The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Merrillville District Office executed a federal search warrant at Lowell Animal Hospital earlier this morning as part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged diversion of controlled substances.
Federal authorities have not released additional details, stating that more information will be made available at the appropriate time.
Following the law enforcement activity, Lowell Animal Hospital announced it would be temporarily closed for the remainder of the morning.
In a statement posted to social media, the hospital said:
“We are currently closed for the remainder of this morning until further notice. Don’t fret—we plan to be back up and running in no time! Our team is working hard behind the scenes, and we’ll share updates as soon as we have them.”
Region News Source will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as more information becomes available.
UPDATE: Lowell Animal Hospital Responds Following DEA Search Warrant
Lowell Animal Hospital has released a statement providing additional details after federal agents with the DEA executed a search warrant at the facility Wednesday morning.
According to the hospital, administrators were contacted by the DEA regarding records tied to a single canine cough prescription that investigators believed may have been prescribed too frequently. The hospital says it immediately complied with the subpoena and provided all requested records.
In its statement, Lowell Animal Hospital says an internal review found the prescription was issued in accordance with dosage instructions, and that investigators’ concerns appeared to center on the frequency and duration of that single prescription. The hospital emphasized it has fully cooperated with the DEA and understands the agency’s responsibility to investigate potential prescription irregularities.
The hospital also announced it plans to reopen at 2:00 p.m. today and thanked clients for their patience, stating it looks forward to continuing to provide care for the community’s pets.
As we reported earlier, the DEA Merrillville District Office confirmed it executed a federal search warrant at the hospital as part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged diversion of controlled substances. Federal authorities have not announced any criminal charges
