Veterinarian accused of hiding dogfighting

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart says officers have arrested a suburban veterinarian who allegedly failed to report suspected dogfighting and lied about administering rabies vaccine.

Dart says officers arrested 64-year-old Dr. Gary Friederich at his home in Palos Park on Thursday after a five-month undercover investigation.

Friederich is charged with violating the Illinois Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act, and Dart said Friday his veterinary license has been suspended.

Dart says investigators brought dogs that needed rabies vaccine and had apparent fight injuries to Friederich's Park Forest clinic. He says Friederich charged for the vaccine, but did not administer it, and had apparently injured dogs brought in surreptitiously through the back door.

Dart didn't say whether Friederich had an attorney. He is scheduled for a Jan. 31 court date.