A Whidbey Island veterinarian at the center of widespread online criticism was previously disciplined by state regulators, including a 2025 order finding that his work fell below the standard of care in two cases.
Dr. Eric Anderson, owner of Best Friends Veterinary Center in Oak Harbor, entered into an agreed order with the Washington Veterinary Board of Governors in August 2025 in which the board found that his conduct in two veterinary cases constituted unprofessional conduct under state law, according to the order.
The case was resolved through an agreed order, a legally binding settlement between Anderson and the Washington Veterinary Board of Governors that avoided a contested disciplinary hearing.
Puget Press began reviewing Anderson’s disciplinary history after an anonymous post in a Whidbey Island Facebook group Monday alleged that multiple employees had left his clinic amid concerns about his ability to continue practicing veterinary medicine.
Necropsy Began Before Death Was Confirmed
According to the agreed order, one case involved a cat named Pepper that was brought to Anderson in April 2022 after developing hind-end weakness, meaning the cat was having difficulty using or supporting itself on its back legs.
The owner elected euthanasia, and Pepper was given a euthanasia solution while still in the exam room.
The Veterinary Board found that after Pepper was moved to a treatment area, an assistant informed Anderson that the cat appeared to be breathing.
According to the order, Anderson responded that Pepper was anesthetized and began a necropsy without confirming the cat was deceased.
Pepper’s abdomen was opened to identify the illness the cat had suffered from.
The order further states that Anderson left the operating table before Pepper’s abdomen was closed.
Staff later observed that Pepper continued to breathe, and a veterinary technician informed Anderson that the cat was still breathing.
Anderson then authorized a fourth euthanasia injection and asked the technician to close Pepper’s abdomen, according to the agreed order.
The board also found Pepper’s medical records were incomplete.
The agreed order states there were no medical record entries documenting any of the four euthanasia injections, no documentation of other drugs used or how death was confirmed, and no record that the necropsy had been discussed with or authorized by the owner.
The Veterinary Board concluded that Anderson’s treatment of Pepper fell below the standard of care because he “failed to fully attend” to the cat during the euthanasia procedure and “performed a necropsy on Pepper without confirming Pepper was deceased.”
Board Found Second Surgery Fell Below Standard of Care
A second case involved a dog named Kitsune that underwent tibial plateau leveling osteotomy surgery in March 2022, a common orthopedic procedure used to stabilize a dog’s knee after a torn cranial cruciate ligament, similar to an ACL injury in humans.
The board found that Anderson performed the procedure without confirming the correct limb through radiographs and proceeded with surgery on the dog’s right knee, conduct the board concluded fell below the standard of care.
The Veterinary Board ultimately imposed at least 12 months of oversight, a $7,000 fine, additional continuing education requirements and unannounced audits of patient records.
The board also cited “past records violations” as an aggravating factor when determining sanctions.
2020 Investigation Led To Corrective Action
Those past violations appear to stem from an earlier case dating back to 2020.
State records show that a Department of Health investigator conducted an unannounced inspection of Anderson’s facility in response to a complaint alleging substandard care and recordkeeping.
Investigators found that records for five surgical patients were incomplete and lacked information about the procedures performed, medications administered and anesthesia monitoring.
Another patient’s records were also found to be incomplete, and written discharge instructions had not been provided to the owner, according to state investigators.
That case was resolved in 2021 through a stipulation to informal disposition.
Anderson did not admit the allegations, and the agreement specifically stated it should not be construed as a finding of unprofessional conduct or inability to practice.
However, he agreed to reimburse the board $2,000, submit to unannounced audits of patient records for up to two years and complete continuing education in ethics, client communication and recordkeeping.
Online Allegations Spark Renewed Scrutiny
Anderson’s clinic drew fresh scrutiny Monday after an anonymous user posted in a Whidbey Island Facebook group alleging that multiple employees had left his practice because “the owner failed his cognitive decline assessment.”
That post prompted dozens of comments from people who described themselves as current or former clients, as well as individuals who identified themselves as former employees.
“We don’t feel comfortable with him continuing to treat animals,” one user wrote.
Another commenter wrote that they stopped visiting the clinic years ago because they “suspected that [Anderson] had cognitive issues.”
One commenter who identified themselves as a former veterinary technician wrote that they quit after witnessing what they alleged was “severe patient neglect and unethical billing practices.”
Several other commenters alleged billing concerns, communication problems, and dissatisfaction with care their pets received.
Puget Press has not independently verified these allegations.
The Washington Veterinary Board of Governors’ findings, which were resolved through the 2025 agreed order, involve treatment provided in 2022 and are unrelated to the recent, unverified social media allegations regarding Anderson’s cognitive abilities.
About Best Friends Veterinary Center
Anderson founded Best Friends Veterinary Center in Oak Harbor in 1980 and has remained the clinic’s practicing veterinarian, director and chief of staff, according to the clinic’s website.
He later helped establish the Pet Emergency Center, which provides emergency veterinary care for Island and Skagit counties, and later co-founded the Thyroid Treatment Center in Mount Vernon.
Editor’s Note: Puget Press sought comment from Anderson by email and phone. A clinic employee said he had been with patients for much of Monday, and he had not responded by publication time. Puget Press will update this article if Anderson responds.
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