Horse tranquilizer used as date rape drug stolen from Oakville vet clinic

Ketamine is shown in this file photo. Police raided three synthetic drug labs across the Greater Toronto Area last week, seizing 37 kilograms of ketamine and smaller quantities of heroin, cocaine and MDMA. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

A drug used legally to tranquilize horses – and illegally to facilitate sexual assaults -- was stolen from an Oakville animal hospital during a break-in earlier this week.

Thieves smashed the front door of the Lakeshore Animal Hospital, at 150 Lakeshore Road, sometime between Jan. 5 at 3 p.m. and Jan. 6 at 5 a.m., according to Halton Regional Police.

A locked medicine cabinet was forced open and “a large quantity” of drugs were taken, police say.

Among them was Vetalar, a Ketamine-based veterinary sedative that is also sometimes used to facilitate sexual assaults.

Ketamine is also taken recreationally. It has hallucinogenic properties and some users report "out-of-body" experiences, according to Health Canada.

The drug phenobarbital, used to treat seizures in animals and humans, was also taken.

Both drugs can cause serious side effects.

“When narcotics fall into the wrong hands and are misused, they can be extremely dangerous, even deadly,” warn police.

Halton police ask that any with information contact Det. Sgt. Andy Forde at 905-825-4747, ext. 2215. Alternatively, those with information who wish to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, online at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting a tip to 274637.