Fort Worth vet indicted on animal cruelty, theft charges

A Fort Worth veterinarian was indicted Wednesday on charges of animal cruelty and theft, accused of keeping a woman’s dog alive for blood transfusions after taking the pet in to be euthanized.

A Tarrant County grand jury indicted Millard “Lou” Tierce, 71, on one count of theft between $1,500 to $20,000 and one count of misapplication of fiduciary property — both state jail felonies — and a third count of animal cruelty, a Class A misdemeanor.

The felonies are punishable by up to two years in a state jail facility and the misdemeanor, up to a year in a jail.

Last week, the state veterinary board suspended Tierce’s license for five years following complaints that he kept pets alive after telling their owners they had been euthanized.

Patty Tillman, an attorney representing Tierce, said she had no comment on the indictment.

According to the indictment, the theft count stems from accusations that Tierce unlawfully took Sid, a dog valued at more than $1,500, with the intent to deprive the dog’s owner, Marian Harris.

The animal cruelty count stems from accusations that Tierce failed to provide necessary care for the 5-year-old Leonberger.

Harris did not return calls seeking comment. Her attorney, David Rapp said, “I just think it’s prudent not to comment on the criminal aspects of this case.”

After his license was suspended, Harris asked “what does it take in the state of Texas to get a license revoked?”

Harris had filed a complaint with the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners in April after learning from a former clinic employee that Sid was still alive — after she had been told that the dog had been euthanized because of a congenital spinal defect.

On April 29, Fort Worth police and state investigators raided Tierce’s Camp Bowie Animal Clinic in west Fort Worth, where they found animals living in filth and trash and insects throughout the clinic.

Tierce turned himself in to police the following day on an animal cruelty charge and his license was temporarily suspended.

Many of Tierce’s supporters came to his defense following his arrest, circulating a petition on his behalf and talking about the fine care their pets had received under him.

At a hearing before a three-person state veterinary board committee in May, Tierce acknowledged that Sid had been used for one blood transfusion. He said he did not carry out the family’s wishes to euthanize the dog because he treats animals like family.

Sid was a “sweet dog,” Tierce told the committee, and “and actually got better. I did not euthanize him.”

The board committee upheld Tierce’s temporary suspension, pending a meeting of the full state veterinary board. Tierce had been practicing since 1966.

The state board, meeting last week, voted to suspend Tierce’s license for five years and ordered him to undergo counseling by a mental health professional to determine if he can safely practice veterinary medicine.

Under the suspension, he cannot practice medicine but can own a clinic.

Katherine Fite, general counsel for the veterinary board, said she has not seen the indictment and would need to consult with staff to determine whether the board would take further action against Tierce.

Harris is suing Tierce for $1 million, alleging that he deceived her about Sid’s condition.

Another woman, Kimberly Traye Davis of Dallas County, has also filed suit against Tierce, claiming that he kept her 12-year-old Chihuahua alive to perform medical experiments without her consent. She is seeking more than $1 million in damages.

Staff writer Elizabeth Campbell contributed to this report, which contains information from Star-Telegram archives.

This story was originally published October 29, 2014 at 2:01 PM with the headline "Fort Worth vet indicted on animal cruelty, theft charges."