Animal cruelty case against East Dorset veterinarian Bob Wendell ends in dismissal

The accusations grew out of complaints made by an employee at Aeolus Animal Hospital and Equine Center in East Dorset.

The criminal case against Robert Wendell, 66, was ended on October 1, 2026 when Grand Isle County State’s Attorney Douglas DiBisato dismissed three animal cruelty counts with prejudice, according to filings in Vermont Superior Court in Bennington. Because the dismissal was with prejudice, the same allegations cannot be brought again later.

Wendell had been facing three misdemeanor charges that could have carried up to two years in prison apiece if he were convicted. A four-day jury trial had been set for the end of October, but the matter never reached that point.

The accusations grew out of complaints made by an employee at Aeolus Animal Hospital and Equine Center in East Dorset, leading to an arraignment in June 2025. Wendell pleaded not guilty and was placed under release conditions that barred him from caring for animals other than his own, working unsupervised with animals, or providing veterinary care.

The investigation was launched jointly by the Office of Professional Regulation and the Bennington County Fish and Game Warden after the employee’s initial reports. Wendell’s veterinary license was first suspended while the case was reviewed, but an appellate officer later put that suspension on hold after finding that the original summary suspension process did not meet due process standards under the 14th Amendment. Earlier reporting by Vermont News & Media said Wendell and his attorney were not allowed to question the accusers at the May 2025 hearing.

By early July, his license had been restored. Aeolus Animal Hospital then posted a message on its website saying Dr. Bob’s license had been reinstated on July 3, 2025 and that he was again treating animals at the practice.

Because of a conflict involving the Bennington County State’s Attorney’s Office, the prosecution was handled by the Grand Isle State’s Attorney’s Office, as previously reported by the Banner. Wendell was represented by David Silver, Esq. of Barr Sternberg.

In an email to the Banner, Silver said Wendell had always denied wrongdoing and that the defense believed the evidence supported his innocence. He said the decision to end the case was the right one, pointing to the strain and cost created by what he described as unsupported and widely public allegations.

Silver also said the defense conducted extensive post-charge work, including depositions from the accuser, and that longtime coworkers, interns, and veterinary technicians described Wendell as professional, caring, and calm around animals. He added that several people who had worked with him for years said they had never seen him act aggressively toward an animal, a client, or a staff member.

He further said two of the three original accusers lacked personal knowledge of the central allegations, and that one had no firsthand knowledge of any criminal conduct while another could not recall the details of the reported incidents.

The case drew broad attention across the region, with public support appearing in yards from Dorset to Arlington and in letters to the Bennington Banner and Manchester Journal. An online petition collected more than 80 signatures, including supporters from Londonderry to Middlebury, and the matter was covered by multiple local and state news outlets.

Silver said the response from the community and from pet owners who use Wendell’s services meant a great deal to Wendell and his family.