Jan Pol (veterinarian)

Jan-Harm Pol was born on September 4, 1942, in Wateren, Drenthe, the Netherlands. Pol grew up on his family's dairy farm.[2] Pol first met his wife Diane Dalrymple as a foreign exchange student at Mayville High School in 1961.

In 1970, Pol graduated with a degree in veterinary medicine at Utrecht University. Pol and his wife Diane moved to Harbor Beach, Michigan, where Pol worked for another veterinarian practice for 10 years and then moved to Weidman, Michigan, where he and his wife started their own practice, Pol Veterinary Services, in 1981. A majority of the practice is made up of a mix of large and small animals. Due to the unavailability of emergency care animal hospitals in the rural area in which Pol's practice is located, emergencies make up a large portion of the practice.[3]

In 2012, a disciplinary board placed Pol on probation for negligence and incompetence.[4] His practices have been the subject of multiple disciplinary proceedings, and his performance has received a mixed reception by veterinarians.[5] Another veterinarian flatly states that the show exhibit antiquated Veterinary practices, going back more than a quarter century; and thereby convey a false impression of the profession.[6] His treatment of a dog, as depicted on the show, spawned a complaint. The professional standards complaint was placed by a viewer, not the pet's owner.[7]

In 2013, Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives Kevin Cotter sponsored House Bill 5176, seeking to prohibit authorities from investigating reports of misconduct or allegations "based upon information obtained from viewing the broadcast of a reality program."[7] Pol testified in favor of the bill. It was referred to the House Health Policy Committee in December 2013, died in committee, and has not been re-introduced.[7]

In March 2015, an administrative hearing found a breach of the standard of care.[8] In April 2015, government regulators in Michigan found Pol in contempt for his treatment and care of a Boston terrier that was hit by a car and suffered an eye proptosis and broken pelvis in May 2011. A disciplinary subcommittee of the Michigan Board of Veterinary Medicine decided on 26 March to fine Pol US$500 and put his license on probation for not complying with the least possible standards of care required by the state. Pol was also ordered to complete an educational course. His sentencing was overturned, however, by the Michigan Court of Appeals, which stated that "the owners of the dog were happy with the care it has been given" and called the previous decision by the subcommittee "arbitrary and capricious".[9][6][10] The complaint was placed by a viewer, not the pet's owner.[7]

In 2016, the Court of Appeals reversed and remanded, holding inter alia that there was no competent evidence that there was a breach of the standard of care.[11] There were supporters of the ruling based on notions of elemental due process, including vagueness of the charge, lack of an objective and clear legal standard, and variance of the evidence presented from the charges lodged.[12] At this juncture, a spokesman from Mackinac Center for Public Policy opined that consumers and the market place, not an officious government, should be able to make care decisions for their animals.[7] In late 2019 after remand, the Michigan Court of Appeals in another unpublished decision, wrote an extended opinion which affirmed the lower decisions that imposed discipline.[13]

Pol is married to Diane Pol and has three children. All of the Pol children are adopted, daughter Kathy and son Charles at birth and daughter Diane at age 17, after having been the Pol's foster child for eight years. Pol is color blind, unable to correctly distinguish certain colors like green and brown.[14][15]

• Official website
• Works by or about Jan Pol in libraries (WorldCat catalog)