Mediation fails to resolve case against vet who shot cat with arrow

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Mediation has failed to resolve the state's case against a Brenham veterinarian who boasted about killing a cat with a bow and arrow. A hearing is likely.

The day-long mediation Thursday between Dr. Kristen Lindsey and the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners failed to produce a settlement, a board spokeswoman said.

"We anticipate the administrative law judge to issue an order setting a hearing date," spokeswoman Loris Jones said Friday by email.

READ THIS: Vet who killed cat with arrow faces state board

According to online records for the State Office of Administrative Hearings, a document filed Tuesday in the case set proposed hearing dates of April 25-27. Jones said Friday she believed those dates were still possible, but nothing had been scheduled.

A hearing with an administrative law judge had previously been set for March 8-10 but was indefinitely postponed, pending the mediation outcome, Jones said.

The advocacy group Alley Cat Allies said last month in a news release that the veterinary board asked to delay the hearing to exchange evidence and information after Lindsey admitted during a deposition that she did not believe the cat had rabies when she shot the animal. Lindsey had earlier stated she thought the cat was "likely rabid," the release said.

Lindsey shot the cat with a bow and arrow in June, causing an uproar from animal rights activists. Since the incident, more than 310,000 people have signed a petition requesting a permanent suspension of Lindsey's license to practice veterinary medicine.

The board filed a formal complaint to revoke the license in October. If a hearing is scheduled, the administrative law judge would have 60 days to make a recommendation.

Among last month's developments, Lindsey submitted an exhibit list that included documents on the "health risks" of feral cats. That prompted an objection from the veterinary board that "whether the cat was feral is irrelevant to the case," according to the Alley Cat Allies statement.

READ THIS: State board moves to revoke license of vet who shot cat with arrow

In June, Lindsey posted a photo on Facebook that showed her posing with a dead orange tabby that had an arrow in its head. The caption on the photo said:

"My first bow kill (cat emoticon) lol. The only good feral tomcat is one with an arrow through it's (sic) head! Vet of the year award...gladly accepted (laughing emoticon)," the post said.

The picture and boast set off a backlash. The Washington Animal Clinic in Brenham fired Lindsey. An Austin County grand jury declined to charge her, finding "insufficient proof" in the case.