Monday, March 29, 2010

Florida Veterinarian Margaret Fowler Charged with Felony Animal Cruelty in Beating Death of Cat

A Florida woman says that on March 1, 2010 she stepped outside her front door to see a horrifying sight: her own neighbor repeatedly hitting a cat with a blunt object that looked like a rubber mallet with a wooden handle. Then, the witness said she saw this neighbor pick up the cat by the tail, carry it to the fence, and drop it over. It was then, the witness claims, that she walked over to the cat and saw that it was her own live-in boyfriend's cat.

These events would be horrific enough, no matter who perpetrated them. They are all the more chilling because the alleged perpetrator is veterinarian Margaret Fowler, who runs an "acupuncture and holistic" veterinary service from her home.

According to the Sheriff's office report, a necropsy performed on the cat showed the cause of death to have been "exsanguination" -- the cat bled to death -- after suffering blunt force trauma to the head and abdomen.

Fowler was arrested and charged with Felony Animal Cruelty.

This article seems to include a picture which looks like a mug shot.

Is it just me, or is this woman smiling?

Is she smiling because she knows that no matter what they do, vets almost always walk away with little or no punishment from any legal or regulatory agency?

Article -- WMBB.com news.

Link: Local Vet Charged with Cruelty to Animals