Texas Vet Dr. Millard Tierce Arrested, Suspended for Animal Cruelty

TEXAS -- The Texas vet accused of not euthanizing a family's dog so he could use the pet for blood transfusions has admitted to secretly keeping five dogs alive long after they were supposed to be put down.

One of the animals was his own border collie.

In a handwritten statement, Dr. Millard (Lou) Tierce said he accepted five animals for euthanasia, but never put them down, NBC Dallas-Fort Worth reports. He's been charged with cruelty to animals, non-livestock.

Authorities raided Camp Bowie Animal Clinic in Fort Worth Wednesday when a family complained that they found their dog caged at the clinic six months after Tierce said the pet had been euthanized.

During that raid, investigators found a decrepit, suffering black and white border collie in a box, twitching in pain. One of the dog's legs was missing; the other was dislocated. Both of its shoulders were also dislocated.

According to Tierce's arrest warrant, a clinic employee said the dog had been lying in the same spot since she began working in the office last June.

Tierce said the crippled collie belonged to him.

He told police that he'd kept the dog alive with food and water, but denied it medical care. In his professional opinion, he said, the dog needed to be put down.

Another vet examined the emaciated dog and found it had severe mouth disease, a degenerative neurological condition and abnormally poor overall health. The pup was finally euthanized.

During the raid, two other dogs were found in such bad shape that they had to be put to sleep. Tierce admitted that they had been left at the clinic for euthanasia, which he never performed.

One animal had been admitted for euthanasia two or three years ago but had been alive and caged in the clinic ever since, the report said.

The Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners also inspected the clinic. According to a report, they found animal organs in jars, open containers of medication and bugs inside the clinic. The office was unsanitary and littered with trash, drugs and paperwork.

Tierce's license has been suspended.

He was arrested Wednesday on an animal cruelty charge. He was released several hours later on a $10,000 bond.

The case began on Tuesday when Jamie and Marian Harris said they received a tip from an employee that their dog, Sid, was alive in the clinic.

The Harrises hadn't seen Sid since October, when they gave Tierce permission to put the 4-year-old Leonberger down for a painful spine condition.

Six months later, the Harrises found Sid "abusively kenneled." They said he was being kept alive to provide blood transfusions for other dogs.

Despite the charges, many of Tierce's customers have remained loyal to vet, who has been licensed since 1966.

"I'm kind of heartbroken. Whoever is in charge needs to figure this out real quickly," customer Ben Abramowitz told NBC. "We need to have him here practicing medicine and not dealing with this kind of harassment."

(NY Daily News - May 2, 2014)