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Veterinarian pleads not guilty
Intelligencer Journal
May 28, 2009 00:44 EST
New Providence
By SUSAN E. LINDT, Staff Writer

A veterinarian accused of mutilating a puppy's tail pleaded not guilty to an animal-cruelty charge Wednesday in Lancaster County Court.

Dr. Thomas F. Stevenson, of Twin Valley Veterinary Clinic in Honey Brook, faces up to 5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted of the misdemeanor charge.

Stevenson's state license to practice veterinary medicine has been suspended pending the outcome of a formal hearing before the state Board of Veterinary Medicine.

The criminal charge stems from a March 10 sting operation during which undercover humane officer Tara Loller, of the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said she witnessed Stevenson cut off the tail of a 9-week-old poodle mix without sterilizing the scissors, suturing the wound or using anesthesia or painkillers.

Loller posed as a buyer for the puppy at Country Lane Kennels, a New Providence commercial kennel owned by Samuel E. King, who also is charged with animal cruelty in the incident.

During a preliminary hearing in April, Stevenson testified that when he treated the puppy, its tail already was wounded; he said King had cut it the day before while attempting to groom the puppy.

Stevenson denied he amputated the puppy's tail, testifying that he cut only some loose skin and scab away from the wound site in a procedure that didn't require anesthesia. Stevenson said the dog didn't make any sounds of distress when he made the cuts.

But Loller testified that the dog yelped in pain when Stevenson held its wounded tail under steaming-hot water before amputating it with about six cuts from a pair of unsterilized scissors.

Assistant District Attorney Christine L. Wilson expects to prosecute Stevenson's case no later than November.

Meanwhile, King faces multiple charges related to two separate incidents at his kennel at 223 Refton Road, New Providence.

According to a police affidavit, an anonymous rescue group delivered 10 dogs from King's kennel to the PSPCA, where a staff veterinarian deemed them in need of veterinary care after they had been housed in unsanitary kennel conditions.

King is charged with four summary counts of failing to provide medical care to the dogs and five summary counts of confining dogs in unsanitary conditions.

In addition, the state Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement filed seven citations against King for alleged unsafe conditions and practices during a March 6 inspection at his kennel.

King faces a preliminary hearing for the charges next Friday before District Judge Stuart J. Mylin.

E-mail: slindt@lnpnews.com


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QUOTE (DesignerK @ May 28 2009, 07:41 AM)
I am a DIE HARD animal lover of all types, don't get me wrong. But it seems a little off that we are quicker to convict and harsher to those who abuse animals than those who abuse other humans.
5 years in prison for this? That seems a little absurd. Child rapists, drug smugglers, etc etc get less than this for their crimes (not 100% of the time of course) Just suspend the guys license to practice veterinary medicine, I think that would be enough to teach him a lesson.
What is wrong with the justice system

Actually, I think you may be right! Suspending his vet license would be a big punishment enough.
spaylady
Actually, I'ld like to know the truth. In one of the previous articles he states the SPCA rep. wasn't even in the same room. Either way this is going to be interesting. However, if he didn't do what he is accused of then Lancaster Newspapers sure did a good job of ruining him.
caninegroomer
QUOTE (caninegroomer @ May 28 2009, 10:05 AM)
Actually, I'ld like to know the truth. In one of the previous articles he states the SPCA rep. wasn't even in the same room. Either way this is going to be interesting. However, if he didn't do what he is accused of then Lancaster Newspapers sure did a good job of ruining him.

Everyone pleads "not guilty". Charles Manson and Jeffrey Dalmer pleaded "not guilty".

As with most crimes, this is going to be he said/the witness said. Question: will the Vet take the stand in his own defense? That opens him up to questioning from the DA, not just his own lawyer. Because now, if he doesn't take the stand, the case will be judged on the testimony of that one witness. Which is good enough for me!
ceejay
I would just like to say that Dr. Stevenson was referred to me for a ear cropping by a friend in the dog show world. I took my puppy up from Delaware for a ear cropping and after doing blood work on her he showed me the results and wouldn't even do the "elective surgery" on my pup. He explained to me that some of her numbers were to low and could possibly cause the death of my dog during surgery. He then prescribed me some vitamins (for only $16.00) that he thought would boost up where my pup fell short on the test. I was given another (non-charged, free) appointment for two weeks later and took her back. She was tested again and he showed me the results (again), and my pup had improved on her readings. Dr. Stevenson still had minimal concerns regarding the "elective procedure" because he said he liked to see the readings a tad bit higher. However, we discussed some pros and cons to the operation and he made me fully aware of what could happen if some of his "slight" concerns were present.

So, I explain this to "you" to say, does this sound like the "monster" the article paints??? Not to me.
I hope everything is how I assume them to be and Dr. Stevenson's name is cleared of any wrong doing.

Signed,
UKC conformation show participant.
Cmack84
THE DOCTOR BETTER HOPE HE DON'T GET PRISON TIME
CAUSE THERES ALOT OF HORNY DOGS IN THERE HE WON'T BE
BORED HELL NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jmh110
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