A Maryland pharmacist was sentenced to one year in prison after using prescription drugs to kill his dog, according to the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Ryan Kenneth Ball, 38, of Bel Air, pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and obtaining prescriptions by fraud. During sentencing, a judge prohibited Ball from owning animals while on probation.
On July 17, 2024, Harford County Sheriff’s deputies discovered syringes and two prescription drug vials in a neighbor’s trash. One vial, stripped of its label, was identified as rocuronium, a paralytic agent used during anesthesia. The other vial was succinylcholine, a similar paralytic drug.
Court documents state that the neighbor’s 6-year-old Plott Hound, Louie, had died. Ball was identified as Louie’s owner and a licensed pharmacist at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center.
Animal Control’s investigation revealed Ball disliked the dog and had attempted to pay others to take Louie. After Louie’s death, the dog’s body was sent to a vet for cremation, but officials halted this and sent the body for an autopsy instead.
Toxicology results showed rocuronium and succinylcholine in Louie’s heart. The cause of death was an overdose of rocuronium. These drugs, which relax muscles during surgery, can cause respiratory arrest if the patient is not ventilated.
Officials noted Louie would have experienced “awareness with paralysis” after the drugs were administered.
Records confirmed that Ball took the drugs home from the hospital, where the vials had warning labels stating they were paralyzing agents requiring ventilation.
Ball’s pharmacist license is under review by the Board of Pharmacy.
Upper Chesapeake Medical Center cooperated fully with authorities and stated they maintain a zero-tolerance policy for such behavior, assuring no risk to patients, staff, or visitors.
