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Can a Vet Clinic Fire You for Reporting Unsafe Conditions or Animal Abuse?

Jun 13, 2025 / Wage & Hour

Attorney advertisement by Joanna Ghosh of Lawyers for Justice, PC, headquartered at 450 N Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91203

Veterinary clinics are supposed to be safe, compassionate environments for both animals and the professionals who care for them. But what happens when you notice serious violations, such as unsanitary conditions, improper animal handling, or clear signs of animal cruelty? Even worse, what if you’re fired after speaking up? If you’ve reported animal abuse or unsafe working conditions and then faced termination or retaliation, you may be protected under California and federal whistleblower laws.

Can a Vet Clinic Fire You for Reporting Unsafe or Unlawful Conduct?

Under California law, if a vet clinic fires you for reporting unsafe or unlawful conduct, it is considered as a form of retaliation. According to the US Department of Labor, workplace retaliation is when an employer unjustly punishes an employee for engaging in a protected activity. Even if the issue you reported doesn’t result in enforcement or criminal charges, you’re still protected as long as your concerns were legitimate and reported in good faith.

What Counts as Workplace Retaliation?

Unlawful retaliation can take many forms, including:

  • Firing or laying you off after your complaint
  • Reducing your hours or pay
  • Reassigning you to less desirable shifts or roles
  • Hostile treatment or bullying by management
  • Giving negative performance reviews as punishment

If any of these occurred after you reported abuse or unsafe conditions, you may have a strong legal claim.

What Kind of Issues Are Protected to Report?

There are a number of issues that protects people from retaliation and at a vet clinic, workers are lawfully protected when reporting violations such as:

  • Animal cruelty or abuse (neglect, over-sedation, mistreatment, improper euthanasia)
  • Unsafe or unsanitary conditions (contaminated tools, expired medications, unclean cages)
  • Violations of veterinary board regulations
  • Fraudulent billing practices (charging for services not provided)
  • Health and safety risks to employees or animals

If you report these to management, licensing boards, or government agencies, you are likely protected under the state’s whistleblower laws.

California Laws That Protect Vet Clinic Employees

1. California Labor Code § 1102.5

California Labor Code 1102.05, or more commonly known as the state’s Whistleblower law, protects employees whether in veterinary clinics, hospitals, or other workplaces from retaliation for reporting suspected illegal activity such as violations of local, state, or federal laws, acts of noncompliance with safety regulations and even unethical workplace conduct. 

Whether you report violations internally or externally, employees are protected from any and all acts of retaliation, including reduced hours, demotions, and negative performance reviews. Should the veterinary clinic employer decide to retaliate against an employee, they can be held liable for negligence and acts of malice.   

2. California Labor Code § 6310 

California Labor Code 6310 prohibits retaliation against employees who report unsafe or unhealthy work environments, particularly in situations involving animal handling, exposure to chemicals, diseases, or poorly sanitized clinic areas. As chemical and biohazard exposures can potentially bring a lot of harm if it is not handled appropriately, vet assistants who do not report any safety issues can be potentially held liable for negligence or recklessness if there is a biohazard exposure. 

3. Animal Welfare Laws & Reporting Obligations

There are numerous laws in place to protect animals from animal cruelty and veterinarians and technicians are often the first reporters of animal cruelty. As per California Penal Code 597, any person who maliciously and intentionally harms a living animal is guilty of animal cruelty, regardless of professional status or title. 

Depending on the severity of the act, animal cruelty can either be a misdemeanor or felony and any failure to report the act can be considered aiding and abetting. Reporting abuse to animal control or law enforcement is both a legal and ethical obligation and cannot lawfully result in termination.

Steps to Take If You Were Fired After Reporting at a Vet Clinic

If you were fired after reporting a vet clinic for their unlawful actions, it is vital that you take swift action to ensure your rights are protected. One of the first things you should do is to document and record as much evidence as possible that proves your report has resulted in your termination. Evidence such as emails, memos, witness statements, and HR reports can all be used to support your claim. 

Once you have gathered all of your evidence, you can file a complaint to a government agency to ensure an investigation will take place. In addition to filing a complaint with a government agency, speaking with a workplace retaliation attorney can help you with your claim and give you a better understanding of what to expect with your claim. 

Protecting Animals Shouldn’t Cost You Your Career

If you’ve been fired or punished for reporting abuse or unsafe conditions at a veterinary clinic, you are not alone and you are not powerless. Veterinary clinic employees in California are protected by some of the most employee-friendly laws in the country. 

Whether a worker reports unsafe conditions, wage theft, or animal abuse, they are legally protected from retaliation by their employer. If you see an animal in pain, speak up and do not let a negligent or reckless employer from harming an animal, it’s the right thing to do.

Attorney advertisement by Joanna Ghosh of Lawyers for Justice, PC, headquartered at 450 N Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91203

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