Bittersweet bliss WEEKEND | 14
FEBRUARY 9, 2018 VOLUME 26, NO. 3
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MOVIES | 16
Alta View Animal Hospital owner faces new state charges COMPLAINT ALLEGES 86 VIOLATIONS, INCLUDING INHUMANE TREATMENT By Mark Noack
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COURTESY OF MOUNTAIN VIEW WHISMAN SCHOOL DISTRICT
A drinking fountain’s water exceeded the limits for lead at Theuerkauf Elementary and was taped off.
Elevated lead levels found in Theuerkauf water By Kevin Forestieri
A
water fountain at Theuerkauf Elementary is blocked off after tests by the city of Mountain View revealed lead concentrations in the water far exceeding levels known to be harmful to
children, according to district officials. The results of the tests, which the city conducted at nearly all of the Mountain View Whisman School District campuses last fall shows that one of the drinking fountains at Theuerkauf had lead levels at 17 parts per billion.
The results exceed the so-called “action” limit of 15 parts per billion established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that requires the school district to control pipe corrosion and inform the public of how to
eterinarian Tejpaul Ghumman, who owns Alta View Animal Hospital in Mountain View, is facing the possible revocation of his license and the closure of his clinic by state regulators. Ghumman was already on probation from the California Veterinary Medical Board (VMB) due to disciplinary action taken against him in 2014. The board, which licenses and disciplines veterinarians, recently released a new complaint that alleges 86 violations of the law by Ghumman, involving nearly two dozen cases over almost 10 years. Fourteen of these cases prompting disciplinary action occurred after Ghumman had already been placed on probation. The action was filed on Jan. 19
by the state Attorney General, who handles serious disciplinary cases seeking the revocation of licenses on behalf of the VMB. The 63-page complaint, called an “accusation,” alleges that Ghumman and Alta View were negligent in their care of animals and engaged in unprofessional conduct that includes: failure to provide humane treatment; false advertising; acting as a pharmacy by compounding drugs; negligence and incompetence in administering medication; and numerous record-keeping violations. The details are spelled out as “causes for discipline” in 22 cases, including one in which a 13-year-old dog died and several others in which the complaint charges that puppies weren’t given any pain medication during or after surgery. See VET CLINIC, page 6
See LEAD, page 9
Children from after-school program reportedly molested by volunteer POLICE ARREST BOARD MEMBER OF SANYU LEARNING CENTER By Kevin Forestieri
P
olice arrested a 26-yearold Cupertino man Saturday following multiple reports that he allegedly molested children who attend an after-school Chinese language program in Mountain View. Yizhuang “John” Liu, a board
INSIDE
member and volunteer at the Sanyu Learning Center on Springer Road, was arrested on Feb. 3 on multiple molestation charges after police received reports that he had inapp r o p r i a t e l y Yizhuang Liu
touched at least two children attending the after-school program, according to Mountain View police. The first report came from a parent on Friday, Feb. 2, who told police that Liu had inappropriately touched their son over the course of several See MOLEST, page 10
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COURTESY OF VAN V.
The dog Lena died during treatment at Alta View Animal Hospital. The case is detailed in the complaint released by the California Veterinary Medical Board.