The arrest of three suspected veterinary clinic burglars lends credibility to police officer's beliefs that human abuse of animal drugs is prevalent in central Wisconsin.

"It happens so often," said Leslie Grendahl, executive director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Associ-ation. The organization is trying to warn its members and has published an article about the subject in its monthly publication.

"It's awful, and it's been everywhere I've been," Grendahl said. "It's been going on for several months."

The drugs, such as ketamine, are commonly used to sedate small animals. People use them as "date rape" drugs.

Some veterinary clinics hide the drugs better than others in locked and hidden cabinets, said Grendahl. She recommends that only one person at clinics be in charge of the drugs, and in constant control of the key.

"A lot of these are inside jobs," Grendahl said. "All we can do is warn veterinarians. It's such an awful thing and an addiction."
Kronenwetter Veterinary Clinic veterinarian Christo-pher Bleifuss is the District 9 board member for the WVMA.

"It's something that we talk about - about being targets," said Bleifuss. "I think it's an issue. Quite honestly, the drugs being stolen is not good. But there's (also the) potential damage and harm to our patients and to the facility itself. "
According to Dave Forsythe of the Department of Justice, Division of Narcotics Enforcement, illegal use of the drugs in Wisconsin is increasing.

"The last year to the last two years, ketamine has been really popular," Forsythe said. "It's a rave drug and the usage is increasing substantially."
According to the Wisconsin Division of Narcotics Enforcement, illegal ketamine use has increased. There were seven ketamine cases submitted to the Wisconsin State Crime Lab in 1999, 19 in 2000 and 31 in 2001. The division doesn't have total numbers for 2002.

"We see a few cases of it through the state," said Bob Sloey, who works for the narcotics division. "We don't have near the numbers that the rest of the country is seeing. It's out there, but hopefully (the caseload) won't become as high as it could."
For the Marshfield Police Department, the drug burglaries are not a new subject.

"We have experienced this type of theft in the past, and we have also experienced the possession of this type of club drug in the past," said Chief Joe Stroik. "Although it's rare, it's not so rare that we didn't anticipate seeing it surface in this community."
Stroik said he believes drug use of this kind will continue in the area.

"As long as you have people in the community, you will have some people who want to get high," Stroik said. "If there is nothing available to use for them to get high, those people who want to get high will come up with something. You name it, and they'll use it."
Stevens Point and Plover police arrested three suspects in several area burglaries on Tuesday. Arrested were Douglas Kurzinski, 20, of Mosinee; Nathan S. Zuelke, 19, of Stevens Point; and Timothy B. Schwab, 18, of Plover.

The arrests took place after Stevens Point police searched Schwab's home Monday afternoon and found some syringes and a black canvas bag containing Phenobarbital, diazepam (or Valium), ketamine and morphine, along with other materials missing from three clinic burglaries in Stevens Point and Plover between Dec. 19 and Jan. 2.

Police are investigating whether two Marshfield clinics burglarized between Dec. 18 and Jan. 9 were committed by the same men.