VETS at a North Queensland practice have been targeted in vile hate mail in malicious letters being posted around the region.
Two directors at the Tableland Veterinary Service have been attacked in the letters, which have the business logo on the letterhead alongside the Queensland Police Service and Crime Stoppers symbols.
Police are investigating and are asking anyone who may have received a suspicious letter to forward it to them.
Tableland Veterinary Service Director Frank Condon said he was personally attacked in the first letter, which surfaced last week, with a second letter attacking another director turning up this week.
Dr Condon said the letters had been sent to businesses around the Charters Towers and Townsville areas, while an email had been sent to a business in Cairns.
“There were two letters targeting two different directors targeting two different directors, that contain really horrendous and quite hurtful lies,” Dr Condon said.
“Three or four different locations received letters last week, we just don’t know how many were sent.”
Dr Condon said one of the letters recipients had seen the logos on the letter head, and not realizing it was bogus, had sent it on.
“It's a significant because of the private personal hurt, and also because of the effect on our business and personal standing within the community.
“They are disturbing allegations, but anyone who knows us would know they're ridiculous.”
Dr Condon said he was at a loss to think of why his business, which has clinics on the Tablelands, Charters Towers and Weipa, had been targeted.
“I’m surprised… as in any job, there would be clients who would be unhappy with the service provided.
“They could write to the surgeons board, and challenge us legally if they really choose to, but to have a personal letter directed at individuals seems to be extreme to me.
“It goes without saying its cowardly.”
Dr Condon said his business employed 20 vets and 60 staff in total, who were always encouraged to be open, fair and approachable.
Police urged any individual or business that received a letter in the future to contact local police immediately.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact MOCS Rural / PoliceLink and/or Crime Stoppers.