A Texas veterinarian who killed a cat with a bow and arrow, bragged about it, and joked that she deserved an award has lost her job, is under investigation as charges are being considered against her, and has ignited widespread outrage.
When Dr. Kristen Lindsey, DVM, posted the disturbing image seen above showing herself posing with the trophy of the cat she had just killed with a bow and arrow to her Facebook page Wednesday night outrage quickly spread as it was seen by horrified animal lovers and others who felt it was completely inappropriate for someone in her position.
The post reads “My first bow kill, lol. The only good feral tomcat is one with an arrow through it’s head! Vet of the year award … Gladly accepted.”
As the post went viral, Brenham, Texas Police Department, Washington County Animal Control and Lindsey’s employer were all flooded with calls.
Brenham police say the cat was shot in Austin County. The Austin County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the complaints, and Sheriff Jack Brandes sent deputies out to the scene of the incident Friday morning.
“This kind of stuff shouldn’t happen in our society,” Brandes said. “It’s a very sad thing. Hopefully we will get to the bottom of it and get the truth, 100% truth, and get it to the DA and put it in his hands if it needs to go any further.”
In the comment section of her post, Lindsey wrote “no I did not lose my job. Lol. Psshh. Like someone would get rid of me. I’m awesome!”
Lindsey’s employer, the Washington Animal Clinic, in Brenham, evidently did not think she was so awesome after all. The clinic blanked her name off their sign with silver tape, promptly fired her, and issued a statement expressing complete disapproval of her actions.
The clinic says they received more than 500 calls Friday morning.
“Our goal now is to go on and try to fix our black eye and hope that people are reasonable and understand that those actions don’t anyway portray what we’re for here at Washington Animal Clinic,” said Dr. Bruce Buenger. “We put our heart and soul into this place.”
Lindsey later removed her post and then pulled down her Facebook page.
Alley Cat Allies is offering a $7,500 reward for evidence leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for killing the cat in Austin County. (See their press release on the matter, which follows below the news video in this post.)
“Animal cruelty must be taken seriously, and the guilty parties should be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” said Becky Robinson, president and founder of Alley Cat Allies.
The incident became yet more sickening Friday afternoon when questions arose over the cat’s identity. Some believe that the cat was not a feral but a missing neutered pet named Tiger.
Readers may wish to visit or follow the Justice for Cat Murdered By Kristen Lindsey Facebook page. The page is advocating for justice and is sharing information related to the case. It is also working to keep the facts surrounding the matter straight, and to discourage misplaced attacks toward the Washington Animal Clinic, which has strongly distanced itself from Lindsey.
The clinic is not just dealing with complaints about Lindsey, they are also getting criticism from her supporters, some of whom are seen in the KBTX news report below.
We expect this story to continue as details unfold.
Watch the KBTX report on the case:
Here is Alley Cat Allies’ press release:
Alley Cat Allies Offers $7,500 Reward in Austin County, Texas Animal Cruelty Investigation
BETHESDA, MD—Alley Cat Allies is offering a $7,500 reward for evidence leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for killing a cat in Austin County, Texas. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Austin County Sheriff Office at (979)-865-3111.
A photo posted on Facebook depicted the alleged perpetrator holding a dead cat by an arrow through the cat’s head. “Animal cruelty must be taken seriously, and the guilty parties should be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” said Becky Robinson, president and founder of Alley Cat Allies.
Intentionally killing a cat—pet, stray or feral—is against the law in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. This gruesome incident is cause for alarm for the community’s safety. Psychiatric and criminological research has established a clear link between cruelty to animals and a host of other violent behaviors toward people.
she has been fired as a vet in the county! and has been blackballed as a vet! what a horrilble thing she did. have been seeing this since yesterday. how stupid to put things like this onto facebook where people can get you into trouble. so glad she did!!!
Something should be done charged to the fullest extent of the law
I think she should be struck off as a vet and not allowed to practise she needs to get the message that this is completely abhorrent and unacceptable Vile nasty woman
Wow that poor cat does look like Tiger. What a horrible thing this woman has done. She is ugly inside and out.
She will play hell ever finding at job in the country again!!! She makes me sick! I just need a few minutes with her……….
If I got my hands on that Girl she would need a bow and arrow because I would try my best to choke her to the point she thinks she is going to die! I hope she never gets to work around animals again! Not so funny now is it Kristen? Murderer!!!
unreal, the worst person of the year, its so creepy that she smiles.sick, disturbing
YOU WORTHLESS PIECE OF $HIT.. HOPE YOU GET CANCER AND DIE,, QUICKLY..OR GET IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND BE PARALIZED FROM THE NECK DOWN AND HAVE TO SPEND THE REST OF YOUR LIFE IN A WHEEL CHAIR
She needs to have her license to practice revoked.
Some cats, such as yours, would be better off kept indoors mostly… should people that cannot afford to take care of cats have them? Not if they’re going to b*tch and moan about the litters that just happened because they didn’t fix them. Where do you think feral cats come from? The people trying to help these feral cats FIX them and release them, not money wasted, as they are picking up where people who abandoned these cats left off. You’re just as bad as that vet, shooting a cat that has no place else to go but your stupid barn. You’re the unhinged one. And that’s ‘triage’ … maybe you meant tragic.
I do.