TEXAS – Following a two-day hearing in Austin, the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners is still probably about five months away from making a decision on disciplining the Brenham practitioner who boasted about killing a cat with a bow and arrow.
Dr. Kristen Lindsey, a licensed veterinarian since the year 2012, caused a storm of controversy in June when she shot an orange tabby with a bow and arrow and posted a photo on Facebook.
Following an uproar from animal welfare advocates, the veterinary board filed a formal complaint in October in hopes to revoke Lindsey’s license.
A day-long mediation back in March failed to resolve the matter, leading to the “contested case” hearing at the State Office of Administrative Hearings in Austin.
Now, several legal steps must take place before the board can take any disciplinary action, according to a statement on the board’s website:
– Both parties (Lindsey and the board) must submit written closing arguments by June 10.
– Each party may then submit a written reply to the other party’s argument by July 1.
– The administrative law judge who presided at the hearing then has 60 days to issue a “proposal for decision” (PFD), and the parties have a chance to file written responses to the proposal.
– Once the replies are complete, the proposal will be presented to the full board at its next meeting, which is expected to take place Oct. 18.
The two groups that have pressed for Lindsey’s license to be revoked — Alley Cat Allies and Animal Legal Defense Fund — sent representatives to the hearing and also posted synopses of the two-day proceeding. Alley Cat Allies then posted this summary of the Austin hearing. Lora Dunn, staff attorney and interim director of the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Criminal Justice Program, prepared this hearing summary.
On her own behalf, Kristen Lindsey stated she feels she has “suffered enough.”
