Police, D.A. Investigate Animal Hospital : Veterinary medicine: Complaints allege that the Costa Mesa shelter performed unnecessary surgeries.

Police and officials with the Orange County District Attorney have launched an investigation into the operation of the Bayshore Animal Hospital after complaints by former employees and residents that the shelter did unnecessary work on animals.

Lt. Ron Smith, of the Costa Mesa Police Department, said the city began receiving complaints involving the hospital at 2077 Harbor Blvd. and Dr. Jeffrey Palmer, who runs the clinic, after a televised City Council meeting last month.

Smith declined to discuss the specific allegations, saying that they were unsubstantiated at this time. But he said the state Board of Veterinary Medicine has also been asked to join the investigation.

Palmer, reached by telephone at the shelter Tuesday, said he had just learned of the investigation and was unaware of any details. He declined to discuss the matter further.

The hospital had been under contract with the city to provide shelter and medical treatment to stray animals for the last year.

On Oct. 4, the City Council decided to stop doing business with the Bayshore Animal Hospital and awarded the $44,000 yearly animal control contract to the Orange County Humane Society. Council officials said then that the humane society’s shelter, in Huntington Beach, was larger and more suited to the city’s needs.

Even though the contract with the Bayshore shelter was not to expire until December, the city terminated it Monday.

Council member Joe Erickson said there were discrepancies with billing and hours of operation that led to the early termination.

Police received complaints about the shelter last month after the meeting in which Palmer’s contract was discussed. The complaints reportedly were about unnecessary surgeries and other problems.

During the last year, 743 dogs and 845 cats were taken to the Bayshore Animal Hospital for shelter services, Smith said.

Shanda Young, of Orange, whose case is being investigated by the police, said she complained to authorities after her dog almost died. She said she purchased the dog from the Bayshore Animal Hospital for about $88 after seeing it on a local pet adoption television show. A day later, the dog became ill so she took it back for treatment.

After a week, the dog did not improve and she took it to another hospital, where it quickly recovered.

Police are asking people with information about the shelter to call Detective Don Holford at (714) 754-5294.