CLEVELAND -- A 5 On Your Side investigation exposed why your pet could be at risk with some veterinarians here in northeast Ohio.

Threemonths ago, investigative reporter Ron Regan exposed the heartbreaking cases involving pets harmed by Ohio veterinarians.

While the vast majority of vets are caring and compassionate, the state agency that's supposed to discipline bad vets has no bite at all.

Colleen Keszer took her chocolate lab Duke to Dr. Lisa Hart. Keszer said Hart "came outside and she grabbed him by his collar and he looked so scared."

According to a complaint filed with the Ohio Veterinary Board last October, Keszer claims when she first brought Duke in, Hart found "nothing wrong" and Duke was "perfectly fine" to take home.

But just four days later, Duke was rushed back, sicker than ever.

Keszer said, "that was the last time I saw him in good condition, and from there it just went downhill."

Duke died within a week and Keszer blames Hart. She filed a complaint.

Hart's attorney told Newschannel5 there would be no comment while current complaints are pending.

Regan first reported about Hart last November.

She was on already on probation when another dog was severely burned by a heating pad.

Even though the state board fined her $1,000, she was allowed to continue to practice, treating more dogs like Maggie, Denise Dziak's dog.

Dziak said her dog Maggie was "vomiting, she was laying, not eating, not drinking." Dziak said Maggie never improved, so she too complained to state board.

Dziak took Maggie to another vet who treated her for a serious kidney disorder. It's been four months since both complaints were filed and the state vet board has taken no action. Both cases remain under investigation. Hart remains in business.

In Ohio, the state board that's supposed to protect pets from harm is powerless to quickly stop a vet from practicing, even in extreme cases.

Theresa Stir with the Ohio Veterinary Board said, "We don't have the ability to automatically suspend someone based on if someone is abusing an animal. We can't automatically suspend them. We can't stop their practice. We can only fine them up to a $1,000 fine."

Regan also discovered that complaints sit for months without investigation.

Vets are tipped off, by law, five days before investigators can step foot in their office for routine compliance inspections.

The Ohio Veterinary Medical Association represents the state's nearly 4,000 veterinarians and it does not believe bad vets are being let off the hook.

A representative said, "We believe there are appropriate safeguard in place that the public receives the appropriate levels of veterinary medicine."

Hart's attorney told Newschannel5 there would be no comment while current complaints are pending.