John David McCordic.

Image Credit: YOUTUBE: John McCordic

A Vancouver physiotherapist who was convicted for animal cruelty after he brutally beat his girlfriend's dog, is no longer practicing.

John David McCordic, born 1957, didn't renew his licence to practice with the College of Physical Therapists of B.C. shortly before the College reprimanded him.

In August 2021 McCordic signed a consent agreement with the College agreeing to a "public reprimand" for "engaging in conduct unbecoming by causing an animal to be in distress."

According to the College of Physical Therapists of B.C. McCordic had allowed his licence to expire last year.

The case goes back to 2016 when McCordic was caught on surveillance camera in an underground parking garage beating the dog.

The B.C. SPCA described the attack as "such a disturbing case."

The 11-year-old Bouvier named Bear was blind and partially deaf when McCordic repeatedly lifted the dog by its legs before slamming it into the concrete.

"This poor animal was clearly in such pain and distress, and was helpless to escape her attacker," the B.C. SPCA said at the time.

McCordic had been a registered physiotherapist in B.C. for 30 years and owned North Shore Orthopaedic and Sports Clinic.

In 2020 McCordic pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and was fined $4,000 and banned from having custody of an animal for seven years.

An online petition quickly gained almost 10,000 signatures asking the regulator to revoke his licence.

The College then took regulatory action.

"During the investigation, Mr. McCordic admitted to the alleged conduct and provided information about his life circumstances at the time together with information about the steps he has since taken to address the underlying factors that led to the incident," a College decision says. "Registrants’ off-duty conduct can fall under the purview of the College when it raises a public safety concern and/or calls the integrity of the profession into disrepute."

In the consent agreement, the former physiotherapist agreed to a two-week suspension of his practice along with a requirement that he provide confirmation that he has acquired or developed satisfactory anger management skills.

He also agreed to write a "reflective paper" about how his conduct failed to meet the College's standards and how his conduct had diminished the "integrity and reputation" of the profession.

The paper also had to outline how his behaviour had impacted the public’s perception of their own personal safety when receiving treatment from a regulated health professional.

"The Inquiry Committee concluded that Mr. McCordic’s conduct represented an unacceptable departure from the College’s practice standards, which require registrants to adhere to legislation, conduct themselves with integrity and professionalism and maintain the reputation and standing of the physical therapy profession," the decision reads. "Given that Mr. McCordic accepted responsibility for his misconduct, which occurred several years ago, the Inquiry Committee determined that the terms of the consent agreement would be sufficient to protect the public."

The decision says as McCordic's licence has expired he is no longer able to practice, until he applies and is granted a new licence.

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