March 29, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Animal drugs put Rockland girls in hospital

ROCKLAND — City police are hoping that two teen-age girls, hospitalized after ingesting stolen dog tranquilizers, have learned a valuable lesson.

“If a drug is not prescribed for you by a physician and dispensed by a pharmacist, you should have nothing to do with it,” Police Chief Alfred Ockenfels said Tuesday. “Drugs are meant for a specific ailment, either for humans or animals, and should not be taken lightly.”

The two Rockland girls, one 14 years old, the other 15, were hospitalized at Penobscot Bay Medical Center last Friday after overdosing on phenobarbital. The pills were believed to have come from a supply of dog tranquilizers stolen the day before during a break-in at the Rockland Animal Hospital.

Phenobarbital is described in medical literature as an hypnotic, sedative and antispasmodic. It is generally used to sedate dogs or other large animals that have experienced seizures.

“These girls were very lucky. It could have been a lot worse for them,” Ockenfels said. “As it was, one was kept overnight and one is still in the hospital.”

Because both of the girls are juveniles, Ockenfels was prohibited from releasing their names. The same was true of the 14-year-old boy charged by police in connection with the break-in and distribution of the drugs.

Ockenfels said the boy has been charged with unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, aggravated furnishing of scheduled drugs, and assault. Ockenfels said the assault was the result of an altercation between the suspect and another boy and was the reason police had responded to the Rockland Skate Center. The 14-year-old is also under investigation for the break-in at the animal hospital.

Ockenfels said the two girls apparently ingested the drugs while enjoying a day of roller skating. Witnesses interviewed by Detective William Donnelly and Patrolman Terry Michaud actually observed the two girls take the drugs at the skate center, Ockenfels said.

The break-in at the Rockland Animal Hospital was discovered by an employee at 7:35 a.m. Friday. The drugs were kept in a locked box that was removed from a storage room at the animal hospital situated at the corner of Rankin Street and Old County Road. The stolen drugs had a value of $159. Investigators determined that entrance to the building was gained through an unlocked window. The burglary suspect left footprints in the snow leading toward downtown Rockland.

“We have witnesses that have indicated that he was both distributing and selling these drugs. We don’t know yet whether the girls bought the drugs or were given them,” Chief Ockenfels said.

“It is incongruous to me that somebody would take illicit drugs off the street,” Ockenfels said. “I hope this serves as a wake-up call to our young people and adults. People ought to be aware of the consequences of taking pills they know nothing about. In this case, these drugs were in dosages to be given to animals.”

The Rockland burglary was the latest in a recent spate of break-ins at Eastern Maine animal hospitals or veterinary clinics. The weekend before Christmas, three Hancock County facilities were hit by burglars in search of drugs and cash. Similar break-ins have been reported in other areas of the state as well.

Although Chief Ockenfels said he was concerned that the use of animal drugs “seems to be catching on,” he expressed confidence that the Rockland break-in was an isolated crime.

“I don’t see any connection,” Ockenfels said.


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