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Veterinarian fired after posting photo of cat shot with arrow

Police are investigating the incident, which sparked anger on social media, crashed the Washington County Animal Clinic's website and overloaded phone lines at the Austin County Sheriff's Office.

By Fred Lambert

BRENHAM, Texas, April 19 (UPI) -- A Texas veterinarian lost her job and is under investigation after she posted a photo online showing a cat she claimed to have killed with an arrow.

Dr. Kristen Lindsey could be seen in the photo, which was posted to Facebook on Wednesday, smiling and holding up an orange and white feline's limp body from an arrow impaled through its head.

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An accompanying comment read, "My first bow kill, lol. The only good feral tomcat is one with an arrow through its head! Vet of the year award ... Gladly accepted."

The photo went viral and phone lines at the Washington Animal Clinic in Brenham, Texas, where Lindsey worked, became overburdened. Most callers were outraged, while some voiced support.

The clinic's website crashed due to heavy traffic, and dispatchers at the sheriff's office in Austin County, where the cat was reportedly killed, became overloaded with calls.

Lindsey deleted the post and then her Facebook page, and has not yet responded to reporters. The clinic fired her and used duct tape to cover her name up on a sign out front.

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The Austin County Sheriff's Office is investigating whether the photo is real. If so it could pursue animal cruelty charges against Lindsey, whom it plans to interview next week, according to a statement on its Facebook page.

Melanie DeAeth, founder of True Blue Animal Rescue, told reporters the cat was named "Tiger," a pet belonging to a local elderly family. Tiger went missing on Wednesday, DeAeth said.

The Texas Veterinary Medical Association released a statement saying Lindsey'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.' "

Bruce Buenger, co-owner of the Washington Animal Clinic, told reporters Lindsey's actions should not reflect the beliefs and actions of the clinic itself.

The Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University, where Lindsey earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine, likewise released a statement decrying "the grotesque actions and comments displayed in that post."

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Customer Sharron Stoddard, however, dropped off balloons and a thank-you note at the clinic for Lindsey on Friday, the same day she was fired. Stoddard told KBTX that Lindsey was "amazing" and "caring," and a good veterinarian who made a bad choice.

Meanwhile, animal rights group Alley Cat Allies is offering $7,500 for evidence resulting in the arrest and conviction of the cat's killer.

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