# Veterinarian brags about killing a cat **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 21, 2015, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterinarian-brags-about-killing-a-cat/718224 "2015-04-21T21:00:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterinarian-brags-about-killing-a-cat/718224/21 "2015-04-22T00:26:42Z")
If she shot someone’s pet, I hope the cat’s owners sue her ass off after she’s had her vet credentials revoked. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterinarian-brags-about-killing-a-cat/718224/22 "2015-04-22T00:48:20Z")
His name was Tiger and he was six years old. I saw an article on one of my Facebook cat groups. I’ll see if I can find it again. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterinarian-brags-about-killing-a-cat/718224/23 "2015-04-22T01:52:04Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > The cat was an owned and friendly cat, not a feral. Though I haven’t found any statements by the owners that have been made public, there’s a YouTube video of a cat that looks exactly like the one in the vet’s photo, and is a neighboring property, and went missing. I hope she loses her license. > > Here’s a news website from Texas that has a pretty good timeline documented, as well as lots of links to statements by other parties, the video I mentioned, and the state law that was violated: [http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/Veterinarian-Brags-About-Killing-Cat-with-Bow-and-Arrow--300293461.html](http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/Veterinarian-Brags-About-Killing-Cat-with-Bow-and-Arrow--300293461.html) > > As a veterinarian, the way to combat the feral cat population is to make herself available to TNR for low cost spaying and neutering, not hunting them. (especially when the result is killing a friendly, neutered, neighbor’s cat) There are active groups of TNR people in Texas, one who’s a Doper. The argument that cats are a detriment to the songbird populations is not proven. What is for sure is that by far and by exponential numbers, the main detriment to wildlife populations and songbirds (the main argument against ferals) is people. Since people suck at being humane, no one talks about that, it’s so much easier and more fun to blame the cats instead. I’m not sure what diseases they’re supposed to be spreading? Mice, rats and bats are far more common disease vectors than cats. And cats eat all of those. > > We’re both in Chicago. If you’d like more information on TNR in your area, I’ll be happy to send you links to Alley Cat Allies and to information my shelter has, as we’re one of the largest TNR coordinating resources in the City. If you think your zip code has a large problem feral population, let me know and I can ask about whether it’s on the list for future zips that we’re targeting (one each year) for TNR/education/colony caretaking/free spaying and neutering. Thank you for sharing the additional information, and for posting about the spay and neutering programs. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterinarian-brags-about-killing-a-cat/718224/24 "2015-04-22T02:36:49Z")
> [@Psycurious](#): > > This woman is a veterinarian, someone sworn to help and protect animals. They’re not M.D.s. They’re not sworn to do no harm. Veterinarians are sometimes **paid** to kill cats. I’ve paid for that myself. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterinarian-brags-about-killing-a-cat/718224/25 "2015-04-22T03:23:18Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > They’re not M.D.s. They’re not sworn to do no harm. Veterinarians are sometimes **paid** to kill cats. I’ve paid for that myself. Are you seriously equating humane euthanasia with all the things that can go wrong with impaling a cat with an arrow? I can explain it to you in small words if you need help with the difference. > [@](#): > > **Veterinarian’s Oath:** > \*Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my 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. > > I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics. > > I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence.\* Does that really jibe with killing a neighbor’s pet via a method that could have gone so badly she could have needed to resort to a brick to finish what she started? ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterinarian-brags-about-killing-a-cat/718224/26 "2015-04-22T03:32:25Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > They’re not M.D.s. They’re not sworn to do no harm. Veterinarians are sometimes **paid** to kill cats. I’ve paid for that myself. That is _deeply_ moronic. Euthanasia at an owner’s request is a tiny bit different from shooting a neighbor’s pet with an arrow. (I realize **SeaDragonTattoo** already covered this, but I wanted you to know how stupid that was.) ---
**Author:** ![Av8trix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/90db22/32.png) [@Av8trix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Av8trix)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterinarian-brags-about-killing-a-cat/718224/27 "2015-04-22T03:45:07Z")
Anybody here with Vet type experience? I’ve seen it said that in the picture, the way that the cat is holding his legs speaks to him still being alive in the photo- as in, if he were dead, his legs would be hanging down limply instead of flexed up like that. ---
**Author:** ![Pedro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/919ad9/32.png) [@Pedro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pedro)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterinarian-brags-about-killing-a-cat/718224/28 "2015-04-22T03:52:10Z")
> [@2gigch1](#): > > I think when you look for the humanity / inhumanity of causing the death of a creature, once other factors are taken into account, the final act is to make the death as quick and painless as possible. That said injections are often not the most speedy or painless method of euthanasia, especially in larger creatures. So would you choose arrow or injection? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterinarian-brags-about-killing-a-cat/718224/29 "2015-04-22T04:03:47Z")
> [@fachverwirrt](#): > > That is _deeply_ moronic. Euthanasia at an owner’s request is a tiny bit different from shooting a neighbor’s pet with an arrow. > > (I realize **SeaDragonTattoo** already covered this, but I wanted you to know how stupid that was.) Of course, but it is not one whit less stupid to suggest, “This woman is a veterinarian, someone sworn to help and protect animals.” ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterinarian-brags-about-killing-a-cat/718224/30 "2015-04-22T04:04:55Z")
_If_ the situation at hand was one that required euthanasia I would choose the method that caused the minimum of distress to the animal. I am open minded enough to believe that a properly placed arrow _may_ do the job. If so then that’s the right answer. It’s the creature’s distress, not my own feelings that are paramount. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterinarian-brags-about-killing-a-cat/718224/31 "2015-04-22T04:07:34Z")
> [@Av8trix](#): > > Anybody here with Vet type experience? I’ve seen it said that in the picture, the way that the cat is holding his legs speaks to him still being alive in the photo- as in, if he were dead, his legs would be hanging down limply instead of flexed up like that. The only leg that looks like it could be flexed is the right rear, the other three appear completely limp to me. I’ve been a part of fully sedating and also euthanizing thousands of cats. My problem with verifying whether he may be alive or not in that pic is that I’ve never, in all the procedures I’ve participated, held a cat up like that. He looks quite limp/dead to me. Spoilering the rest as I’m not sure how squicky it is to people (why yes, I do have inappropriate conversations during meals :smack: oops. Sorry): There can be some stiffness (stretching of limbs) and twitching directly post mortem and for several minutes, which could possibly account for what people are interpreting with that right rear leg. It’s such a shitty picture (in more ways than one) that there’s really no way to be certain. During active dying, there can be agonal breathing accompanied by myoclonic twitching/jerking. I suppose that _could_ be a possibility, but it’s a still shot and there’s no way to know for sure without someone who was there to verify. I would expect the cat’s mouth to be gaping open if he was taking agonal breaths, though. ---
**Author:** ![Pedro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/919ad9/32.png) [@Pedro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pedro)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterinarian-brags-about-killing-a-cat/718224/32 "2015-04-22T04:19:14Z")
> [@2gigch1](#): > > _If_ the situation at hand was one that required euthanasia I would choose the method that caused the minimum of distress to the animal. I am open minded enough to believe that a properly placed arrow _may_ do the job. > > If so then that’s the right answer. Ok. Open minded enough to believe an arrow may do the job of killing humanely. Understood. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterinarian-brags-about-killing-a-cat/718224/33 "2015-04-22T10:32:33Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > In the history of the SDMB, there has never been a case when I’ve uttered the words “I am not clicking that link, I do not want to see that picture”, and followed through on it. > > This is a first. I am really not clicking that link. I honestly do not want to see that picture. > > So, fucking congratulations, vet lady, on that. This. I have a strong stomach, and very little gets me upset. But I love cats (really, all animals), and don’t want my consciousness raped by that image. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterinarian-brags-about-killing-a-cat/718224/34 "2015-04-22T12:24:27Z")
I think this was posted on the giraffe tread and yep, I go with my initial impression that seeing a vet posing and smiling with their kill is worse than seeing a hunter do so. Vets sometimes kill animals but they’re not supposed to actually enjoy doing so. Maybe she was in automatic “smile, there’s a camera pointed at you” mode although it doesn’t look like a fake smile to me. Still I really would hope that having just killed an animal would override that impulse, if you’re in a profession whose main aim is to help animals. > [@WhyNot](#): > > The method is perfectly humane – if you’re a good shot. It’s arguably more humane than stressing the poor fella out by trapping him, handling him and giving him an injection. > > Putting the photograph up on social media, on the other hand, is never a good shot. If you trap him first then you can still check whether he has a chip and is actually owned by someone, as this cat seems to have been. It would be very easy to mistake a feral cat for one that has just got out of its own for a day or two; actually, they’d be easier to catch and more likely to go into a cat carrier. They’d also be easier to kill with a bow. You can also check for certain communicable diseases better with a live cat than with a dead one. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterinarian-brags-about-killing-a-cat/718224/35 "2015-04-22T13:03:06Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Of course, but it is not one whit less stupid to suggest, “This woman is a veterinarian, someone sworn to help and protect animals.” Oh, I see. The "Mom! he did it first!’ defense. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterinarian-brags-about-killing-a-cat/718224/36 "2015-04-22T13:30:19Z")
I truly believe the vet was stupid and this was not the best way to put down this animal if it was feral. Career suicide by social media indeed. That said, feral cats are a huge problem and it is not possible or reasonable to put them in carriers and take them to a vet for an injection. On my uncle’s medium sized dairy farm in Pennsylvania, the number of feral cats was astounding. He would mostly let them do their thing; it helped to keep the vermin (mice and rats) down. Every now and again (once a week or so) he would feed them with big cake pans filled with stale bread and milk and it was amazing to see them come running. My aunt would yell “here kitty, kitty” and between 50 - 200 cats would swarm toward the farm house. My cousins and I would play with the kittens (10-20 of them at any given time) and there were a handful of the cats we liked as they were sociable. Most were demons from hell that avoided humans and would scratch them as soon as look at them. Anyway, every 18 months or so my uncle would clean them out. Knock the population back from 200 odd cats to 50 or so. This was necessary as the cats themselves become vermin (in that they would worry the calves) and become diseased or starve. I don’t know how he would do this, but I would imagine he poisoned them using the very meal he fed them ever week or two. He was much too pragmatic to shoot them with a bow and arrow or even a gun, but I can’t imagine he would worry about 1 more cat’s fate either. There were always hundreds of them around. Life is different on a farm. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterinarian-brags-about-killing-a-cat/718224/37 "2015-04-22T13:52:54Z")
If it was really a feral cat, I don’t see the problem. Feral cats are a problem, and need to be eliminated. Using a bow and arrow does not strike me as inhumane - from the picture that caused all the trouble, it appears to have been a neck or head shot, which is a quick kill. I don’t understand the preference (beyond squeamishness) for capture, spay/neuter, and then release over killing the animal. One wants not only to keep the population from growing, but to prevent the damage caused by the cat after it is spayed/neutered. Plus you can kill a lot more feral cats with the same effort as capturing one, trucking it to the clinic, spaying it, letting it recover, and then releasing it. I suppose I understand the outrage, but I don’t empathize with it. Again, if this was a feral cat. Maybe what they need are some coyotes in the area - very good at reducing the population of outdoor/feral cats. Regards, Shodan Veterinarian’s Son ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterinarian-brags-about-killing-a-cat/718224/38 "2015-04-22T14:27:30Z")
TNR is the best method we have for dealing with a \*local \*feral problem. Cats form loose colonies (not the strictly hierarchical packs of wolves, but still a social group) and once a colony is established, they don’t lightly tolerate newcomers. So a mostly-fixed colony becomes a stable population that will chase off any incoming ferals that might otherwise set up shop and start increasing the local population again. TNR does not in any way deal with the global feral cat issue on a macro level, aside from not continuing to add to the problem (by preventing more kitten births) but it \*\*\*is \*\*\*very effective if you’re looking at it from a local perspective. If you have suggestions for the macro issue - besides killing/culling, and increasing education/awareness for the importance fo spaying/neutering your pets, and promoting shelter adoptions, and all the other stuff we already do - then I guarantee you millions of ears are listening. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterinarian-brags-about-killing-a-cat/718224/39 "2015-04-22T14:53:57Z")
I’m getting confoozed. What are we outraged about? [ul][li]that a non-specific cat was deliberately killed[/li][li]that someone’s pet was deliberately killed[/li][li]that killing a cat with an arrow to the head is inhumane[/li][li]that killing a cat with an arrow to the head could have gone very badly (even though it appears to have worked well here)[/li][li]that she appeared to be amused (rather than remorseful) at having killed a cat[/li][li]that she foolishly posted a picture of the event to social media[/ul][/li] I’m happy to be outraged about this, but I need to know what to write on my protest sign. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterinarian-brags-about-killing-a-cat/718224/40 "2015-04-22T15:10:21Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > I’m getting confoozed. What are we outraged about? > > [ul][li]that a non-specific cat was deliberately killed[/li][li]that someone’s pet was deliberately killed[/li][li]that killing a cat with an arrow to the head is inhumane[/li][li]that killing a cat with an arrow to the head could have gone very badly (even though it appears to have worked well here)[/li][li]that she appeared to be amused (rather than remorseful) at having killed a cat[/li][li]that she foolishly posted a picture of the event to social media[/ul][/li] > I’m happy to be outraged about this, but I need to know what to write on my protest sign. For me it’s that a vet appears to be happy about having killed a cat. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterinarian-brags-about-killing-a-cat/718224.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterinarian-brags-about-killing-a-cat/718224.md?page=3)