The Lincoln County Humane Society executed a search warrant Wednesday at the Skyway Animal Hospital in St. Catharines as part of its investigation into allegations of animal abuse against a veterinarian.

Mahavir Singh Rekhi pleaded guilty to professional misconduct at the College of Veterinarians of Ontario in July after four former employees filed a complaint about his conduct.

In September, videos the former employees submitted to the college as evidence were made public and showed Rekhi striking, choking and slamming cats and dogs.

Kevin Strooband, the Executive Director of the Lincoln County Humane Society, told CBC News that the organization executed the search warrant in connection with a criminal investigation against Rekhi. As of early Wednesday afternoon, Strooband said the search yielded evidence but could not give details.

Rekhi has been suspended for 10 months and fined $10,000 by the College of Veterinarians of Ontario. The suspension could be reduced if Rekhi undergoes training. Prior to that hearing the College had been investigating Rekhi for well over a year.

Strooband said Rekhi is being investigated in connection with allegations of cruelty to animals under the Criminal Code of Canada. The maximum penalty for that is five years in prison, and his license could be permanently revoked. The investigation will continue for an undetermined amount of time, he said.

Rekhi's lawyer, Neil Adamson, told reporters in September that Rekhi had received death threats after the release of the videos. Adamson told the press that Rekhi was trained in India, in a jurisdiction that treats animals "differently," but that he had taken responsibility for his actions.