Lake Mead, Nevada – Rescue teams are searching Lake Mead for a missing veterinarian who disappeared after a damning video began circulating on social media. The video shows Las Vegas veterinarian Dr. Shawn Frehner kicking a colt in the head at the property of Shawna Gonzalez.

Gonzalez tells KTLA News,

“I heard [my mother] yell, ‘Oh my God. He just kicked him,’” recounting what she said to her mother, ““Oh my god, Mom, he’s choking,” she said. “He wrapped the horse around his neck three times, and he kicked him in the head.”

Gonzalez claims Dr. Frehner left her property before the colt got up off the ground – the incident was disturbing enough for Gonzalez to file charges with the police.

After the video began circulating online. Dr. Frehner released a statement, writing in part:

“I did not blatantly haul off and kick this horse as it appears in the video. That was not my intention at all,” Frehner wrote. “It was done simply to get the horse in a better position so that he could breathe and get up and move so I could again try to anesthetize.” Before acknowledging that he did indeed kick the horse. He said, “But yes I did kick him right in the chin and I very much do apologize and wish this never happened.”

Now, the disgraced veterinarian is missing, and the authorities are focused on Lake Mead. Multiple agencies are participating in the search, which started after Frehner disappeared on April 6. The National Park Service has requested tips from the public.

Family and friends of the veterinarian have turned to social media to condemn those who have lashed out at the veterinarian while asking for prayers for those who love the missing man.

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