'Vampire vet' accused of keeping clients' dogs for blood transfusions indicted on 3 counts

This photo provided by the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office shows Fort Worth, Texas veterinarian Dr. Millard Tierce. Tierce has been arrested on an animal cruelty charge after a former client alleged her dog was kept alive and used for blood transfusions after she was told it had been euthanized. (AP Photo/Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office) less This photo provided by the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office shows Fort Worth, Texas veterinarian Dr. Millard Tierce. Tierce has been arrested on an animal cruelty charge after a former client alleged her dog ... more Photo: Associated Press Photo: Associated Press Image 1 of / 18 Caption Close 'Vampire vet' accused of keeping clients' dogs for blood transfusions indicted on 3 counts 1 / 18 Back to Gallery

A Fort Worth veterinarian who allegedly kept a couple's dog alive nearly a year after claiming to have euthanized the pet has been indicted on three counts.

Millard Lucien "Lou" Tierce III was indicted Oct. 29 by a Tarrant County grand jury on one count of theft, one count of using someone else's property and one count of failing to provide appropriate veterinary care.

The owners of the dog, Jamie and Marian Harris, filed a $1 million lawsuit May 8 in state district court against Tierce, 71, and his business, Camp Bowie Animal Clinic.

In the suit, the Harris family accuses Tierce of negligence, gross negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, fraud, conversion (unauthorized use of property), breach of fiduciary duty, theft of property and breach of contract. They are seeking more than $1 million in damages and attorney's fees.

As stated in the couple's petition, they took their 170-pound dog, Sid, to Tierce's clinic in May 2013 for a minor, anal gland issue. Tierce proposed longterm treatment in his clinic and kept the 4-year-old Leonberger for five months. When Tierce claimed to discover that the dog had a degenerative spine defect and recommended euthanasia, the couple consented and agreed to have him buried at Tierce's farm.

The family later learned their dog was still at the clinic, caged in allegedly unsanitary conditions, according to their petition. They retrieved their pet from the clinic and took him to another veterinarian and neurologist, whose examinations showed he had been "abusively kenneled" and had veins consistent with regular blood donations.

Another client, Kimberly Davis, filed suit in June against Tierce over his treatment of her Chihuahua, accusing him of deceptive trade practices and fraud, among other allegations.

Reports of an investigation by Fort Worth police and state officials drew international headlines, some referring to the "vampire vet."

According to documents, Tierce admitted in May that he had kept five dogs for either experimentation or blood transfusion.

In May, the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners ordered that Tierce's license be temporarily suspended. Earlier this month, Tierce agreed to a five-year suspension, under which he can continue to own the clinic where care will be provided by other licensed veterinarians, Courthouse News reported.

Tierce is scheduled to appear Nov. 14 in Criminal District Court No. 4, according to Tarrant County District Clerk online records. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to two years in a state jail.