will continue to see this kind of cruelty.