A veterinarian has been fired from her clinic after she posted a horrifying image of her holding a cat she had killed by firing an arrow into its head on Facebook. Kristen Lindsey, 31, who lives in Brenham, Texas, allegedly hunted the animal down in her backyard and shot it with a bow, believing it was feral. But a local rescue center say the cat, believed to be called Tiger, was domesticated and had been missing for around two weeks. Beneath the shocking image, Lindsey, a Wyoming native, 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." She also said in a comment, before she learned she no longer had a job: "And no I did not lose my job. Psshh. Like someone would get rid of me. I'm awesome." The Colorado State graduate lost her job at the Washington Animal Clinic after the image began circulating online and staff have since been distancing themselves from the former employee. Staff at released a statement on Facebook on Friday saying: "We are absolutely appalled, shocked, upset, and disgusted by the conduct. We have parted ways with Ms. Lindsey. We do not allow such conduct and we condemn it in the strongest possible manner," the clinic said in the statement. "Please know that when informed of this we responded swiftly and appropriately and please do not impute this awful conduct to the Washington Animal Clinic or any of its personnel." Local prosecutors are now considering whether she should face criminal charges. A Facebook page, called 'justice for the cat murdered by Kirsten Lindsey' has already been 'liked' by more than 7,000 people. A video of the six-year-old cat that Lindsey is believed to have killed riding on top of a tractor has also surfaced online. Austin County Sheriff, Jack Brandes, says he was disturbed by the image. He told KBTX: "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 per cent truth, and get it to the DA and put it in his hands if it needs to go any further." The Texas Veterinary Medical Association also condemned her reactions, insisting her conduct does not reflect the standards of other vets. In a statement, they said: "The Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) strongly condemns the actions of a veterinarian who claims to have recently shot and killed a feral cat with the use of a bow and arrow. The veterinarian, who worked in Brenham, Texas, and is not a TVMA member, posted a picture of herself holding the deceased cat on her personal Facebook page along with some insensitive remarks about the incident." "This individual’s actions directly violate the veterinarian’s oath taken to use his or her scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health and the advancement of medical knowledge.” "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. The clinic’s ownership and staff have expressed their deepest shock and disgust at such behavior and are regretful that the individual acted in a manner that so drastically deviated from the conduct and values the clinic has upheld in its community for years. "We hope you will stand strong with us against this type of behavior against animals. TVMA values the trust built between veterinarians and the public based on mutually shared care for animals. We hope that we can unite to prevent actions like this from occurring in the future. She was also condemned online by a number of people in her profession." Larry Wallace, who said he had been a veterinarian for 40 years, said on Facebook: "I have never in my long career heard of such an atrocious act by a member of my profession. This person most be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. She took an oath to protect and heal not to killing innocent life. I will be contacting my national association about this matter as she has tarnished the profession for which she has chosen." Underneath the clinic's statement, Sheilah Christensen wrote: "She needs to be in jail for animal abuse - follow your state statutes on animal abuse. Take her license away -- my God, what did she do to the animals in her care at your clinic." Cruelty to animals is a Class A misdemeanor under penal code 42.092: “A person commits an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly tortures an animal or in a cruel manner kills or causes serious bodily injury to an animal.” Lindsey interned at Equine Sports Medicine & Surgery in Weatherford from 2012 to 2013. She created a personal blog called Wyo-Girl-Kristen Lindsey and posted about herself in 2011, saying: "I love Wyoming and the mountains....the Big Horns especially...but any will do when it really comes down to it. I love hunting, fly fishing, pack trips, the outdoors in general, horses, skiing, dancing, whiskey, my friends, my family, God, raising hell, my daddy, and sheep."
Kristen Lindsey from Brenham, Texas, allegedly hunted the animal down and shot it with a bow believing it was feral and then posted the image on Facebook
Lindsey, pictured with her mother Becky, said after the picture was uploaded that she didn't lose her job - claiming no one would fire her because she is 'awesome'. However she later learned she had been fired
Local prosecutors are now considering whether she should face criminal charges. She was also slammed online with a number of people saying she should lose her veterinarian license
A video of the six-year-old cat that Lindsey is believed to have killed riding on top of a tractor has also surfaced online
The Colorado State graduate lost her job at the Washington Animal Clinic (pictured) after the image began circulating online. She has yet to respond to the image The clinic issued a statement confirming Lindsey had been fired and distanced themselves from the employee. They said they were 'disgusted' by her conduct
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Please join us to find out about animal welfare issues in our city and get an update on the status of the temporary animal shelter in Bowie. Dogs from the PG Animal Shelter and information about kitties available for adoption will be present to raise awareness of homeless animals in PG County. WHAT: Meet & Greet and Adoption Fair DATE: Sunday, April 26, 2015 TIME: 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Bowie Town Center (Front of the Food Court) 15606 Emerald Way Bowie, MD 20716 We hope to see you there!
Stunning images have surfaced of an elusive albino dolphin that can change color from white to pink when it gets emotional. The rare mammal has been making waves at the Taiji Whale Museum, in southern Japan, where it draws vast and fascinated crowds. While bottlenose dolphins are typically grey, the mammal is completely white– apart from the quirky tendency to turn pink when it's feeling angry, sad or even embarrassed. The phenomenon results from the animals thin skin, which means its blood vessels can cause a change in skin tone depending on their emotional state. Essentially, they blush in the same way as humans. The rare specimen is believed to be only the second one ever put on display in an aquarium after it was purchased from fishermen last year. The animal was controversially captured during the annual dolphin hunt in the town of Taiji in January. Its quirky coloration meant the fishermen would get more money selling it to an aquarium than as meat. The Taiji hunt was made notorious by the 2009 Oscar-winning documentary 'The Cove,' which depicted fishermen capturing hundreds of dolphins for aquariums or to be killed for meat. Japan's Wakayama Prefecture, which includes Taiji, reported that 1,218 dolphins and small whales were captured there in 2011, though it did not specify how many of those captured were killed. Environmental activists filed a lawsuit against the Taiji Whaling Museum in May 2014, claiming it had refused experts to check on the safety of the elusive dolphin. But the museum claims the creatures health has been monitored through periodic blood tests, and that they are keeping it 'physically and mentally healthy' for further research. It was also reported the museum did the animal a favor - albino dolphins are easy prey at sea as they unable to blend in like their grey colored relatives. Experts claimed it was remarkable that the animal had survived so long before being taken to the museum. Taiji Whaling Museum, along with the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology and the Institute of Cetacean Research, published a study about the dolphin in Mammal Study March 2015.
As Spc. Matthew Tattersall prepares to leave the U.S. Army, he wanted to make his last jump as a paratrooper a memorable one. So last weekend, he jumped with Willy MakeIt, his pet Siamese fighting fish. A selfie Tattersall took of his fish, not out of water, but out of an airplane, went viral on U.S. Army W.T.F.! Moments, a Facebook community popular among troops. "The picture got way more popular than I thought it would," Tattersall said. Although social media users were hooked on the image (the photo got more than 15,500 likes), bosses upstream at Fort Bragg, N.C., thought the move was all wet. Tattersall, who's assigned to 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, said he's waiting for the final fallout from his aerial actions. Meanwhile, he has written a 1,000-word essay on the importance of airborne safety and professionalism in the Army. "When it's all said and done, it wasn't all that safe or professional for me to have done that," Tattersall said.
But the 23-year-old, who calls himself "23 years stupid," said he has no regrets. "It was worth it," he said. "I'm fully willing to embrace any consequences that come of it, and I hope they're lenient." Tattersall, an infantryman with a deployment to Afghanistan, joined the Army in 2011, shipping to basic training in January 2012. He will complete his enlistment on May 20. His last jump was April 11. "It was a daytime combat jump, but with me being so close to getting out, I didn't have any gear, so it was a Hollywood jump for me," Tattersall said. He and his friends have long talked about doing something special for their last jump, but "no one actually went through with it," he said. So when his turn came, "I wanted to make it awesome, and I did just that," he said. The night before the jump, Tattersall went to Walmart and bought the fish he named Willy MakeIt. "It's so random to have it be a fish," he said, crediting a friend for the idea. Tattersall poked holes in the top of a water bottle so Willy could breathe. "I had his little pod ready," he said. On jump day, no one knew about the plan Tattersall was hatching, he said. "I kept it in my pocket, and I was as nonchalant as I possibly could be," he said. "I knew the jumpmasters wouldn't have let that fly. I knew none of the NCOs or other leaders would have let me jump. It was completely on me." As he jumped from the C-17 and fell to the ground under the canopy of his parachute, Tattersall took a quick selfie. "I had to be quick, but paratroopers get the job done," he said. "... Conditions were perfect. I made sure I wasn't around anyone where it would have been a hazard," he said. "But I guess that's famous last words for anyone." Tattersall and Willy MakeIt made it safely to the ground, and the hardy fish earned a middle name. He's now Willy Did MakeIt, and he has big dreams. "Willy and I are trying to go to space," Tattersall said. But first, Tattersall hopes to be able to move on from the Army honorably. "I have big hopes and big plans for the future," said Tattersall, who aims to start college in the fall. "I'm proud to be a paratrooper. I wouldn't change a thing about it."
A young bull elephant killed professional hunter Ian Gibson early on Wednesday as he tracked a lion for an American client in a rugged part of north-east Zimbabwe. Mr. Gibson, 55, one of Zimbabwe's best known big game hunters, died scouting for prey in the Zambezi Valley after a young bull elephant charged, then knelt on him and crushed him to death. "We don't yet know the full details of how 'Gibbo' as we called him, died, as the American client and the trackers are still too traumatized to give us full details," said Paul Smith, Managing Director, of Chifuti Safaris' which employed Mr. Gibson for the hunt. The American hunter was on his first trip to Zimbabwe, and only has one leg, but was "fit and strong" and had already shot a leopard. Mr. Gibson was scouting for lions when he encountered the elephant. Mr. Gibson's trackers said the young bull had been in a musth period, which means it was producing much more testosterone then usual. "We know 'Gibbo' shot it once, from about 10 yards away, with a 458 rifle. He would never have fired unless he had no alternative. He was a hunter, yes, but he was also a magnificent wildlife photographer and conservationist. "He was so experienced and this is a most unexpected tragedy." Mr. Gibson was accompanying his client in an area known as Chiwore North, in the southern part of the Zambezi Valley, which Mr. Smith said is overpopulated with elephants.
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Working at Disney World exposes you to everything imaginable. It’s not just castles, fairy tale characters, and insane rides you see on a daily basis, but all types of people as well. Sometimes people do strange things, but nothing prepared park employees for a woman trying to enter with her pet tiger. On April 6th, 2015, an unidentified woman tried to enter the park with her pet tiger, and was promptly stopped by park employees. The tiger had been staying with the family in their hotel room, and walked to the park on a leash. While service animals are allowed in the park, the woman could not prove that it was an “emotional support animal,” according to employees. After a long winded argument at the parks entrance, Central Florida Zoo was called to retrieve the baby Bengal tiger until the end of the woman’s vacation. However, for the “inconvenience,” Disney gave reservations at a restaurant on site, and gave them fast passes for the rest of their trip. This situation highlights just how easy it is to acquire an exotic animal as a “pet,” and the cavalier attitude people have towards them. Far too many animals are adopted while they are “still cute,” only to be abandoned or killed when they become too difficult to take care of. Hopefully it will become impossible for these wild creatures to be bought and traded with impunity. Thankfully, we can all pitch in to help. As with many news stories, things are constantly changing. As it turns out, the animals was a bengal CAT, which is a semi-domesticated exotic breed of cat. However, many parts of the United States outlaw or regulate bengal cats, considering them exotic, and in the same category as an actual tiger. While there is some comfort in knowing the details, it still stirs up the questions of morality and safety of trying to “own” exotic animals and treating them as house pets.
Canine influenza has reached Lafayette, according to the Purdue University's Pet Wellness Clinic. Clinic director Steve Thompson said Friday that several tests on Lafayette dogs came up positive for the virus Thursday evening. It's unclear how many dogs have been diagnosed with the virus locally. Thompson said Purdue will be releasing more information later today. Indiana State Board of Animal Health spokeswoman Denise Derrer said the board has heard of about a dozen cases of the virus in Indiana dogs. The board last week had asked veterinarians to informally notify the board of any cases they diagnose. "But that's not an official count by any means," Derrer said, noting that the virus isn't considered "reportable," meaning that veterinarians aren't required to report canine influenza cases to the state. The virus has swept Chicago in recent weeks, sickening more than 1,000 dogs and killed five dogs between January and March. Experts originally thought it to be the H3N8 dog flu virus already found in the United States. They now believe it is a new strain, H3N2, that likely originated in Asia and hasn't been seen before in the U.S. Though a vaccine is available for the H3N8 virus, it's unclear yet whether it will ward off the H3N2 virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The virus is rarely fatal, but young and old canines can be especially at risk. About canine influenza What is it? Canine influenza is a very contagious respiratory infection in dogs. How is it transmitted? The virus can be transmitted from dog to dog via the air (coughing or close proximity), by contaminated objects such as food bowls or toys, or by humans moving between infected and healthy dogs. What are the symptoms? The signs of this illness in dogs are coughing, runny nose and fever. A small portion of infected dogs can develop severe disease. What to do if dog shows symptoms? Though there is a vaccine for the older H3N8 virus, but it is unknown whether that vaccine will protect against the new H3N2 virus currently sweeping the Midwest. Veterinarians still recommend receiving the H3N8 vaccine. Contact your vet for details. Treatment largely consists of supportive care including fluids and making the dog comfortable. Is it fatal? The percent of dogs with the disease that die is very small. Eighty percent of infected dogs will have a mild form of the virus. Sources: Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
If your cat becomes Houdini and magically vanishes whenever you even think about trimming her nails, part of the problem might be she has learned to associate the procedure with restraint, discomfort, fear or even pain. Even if you do manage to accomplish the nail trimming procedure, if you’ve had to wrap your cat in a towel, enlist the help of family members to hold her down, restrain her by scruffing or have punished her in any way for being a wiggle worm, then all that just compounds the problem. If she dislikes the process now, she’ll absolutely hate it the next time and then go into full panic mode the time after that. Nail Trimming Shouldn’t be Stressful Ok, it may not top the list of your cat’s favorite things to do, but it shouldn’t create a wave of panic and should definitely not result in hissing, growling, biting or scratching (by the cat or by you!). When done correctly, it should be a quick, easy, and dare I say, pleasant experience. Develop Trust If you’re dealing with a kitten, don’t waste time – start getting her comfortable with having her paws touched and her nails trimmed. This is the ideal time because if you get her comfortable with it from the very beginning it will be a heck of a lot easier when she’s an adult. If you’re dealing with a cat who has never had her nails trimmed or has had a less-than-happy experience with the procedure, you’ll have to take it slow and do some trust-building. For this, you won’t even get out the clippers or attempt to trim one nail. Your main objective during this phase is to show your cat having her paws touched is a good thing. The Velvet Touch
Choose a time to begin the training when your cat is relaxed and maybe even a bit sleepy. Arm yourself with some treats. Gently touch her paw and then offer a treat. If she has never been comfortable with having her paws touched then make sure when you do touch her, it’s for no more than a couple of seconds – just one gentle stroke. Work up to being able to pet each of her paws and then to being able to lift and hold one paw for a few seconds. When you hold her paw don’t grasp it – just let it sit in your hand for the count of three. Reward your cat with a treat for her tolerance. The next step is to hold a paw and gently press to allow the nail to extend. Be very gentle. Reward your cat. Do this with all of the paws. Do the above exercises a couple of times a day until you feel your cat is completely comfortable with having her paws held and gently pressed so the nails are exposed. Remember to always reward your cat with a treat for her acceptance of each move you make. Choose the Right Nail Clipper Get a nail clipper meant for cat nails. Don’t use a dog nail clipper (too big) and don’t use clippers meant for human fingernails (they’ll split the nails). The cat’s nails are smaller and thinner so use clippers specifically designed for their size and shape. Avoid Cutting the Quick There’s a blood supply running through the nail. If your cat’s nails are light-colored you can see the pink part. That’s called the quick and it contains nerves and the blood supply. If you cut the quick you’ll cause pain to your cat and it’ll also result in bleeding. Cutting the quick, in addition to causing pain, will undo the good behavior work and your cat may develop a fear of the procedure.Only cut the very tip of the nail – don’t go beyond the curve. If your cat’s nails are light-colored, it’s much easier to see the quick, but if they’re dark-colored, you have to be even more careful. Always cut less than you think you should. If you’re at all in doubt about how much to trim, have your veterinarian or one of the clinic’s veterinary technicians show you. If you do accidentally cut the quick, stop the bleeding with a little cornstarch. Keep a small container of cornstarch with your grooming supplies just to be on the safe side. Hopefully though, you’ll never need it. Trimming the Nails If your cat has had negative experiences with nail trimming, you shouldn’t attempt to do more than one or nails during each trimming session. It’s better to have the whole procedure over and done before your cat even realizes what just happened. If you keep the experience quick and positive, she’ll be more relaxed next time around.
Choose a time for nail trimming when your cat is relaxed. Hold the nail trimmer with one hand and take your cat’s paw in the other hand. Gently press to expose a nail and do a quick, but careful snip. If she reacts, don’t attempt to do any more nails. If she’s calm, do another. Always end on a positive note so it’s better to come back and do a couple more nails later, rather than have her struggle and undo all the good behavior modification work you’ve been doing. It will also help the process if you keep track of which paw you’re working on so you’ll know where you left off when it’s time to do a couple more nails. The less you have to hold a paw while you double-check whether you’ve already cut those nails, the better. How Often Should You Trim Your Cat’s Nails? Typically, once a month is sufficient but that will depend on how fast your particular cat’s nails grow. The Scratching Post Don’t be surprised if your cat races over to her scratching post after you’ve trimmed her nails. It’s actually a good way for her to complete the manicure. It’s a great way for her to displace any apprehension she may have had about the procedure. In our house, it’s standard behavior for my cat to head directly to her post as soon as the last nail has been trimmed.
What About Declawing? Declawing is not a humane option and shouldn’t be viewed as a way to avoid nail trimming. Being able to scratch is a vital part of being a cat. Declawing is the equivalent of mini amputations. Scratching behavior serves many vital emotional and physical functions for a cat. If your cat is engaging in furniture scratching, then provide an appealing scratching post, place it near the area where she’s scratching and reward her for using the post. If you’re considering declawing your cat because you are unable to trim her nails, your veterinarian will teach you how to do it or you can bring your cat in to have a veterinary staff member do the nail trim. You may be interested in reading:Declawing: How This Procedure Affects Cats
