UF lays off prof, halts program for small-animal reproduction

Gainesville, Fla.— "The father of small-animal reproduction" sued the University of Florida for breach of contract after the associate professor received a layoff notice in May.

Dr. John Verstegen's dismissal was part of a $47 million university-wide budget cut.

Officials say they would reinstate him, but not his program, a reproduction service for dogs and other small animals.

Verstegen declined.

He and his wife, Dr. Karine Onclin-Verstegen, moved from Belgium in 2004 with promises of tenure for him and the opportunity to start a small-animal reproduction program, he says.

But the promise of tenure turned out to be just that, paving the way for his eventual layoff, he says.

Glen Hoffsis, dean of the veterinary college, declined comment.

But court documents state the university cut Verstegen and his program as part of $1.55 million in budget cuts at the school.

The Verstegens together ran the program, which, among other things, offered artificial insemination and a sperm bank used by breeders of show dogs and other pets.

Ultimately, the program's termination meant Onclin-Verstegen lost her job as well.

"My wife and I were hired by the University of Florida in 2004 to create, develop and manage the first full-time academia small-animal reproduction service in the United States," Verstegen says.

"Small-animal reproduction is a continuously growing field with extreme demand from pet owners to solve major reproductive diseases, to help improve responsible breeding and improve canine selection and reproduction, and from private practitioners to help them treat difficult cases and also generate new sources of income."

In his suit filed in July, he is asking to be granted tenure, receive back pay, benefits, compensatory damages and attorney fees.

A separate petition was filed on behalf of Verstegen and his wife requesting a state administrative hearing on the layoffs.