A court in Austin, Texas has rejected appeals from a Kristen Lindsey, the now-infamous veterinarian who lost her license for a year after shooting an arrow through the head of a cat named Tiger and then bragging about it on Facebook.
Lindsey’s 2015 Facebook post sparked massive outrage among animal rights activists, who called for a suspension of the vet’s license and animal cruelty charges. The Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (TBVME) voted in October 2016 to suspend Lindsey’s license for five years. However, for the final four years, Lindsey is allowed to practice on a probationary basis, meaning that she only served one year of a complete suspension, from October 2016 through October 2017. Lindsey was not charged with animal cruelty in the case.
Lindsey appealed the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners’s decision in the Third Court of Appeals, her attorneys arguing that the actions she took “had nothing to do with the practice of veterinary medicine.” She also appeals the TBVME’s authority to bring disciplinary action against her.
The court rejected both appeals and also ordered that Lindsey pay all costs related to the appeals, both in the trial court and court of appeals.
Animal rights activists and cat lovers around the world still believe Lindsey’s punishment was light. Alley Cat Allies actively pushed for harsh punishment, filing an amicus brief and offering testimony in the case.
“We’re pleased that the courts still see Kristen Lindsey’s actions as deserving of punishment, however, a one-year suspension is grossly inadequate for a veterinarian who gained such pleasure from the torture of a cat,” said Becky Robinson, president and founder of Alley Cat Allies. “Kristen Lindsey should never be trusted to practice veterinary medicine again.”
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