IT SEEMS Guam’s Board of Allied Health Examiners isn’t the only agency that has denounced Wise Owl Animal Clinic veterinarian Dr. Joel Joseph.

The Fiji Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is also angered over Joseph’s numerous actions while in Fiji earlier this year. The group has also criticized Joseph for failing to mention his legal battles on Guam.

Wendy Montgomery, acting president of SPCA Fiji, in a May 14 letter to the Attorney General’s Office, outlined the numerous dubious actions and decisions Joseph allegedly made when applying for the resident veterinarian position in Fiji during his two months of employment there.

Montgomery also criticized Joseph’s sudden departure from his position in Fiji and the misleading statements he made in the media concerning Fiji SPCA.

“I feel that we should inform you that Dr. Joseph resigned from his position after only two months without the required notice of four weeks and therefore in breach of his contract,” Montgomery wrote. “We were extremely disappointed in the way Dr. Joseph left us, without a proper handover and with his personal password blocking our clinic computer,” she said.

According to Montgomery, Joseph failed to mention to Fiji SPCA that he was in litigation with the Guam Board of Allied Health Examiners.

“The fact that Dr. Joseph did not see fit to inform us at the outset of the various legal actions against him in Guam was also very disturbing to the society as it must have been deliberate rather than an oversight,” Montgomery said, adding if SPCA was aware of this, it is “unlikely” that he would have been hired.

Fiji nurse

Montgomery also said Joseph may have intentionally sought to close down the SPCA in Fiji. She said Joseph claimed he was threatened by an SPCA veterinarian nurse, citing this as the reason why he bolted “in fear of his life.”

While in Fiji, Joseph allegedly euthanized 47 animals in the SPCA shelter in one day while a particular employee was on leave, she said. The situation was further exacerbated when the nurse later discovered that of the 47 animals, three of them were personal pets belonging to Fiji SPCA.

“Although we do not believe that Dr. Joseph’s life was in danger, the claims of threatening behavior by our employee have been taken very seriously by the SPCA Executive Committee,” Montgomery said.

She added Joseph’s claims have resulted in an internal investigation being conducted. The matter has already been forwarded to the local police, further resulting in the suspension of the employee who has been with Fiji SPCA for 15 years.

“Dr. Joseph has already done Fiji SPCA much harm and unfortunately, it is apparently his intention to bring Fiji SPCA into further disrepute, possibly with the intention of closing us down,” she lamented.

Montgomery then refuted a story Variety published on March 9 which reported that Joseph “was awarded assistance from the World Society for the Protection of Animals.” That information was provided via email to Variety by Joseph who claimed he was to receive animal relief funds to assist Fiji with emergency feed and veterinary supplies, targeting around 4,000 livestock animals.

The March 7 email from Joseph to Variety states, “I am so honored. I love when the [government] supports my actions. I am receiving the funds for animal relief from WSPA for Fiji and the SPCA as a result of the flooding and devastation here in Fiji.”

Joseph signed the email, “Dr. Joel Joseph,” followed by, “Guam’s loss once again.”

His message is followed by supporting emails detailing the date and time of the “handing-over ceremony.”

Montgomery acknowledged that Joseph was asked to represent WSPA in a hand-over ceremony “because there was no WSPA person in Fiji to do so.”

“No more than that,” she said. “He was therefore not personally awarded any assistance whatsoever, although this may be construed from reading the item in question.”

Montgomery is now asking the Attorney General's Office whether the Guam Police Department provided Fiji Immigration with a police clearance, “as would normally be required for a work permit in this country.”

Joseph has been in contention with GBAHE for the last several years. The board recently unanimously voted to suspend Joseph’s license and prohibited him from practicing medicine for a period of five years.

However, Joseph has refused to comply with the board’s decision, arguing that the preliminary record of decision has no legality unless ordered and enforced by a Superior Court of Guam judge.