by Jolene Toves

Guam - Wise Owl Animal Hospital owner Dr. Joel Joseph continues to allege he's being targeted. His latest concerns stems from a shipment of meds that arrived to the Port Authority of Guam this week. Dr. Joseph is convinced attempts are being made to run him out of business, as the subject of scrutiny is a shipment of pet pharmaceuticals brought in through the Port on Monday that was held.

Department of Public Health director James Gillan says Customs and Quarantine Agency is constantly on the lookout for items that come into the island that may appear questionable and calls Joseph's allegation absurd. "So when Customs and Quarantine sees anything questionable they hold and ask us to come and take a look and so our staff had taken a look at it I believe yesterday," he said. "But there is no concerted effort or conspiracy to put Mr. Joseph out of business - it just happened to be a coincidence with what's been happening."

Gillan adds that the wise owl vet is not being singled out, stressing it is a coincidence with the events that have occurred over the past weeks. "Some items addressed or supposed to be delivered to Mr. Joseph through the Port, I believe, were withheld by Customs and Quarantine not through any standing order to be on the lookout for anything that's coming to Mr. Joseph."

Jospeh is adamant that it is not a coincidence. Customs and Quarantine chief Ralph Sgambelluri also confirmed with KUAM News that there is no order from any entity given to his department to hold Joseph's goods...

Explaining that a tracer of product form relative to the shipment was given to Joseph describing the action being taken. "It provides the importer to receive the goods but they are not to sell it or distribute it or use it until Public Health gets to their premises to inspect it and then within their determination they could determine if it is to be released or not," he said.

Gillan contends that since the shipment came from Australia the items must be verified to ensure they meet local law and comply with federal drug administration guidelines. However instead of receiving and waiting for Public Health to verify the items in question Joseph has responded, telling KUAM that he has since requested the shipment be returned to sender.

Three weeks ago an audit was conducted at the vet hospital during that inspection Public Health reported finding controlled substances, contending that since Joseph does not have a CSR the subsequent search of his premises was warranted.

We should note that Joseph's CSR and licensing is under review and he is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.