After mediation fails, veterinarian in bow-killing case appears at hearing

Kristen Lindsey, DVM, the veterinarian infamous for shooting a cat with a bow and arrow, appeared at a hearing last week to determine the fate of her license in the state of Texas, according to court documents.

In April 2015, Lindsey posted a photo to her Facebook page that showed her holding an orange and white cat that had been shot through the head with a bow and arrow, "My first bow kill lol," the post read. "The only good feral tomcat is one with an arrow through it's [sic] head! Vet of the year award gladly accepted."

Though there was much public outrage, an Austin County Grand Jury determined it didn't have enough evidence to pursue criminal animal cruelty charges against Lindsey. However, the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (TBVME) felt it had enough evidence to find Lindsey in violation of the Veterinary Licensing Act and Board Rules and moved to revoke her license.

Lindsey's original hearing was to be held March 8-10, but through her lawyer Lindsey requested a mediation session first. The attempt to resolve the case in mediation was unsuccessful and the hearing was rescheduled for April 25-26.

Testimony was heard over two days with each side calling expert witnesses to the stand on their behalf, as well as testimony from Lindsey herself. Lindsey said at the hearing that she had been unable to work since her post went viral and she and her family had received death threats, according to KAGS News.

William Folger, DVM, MS, DABVP (feline), feline regent for the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners and a witness for the TBVME, discussed the markings of the cat in question and the pain and suffering felt by the cat. Folger testified that he believed based on the body positioning of the cat in the picture that it was still alive when Lindsey took the photograph, and did not die instantaneously as she stated, KAGS News reported.

Lawyers for the TBVME and Lindsey will submit closing arguments by June 10 and must respond to the other partys closing by July 1. The administrative law judges will then have 60 days to issue a decision. Both parties will have an opportunity to file written responses and ask the judges for any changes they feel are appropriate, says Michelle Griffin, staff attorney for the TBVME. When that process is complete, the board will consider the case at its next open meeting as it does with all cases. Griffin expects that the case will go before the full board at its October 2016 meeting.