Golden – A veterinary technician has been arrested for allegedly stealing morphine intended to relieve animals’ pain from several metro area veterinary facilities.
Amy Lynn Kanzler, 26, of Thornton admitted stealing bottles of morphine and using syringes to withdraw morphine from other bottles, replacing the drug with a saline solution, according to an arrest affidavit released Wednesday.
The result was “unnecessary pain and risk of overdose to numerous animals,” the affidavit stated. In effect, Kanzler was “knowingly torturing animals for lack of anesthesia during surgery.”
Kanzler has posted a $10,000 bond on charges of possession of a schedule II controlled substance, fraud and deceit, and aggravated cruelty to animals. She told authorities that she is addicted to morphine, according to documents.
The West Metro Drug Task Force began investigating Kanzler in May when Willowbrook Animal Hospital, 12255 W. Bowles Ave., contacted the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office about three missing bottles of morphine.
Kanzler worked for Willowbrook for two weeks before she was fired on April 20 “for stealing controlled drugs,” hospital officials said in a statement.
“No Willowbrook patients were harmed by Ms. Kanzler’s actions,” added Dr. Jed Rogers.
Jeffco detectives notified the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration about the investigation. DEA officials said Kanzler had a pending case for stealing morphine from a Denver veterinary clinic in March, the affidavit said.
Kanzler said she withdrew half of the morphine from two bottles and replaced it with saline solution while she worked at Arvada Animal Hospital, 6645 Wadsworth Blvd., from May 1 to July 18, according to authorities.
“We did notice in a couple of instances where some animals required more sedation than we would have thought,” said Dr. Jim Houchens. “Fortunately, there were not very many and they did not suffer.”
Houchens said Kanzler had “impeccable references,” but he had already decided to fire her for poor job performance when she was arrested.
The affidavit stated Kanzler had numerous warrants for her arrest for failure to appear on earlier drug and theft charges.
Staff writer Ann Schrader can be reached at 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com.
