A vet has been sacked after she mistook a neighbour's beloved
cat for a wild animal and shot it with a bow and arrow before
posting a sick 'kill picture' on Facebook.
Dr Kristen Lindsey posted a sickening picture on the social
network site on Wednesday, showing her holding the cat aloft by an
arrow sticking out of its head.
Seemingly, she thought the cat was "feral" and bragged about her
"first bow kill".
Inviting praise, she wrote: "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."
However, unbeknown to the vet, the animal was in fact a family
pet called Tiger, a six-year-old tabby who went missing in Brenham,
Texas, earlier that day.
The chilling image quickly went viral as animal lovers shared it
online.
It has sparked a support page on Facebook, called Justice For
Tiger, where campaigners are calling for Dr Lindsey to be charged
with a criminal offence.
The Facebook page includes
photos of Tiger as well as a video that was posted to YouTube by
the cat's owner back in November, reports KBTX.
Defiant Dr Lindsey later posted on the site, denying that she
had been fired.
She wrote: "No I did not lose my job. Lol. Psshh. Like someone
would get rid of me. I’m awesome!"
However, it has since been confirmed that she has been sacked,
while Austin County Sheriff Jack Brandes said he would forward the
case to the district attorney for review.
The Texas Veterinary Medical Association also criticised Dr
Lindsey's actions.
In a statement, it said: "We are saddened and disturbed by the
unfortunate actions of this individual, and we remind Texas
residents that this conduct is not reflective of the veterinary
profession or of the veterinarians who strive to embody the words
of the veterinarian’s oath every day.
"Upon learning of the troubling misconduct, the Brenham clinic
where the veterinarian was practicing immediately condemned her
actions and terminated her employment."
Tabby: The cat belonged to one of the vet's neighbours