Five stories that have North Texas talking: the Fort Worth veterinarian accused of animal abuse has his license suspended, an unsolved case of diaper thievery, Klyde Warren Park wins a national award, and more.
The state has ruled to suspend the license of Fort Worth veterinarian Lou Tierce for five years. Tierce faced allegations of abusing pets at his Camp Bowie Animal Clinic after it was discovered in April that he kept a dog alive for blood transfusions, despite telling the dog’s owners that he euthanized it.
NBC 5 reports Tierce admitted he kept at alive at least four dogs that should’ve been euthanized. The Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners also found that his clinic was not kept sanitary, among other violations.
Sid, the dog that was rescued from Tierce’s clinic after a veterinary technician tipped off the owners, is doing well. He’s receiving physical rehab for his legs, which now wobble because he was kept caged at the clinic. Sid’s owners are suing Tierce for $1 million.
- Drought has been a big challenge for Texas, but there’s a North Texas project that hopes to meet the need for water. KERA’s Shelley Kofler reports on the East Fork Wetlands Project, which is expanding the water supply and supporting wildlife. State public television stations have teamed up to produce Texas Perspectives: Water. The hour-long program will take a deeper look at the Texas drought and what’s being done to fight it. It will air tonight at 7 on KERA-TV.
- North Texans seem to support the high-speed rail line that will connect Dallas to Houston. KERA’s Bill Zeeble went to last night’s public meeting, where 100 people came to learn more about the project. It is still in the planning stages, but stops are being considered at Union Station, which would connect the train to DART and Amtrak.
- A thief stole 160,000 diapers from a Dallas charity. The Dallas Morning News reports Captain Hope’s Kids, a charity that helps homeless children, was the victim of diaper thievery two weeks ago. Dallas police are still reviewing the security footage and no arrest has been made, but several groups have come to Captain Hope’s Kids’ aid. Kimberly-Clark will replace the stolen diapers, while Emmitt Smith Realty Partners and the Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities have also pledged diapers.
- Klyde Warren Park has won a national award. The deck park over Woodall Rogers Freeway in Dallas has won the 2014 Urban Land Institute Urban Open Space Award, which honors public spaces that have played a role in revitalizing the local economy. Klyde Warren Park beat out other open spaces in Ohio, Oklahoma, and New Mexico.
