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 It is not clear what they were trying to mediate as her license had been revoked.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.
Why is the article somewhat misleading, Betsy? It is factual as far as I am concerned except for a bit of speculation on the mediation (and why not) and suggesting, based on facts, that the intervention was down to media pressure. I don’t believe it is true to say that the TBVME took immediate action voluntarily as you imply. There was a lot of online campaigning going on. I would doubt that they would have taken action but for the high profile and organised campaigning which was picked up by the online news media putting pressure on the TBVME.
I find this article to be somewhat misleading, and several comments are innaccurate. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but opinions should be stated as such, and not presented as facts. Factually speaking, the TBVME took immediate action on the Lindsey case, voted for the strongest possible penalty (license revocation) and has subsequently pursued the matter with diligence and commitment.
Tiger supporters everywhere agreee that Lindsey’s license should be revoked. SO DOES THE TBVME, yet they are bound to follow procedural rules and regulations. This process takes time. The TBVME can not simply snap its fingers and suspend or revoke a vet’s license without due process. Lindsey has the legal right to appeal the board’s decision. When a judge suggested mediation, the board needed to comply. To do otherwise would jeopardaize the integrity of the case. The TBVME has to play by the rules in order to achieve the outcome they and we want: permanent revocation of Lindsey’s veterinary license. My opinion is that we would do better to reserve our anger and mistrust for Lindsey, rather than denigrate the agency that is working to revoke her license.
Thank goodness that you continue to update us so we can pass this info along to people who care. This story must continue to be out in the open so it won’t be forgotten by sweeping it under the rug.
Blessings
We agree with you Jo wholeheartedly. The trouble is that “establishment” protect their own and to get them to make one of their own an outcast is very hard. I guess it has only got this far because of the pressure by the public, online, on social media. But for that her killing of Tiger would have been brushed over and be history by now.
What is WRONG with the Texas Board of Veterinary Medicine Examiners? I agree totally that her facebook page ALONE was sufficient to permanently take away her license! Veterinarians take an oath to “do no harm”. Nobody’s pet or farm animal should be allowed to be touched by her ever again. There are serious consequences for such outrageous acts of cruelty.
Yes. totally agree.