You may remember this high profile case well. Briefly Ms Lindsey is a Texas veterinarian who killed a neighbour’s cat, Tiger, with a bow and arrow. She proudly and boastfully published, on Facebook, a photo of Tiger’s dying body being held aloft by an arrow through his head. It was quite shocking, immoral and totally inappropriate for anyone never mind a vet whose role in life is to be concerned with the health and welfare of animals. Lindsey had announced to the world on social media that she enjoyed killing animals. She must have learnt that from her father. As a result she should never have chosen the veterinary profession as a career. Perhaps it is over.
Well, after much online criticism and campaigning the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (TBVME) revoked Lindsey’s veterinary license. This lead to an appeal, in effect, whereby the matter will be formally heard and decided upon at State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH).
In the meantime it has transpired that the parties — by which I mean the TBVME and Kristen Lindsey — have been in negotiation in what is called “mediation”. It is not clear what they were trying to mediate as her license had been revoked. Perhaps they were negotiating a compromise whereby TBVME allow her to practice veterinary medicine under supervision or some other restriction. We don’t know but we do know (as reported by chron.com) that the mediation failed to resolve the matter and therefore it will proceed as planned to a full and formal hearing, as mentioned. Apparently the mediation attempt lasted a full day.
I would say that the breakdown of mediation is a success for those of us who want her license to be fully revoked. We don’t want a compromise or some diluted or watered down result; only revocation of her license will satisfy the vast majority of people who know this case.
Records at the SOAH tell us that the case is proposed to be heard on 25-27th April 2016. It has not yet been firmly scheduled for that date, however. The date of the SOAH hearing had previously been set for March 8-10th but was postponed for mediation.
Alley Cat Allies published a news release last month in which they stated that the TBVME had requested a delay to the SOAH hearing to allow the parties to exchange evidence and information. This was because Lindsey had admitted in a deposition (a sworn document providing evidence) that she did not believe that Tiger had rabies when she shot him. However, earlier she had said that the cat was “likely rabid”. Personally, my feeling is that Lindsey had simply played the “rabies card” to get off what she realised was a reckless act that could and should ruin her veterinary career.
There it is, a full update unless someone can add more detail in a comment below which would be most welcome.
You can read about the whole sorry saga in a series of articles on PoC by clicking on this link.
I agree with you, Sally. The establishment always protect their own. Public pressure forced them to act. I am hopeful that her license will be revoked but there is definitely a possibility that she’ll be let off in some way because they protect their own as stated.
We all agree with you Eva. She has to be banned from practicing veterinary medicine.
You are correct-
A rose is a rose &
Watered down vinegar ….
is still p___ & vinegar.
sorry but……………
I would never trust this woman with any of my beloved pets.
Too sad that her parents didn’t teach her about compassion. I understand that it typically takes 12 years to earn a veterinary license.
note: this time frame may not apply in every case?
Eva says-
The Texas Board could have revoked her license based on the Facebook post alone as conduct unbecoming a veterinarian. They should have done so immediately or at least suspended her license pending an investigation. They did nothing until the media got hold of the story and hundreds sent formal complaints. She is still licensed.
While I am very glad mediation failed, exactly why should there even be mediation? They should have revoked immediately and she would have had to sue to try to get it back. She also would probably would have been charged criminally.
Bottom line for me is I don’t trust the Texas Board to do the right thing because they haven’t from the beginning. Whatever happens now , they will say it was a SOAH decision. She killed Tiger on her off duty time, not in her job as a veterinarian. Kristen Lindsey hunts. So do a LOT of veterinarians in Texas and the Board doesn’t want that can of worms opened by being responsible for her license revocation.
The only thing i want to hear is license revoked. The arrogance in her is plain to see. Humble HER
Not only should somebody like that have their licence revoked, but they should spend at least 5 years in prison.
The unfortunate lack of prosecution for people like lindsey is the reason why people like her feel free to abuse animals.
If I had it my way, I would sentence people like that to death.