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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
