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Thursday, July 15, 2010

Board lifts suspension on vet convicted of cruelty

A Chester County veterinarian, who was convicted of animal abuse, can once again practice medicine. 

A spokesman confirmed that the state Board of Veterinary Medicine last month lifted the temporary suspension imposed on Tom Stevenson of Honeybrook in May 2009. 

Kevin Murphy, public relations director for the Department of State, said the board would issue its final order in the near future.

Stevenson, who as operator of Twin Valley Veterinary Clinic was the veterinarian of record for some of the largest commercial dog breeding kennels in the state, was charged with animal cruelty in March 2009 after a Pennsylvania SPCA agent and another witness said they saw him cut off a piece of a 9-week-old puppy's tail without anesthesia at a Lancaster County kennel.

Lancaster County magisterial district court judge Stuart Mylin found Stevenson guilty of animal cruelty in December.

Stevenson's license was suspended in May 2009 after the medical board determined he posed a "clear and immediate danger to public safety."

At a hearing before the board in Harrisburg in December, state prosecutor Shawn Smith said Stevenson performed surgery in a filthy sink using unsterilized industrial scissors and scalded the poodle-mix puppy in the process.

"The conditions in the kennel were deplorable," said Smith. "He ran the sink water until it steamed and held the puppy under water while the puppy screamed."

Smith said Stevenson violated medical protocols by not prepping or cleaning his own hands, the instruments or the puppy and for failing to anesthetize the dog or to properly clean and bandage the wound. Smith said he then sold the puppy to an undercover agent for $200.

Stevenson's attorney said he was performing "first aid" on a tail that had been accidently severed by the kennel owner during grooming and that he cut off the remaining piece of tail because it could have gotten caught in the wire cage bottom.

Stevenson's clinic has been operated by his wife, Pam Stevenson, who is also a veterinarian, since the board ordered the suspension.

 

 
Posted by Amy Worden @ 7:54 AM  Permalink | 5 comments
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 1 don't   •   Posted 10:43 PM, 07/16/2010
    Ms. Worden, you need to either do a bit of fact checking, or reword a couple of misleading statements you made in your article. I believe Dr. Stevenson was convicted of animal neglect, not cruelty. There is a difference. Also, Dr. Stevenson did not sell the puppy, as he did not own the puppy. Please don't put out any more misleading and inaccurate information out into the public sphere concerning this case and cases like it than there already is.
    — Marie05
  • 1 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:23 AM, 07/18/2010
    Oh, Marie05, there's nothing misleading here. To alert the public that the former vet of CCPets and other PA notorious puppy mills is once again treating helpless animals is Ms. Worden's duty as a journalist. A review of the docket sheet for the now closed case does indeed show Stevenson as being convicted of Title 18, PA Crimes Code, Section 5511: CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. Have a look-see, yourself: http://tinyurl.com/37qh652
    — LilV
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:36 AM, 07/18/2010
    Investigators from the Board of Veterinary Medicine were well aware that Dr. Stevenson was not complying with his suspension. Why would they not have taken into consideration his non-complaince when they decided to lift his suspension???
    — McGruff
  • 1 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:16 PM, 07/18/2010
    Give me a "C" Give me an "O" Give me a double "R" Give me a "UPT" What have you got? You tell me. PA officials RARELY come through for the dogs.
    — LilV
  • 0 like this / 1 don't   •   Posted 12:53 AM, 07/19/2010
    Lilv - It is misleading to say that Dr. Stevenson was convicted of animal cruelty, because even though that is the title of the code, the judge specifically stated in his verdict that he did not find Dr. Stevenson guilty of cruelty. Leaving out information can be as misleading as providing misinformation. Ms. Worden has done both. In her April 24th 2009 article, she stated that Dr. Stevenson was arrested. In this article, she said that Dr. Stevenson sold the puppy. Neither of those statements are true. If Ms. Worden can't get her facts straight, facts that are easily verified, does that instill confidence in you that you're getting the true story? Just something to think about. Also, I agree with you wholeheartedly concerning the corruption charges. However, it isn't their job to "come through for the dogs"; it's their job to establish the truth and rule the right way. Many of the officials involved in these proceedings have shown themselves to be too concerned with making decisions that will garner them political favor to be trusted to make rational, just rulings. McGruff - Again, where did you get the information that Dr. Stevenson was not complying with his suspension? Dr. Stevenson's wife is a licensed veterinarian and is well within her rights to be operating the clinic. There is nothing illegal about that. I gaurantee that if they had been suspicious that he wasn't complying, there's no way they would have lifted the suspension. They've been known to enact suspensions for less. I don't say any of this hoping to change anyone's mind, but rather to encourage you to read the news with at least some degree of skepticism. It's a cliche, but only because it's true: don't believe everything you hear.
    — Marie05


5 comments
About Amy Worden
Amy Worden is a politics and government reporter for the Inquirer. In that capacity she has explored a range of animal issues from dog kennel law improvements and horse slaughter to the comeback of peregrine falcons and pigeon hunts. From hamsters to horses, animals have always been part of her life. To pass along a tip or contact Amy, click here.
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