An area veterinarian already facing a court appearance on an animal-cruelty charge was ordered this week to temporarily surrender his license to practice.
Thomas F. Stevenson, owner of Twin Valley Veterinary Clinic in Honey Brook, was described as a potential "immediate danger to the public health and safety" in documents issuing the order by the state's Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs.
The bureau will schedule a preliminary hearing within 30 days to determine if there's enough evidence to warrant a formal hearing, in which case Stevenson's license will remain suspended. If it's determined that a formal hearing isn't warranted, Stevenson's license will be reinstated.
Following a formal hearing, the bureau could reinstate or revoke Stevenson's license or take other action.
Stevenson's troubles stem from a March 10 sting operation during which he allegedly held a 9-week-old poodle mix under steaming hot water before cutting off the dog's tail with scissors.
At a preliminary hearing last month before District Judge Stuart J. Mylin, undercover humane officer Tara Loller of the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals testified that the dog was "screaming bloody murder" during Stevenson's treatment because the vet administered no anesthetic or painkillers, nor did he sterilize the equipment he used or suture the wound after cutting the tail at least six times to sever it.
Mylin held Stevenson over for trial on the misdemeanor charge, for which he faces up to 5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted.
Stevenson will be arraigned May 27 in Lancaster County Court.
In the meantime, many area commercial kennels are likely scrambling to find a vet to take over duties normally filled by Stevenson, who testified last month that he has made large-scale breeding kennels his specialty for the past 20 years.
In court last month, Stevenson defended his treatment of the dog, a product of Samuel E. King's New Providence breeding operation, Country Lane Kennels, for which Stevenson is the veterinarian of record.
Stevenson said he merely cut away some loose skin and scab that had formed on the puppy's already damaged tail and that Loller wasn't even in the room when he treated the dog. Stevenson also testified that the dog did not cry, yelp or make any other sound during the procedure.
As veterinarian of record for many of the area's commercial kennels, Stevenson is legally responsible for examining every puppy's health and issuing a health certificate before a puppy may be sold.
E-mail: slindt@lnpnews.com