untitled
 If it's not a Shih Tzu, it's just a dog.    Stempy's Spirit soars.....      Burning candle.          Stempy's Guardian Angel              I love my Shih Tzu.

They say that memories are
golden. Well, maybe that is true. 
We never wanted memories. We only wanted you.
In Memory of Stempy MunsonStempy - March 19, 2005.
Stempy - March 19, 2005
July 17, 1997 - September 30, 2005

The BEST little doggie there ever was!

It is our firm belief that Stempy is a victim of  VETERINARY NEGLIGENCE & SUBSTANDARD CARE   that resulted in his preventable death at the hands of
ANN K. THOMAS, DVM ~ RODEO DRIVE VETERINARY HOSPITAL ~ MESQUITE, TEXAS

Stempy - June 29, 1998   Stempy -circa 2003   Stempy - 1999 - 2 years old

Never blindly trust your veterinarian !


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Music for this page is:  ~ One More Day Lyrics below

It's been..
Years: Months: Days: Hours: Minutes: Seconds:
..since Stempy's death at the hands of ANN K. THOMAS, DVM, and still NO JUSTICE!
Stempy's death was PREVENTABLE had he received competent veterinary care.
"Dr. Thomas, how do you look in the mirror each day?Seriously. We will ALWAYS hold you 100%responsible." ---- Greg & Cindy Munson
Stempy - Christmas 2004 - 7 years old

What happened to Stempy
?

Stempy had a problem with bladder stones. This is a condition that needs to be monitored and managed. There is much more to managing this condition than just a diet change. (Read this at VeterinaryPartner.com  to learn about Stempy's condition.) Stempy was already on a prescription diet from his previous vet due to a previous problem with stones that was dealt with by his prior vet nonsurgically. We changed vets in the Fall of 2003 because we never saw the same vet twice at our old clinic. We wanted a vet who would get to know our dogs. It was then that we made the worst decision of our lives in our choice of a new vet. 

Dr. Ann Thomas - Rodeo Dr. Veterinary Hospital - was a solo practitioner close to home. We had started buying Stempy’s prescription diet from Dr. Thomas in September 2003. Since Dr. Thomas had never seen Stempy, she required us to provide his records from his previous veterinarian in order to dispense his prescription diet. (*-Note that in Stempy’s records from Dr. Thomas, she claims that his previous records contained no mention of his bladder stone history. If that is the case, then what in the world was she doing dispensing a prescription diet to Stempy without ever seeing him? Isn't that a failure to establish a vet/patient relationship?) Dr. Thomas sold us Stempy’s prescription diet several times before doctor and patient ever met.

Stempy met Dr. Thomas for the first time under adverse circumstances. In November of 2003, Stempy had a urethral obstruction (Dr. Thomas and the Texas Vet Board need to read and reread and STUDY this link on urethral obstruction) caused by a bladder stone blocking his urethra. This is a medical emergency.  Of course, all we knew at the time is that Stempy couldn’t go pee and he was very uncomfortable. Dr. Thomas was able to wash the obstruction back to his bladder. As she should, she took radiographs to see the stone, and she did a urinalysis. Based on the urinalysis, she changed his diet. She sent Stempy home wearing a catheter to wait a few days for a cystotomy to be performed. We informed Dr. Thomas of a few seizure-like episodes Stempy had experienced in his past because we were worried it would cause problems with his anesthesia. Dr. Thomas responded to this information by saying, “Oh really.” (Dr. Thomas denies this conversation ever occurred – we remember it vividly) Stempy had his cystotomy and recovered well from surgery. Based on lab results, Dr. Thomas again changed Stempy’s diet. Stempy had one additional urinalysis at one post surgical follow up appointment that contradicted the lab results and her again changing his diet. She paid no attention and should have changed his diet again, but did not...she left him on one not even formulated for bladder stones and had him on this wrong diet for the remainder of his life.

From our extensive research after Stempy’s death (also see Consider page of this website), we learned that Dr. Thomas did not follow proper protocol starting with this very first surgery. Dr. Thomas failed to take post surgical radiographs after the cystotomy to verify removal of all stones. Dr. Thomas failed to recommend quarterly urinalyses to monitor his urine. This is a MUST for bladder stone patients as many patients form new stones in the future. Dr. Thomas failed to recommend twice yearly radiographs. This is a MUST with the goal being to catch new stones forming while they are small enough to be removed non-surgically.

(Read for yourself - many examples /recommendations from veterinary professionals prove Dr. Thomas did not follow normal protocol: click here,  and here,  and here,  and here, and here, and here)

There were several opportunities to recommend a urinalysis or radiograph to us to monitor Stempy’s condition. Dr. Thomas never recommended anything.  (See Timeline page of this website.)

In March of 2005, Stempy again had a urethral obstruction. We were not sure that is what it was at the time. Dr. Thomas failed to take radiographs to ensure her diagnosis. She again washed the stone back to the bladder to relieve the obstruction. A cystotomy was scheduled for the following week and Stempy was sent home wearing a catheter again. When we went to pick up Stempy post surgery, somehow the stone had magically disappeared, so no cystotomy was performed. We were never shown radiographs to back up Dr. Thomas’ claim. No future monitoring was recommended or performed. 

In September 2005, Stempy again had a urethral obstruction that unblocked itself just prior to going to see Dr. Thomas. Despite his prior history, Dr. Thomas failed to take radiographs and failed to diagnose bladder stones, even though she was told he was obstructed and had been for a day until just prior to coming in. She said he just had elevated sperm in his urine and sent him home. 

ONLY TWO WEEKS LATER, Stempy again experienced a urethral bstruction from most likely the SAME STONE. She AGAIN failed to take radiographs to confirm diagnosis, location, and amount. She FAILED to properly wash the stone back to the bladder and tried jamming the catheter in to push the stone back to the bladder. She sent Stempy home wearing a catheter and scheduled a cystotomy for the coming week. 

Dr. Thomas ONLY had permission to perform a cystotomy - nothing else. She did NOT perform a cystotomy. She performed an unauthorized procedure  which she said was a perineal urethrostomy. This is not the procedure she performed. Her own vet tech stated Dr. Thomas had NEVER performed that type of surgery before. She cut our little boy from his anus to his scrotum and NO NEW permanent or temporary  opening was made - as would be expected with a urethrotomy or a urethrostomy. Dr. Thomas had failed to wash the stone back to the bladder and had instead lodged the catheter to the stone. She would have known this if she would have taken a radiograph three days earlier when he was brought in. Instead, Stempy was either still obstructed for those three days or she had damaged his urethra and/or  bladder when she attempted the forceful catheterization. Read this link on urethral obstruction again. Instead of referring us to a specialist, Dr. Thomas tried to fix her own screwup. 

Stempy was in extreme pain post surgery. We took him back to her EVERY DAY post surgery. She never properly examined him. She just kept changing his pain meds. Then she gave us a tranquilizer with no pain killing abilities and led us to believe it was yet another pain killer. This tranquilizer lowers the seizure threshold and is not recommended for brachycephalic breeds. 

Two days post surgery, Dr. Thomas’ clinic denied Stempy care when his condition was deteriorating. 

Three days post surgery….Stempy passed away. It is our contention that Stempy passed away because of that unauthorized “surgery” that Dr. Thomas had NEVER performed before that would have NEVER have been needed had Dr. Thomas taken radiographs as needed and properly diagnosed and treated his condition. There is NO DOUBTin our minds that Dr. Thomas is 100% responsible for Stempy’s preventable death.  Her attitude and failure to properly care for him those 3 days after his unauthorized surgery - to the point that the clinic DENIED Stempy care the night before he died - is deeply disturbing. Did she WANT Stempy to die? 

(**NOTE: Dr. Thomas never recommended or performed any blood tests prior to ANY of the surgical procedures she performed.Check the Records.)

(Visit the Expert Opinion page of this website.)

Greg & Cindy Munson

(Visit all the various pages of this website for detailed information of the aforementioned events.)





MUFFY             STEMPY
You are loved.
Muffy's Guardian AngelBurning candle.Burning candle.Stempy's Guardian Angel
MUFFY   2 CANDLES BURN   STEMPY

In Memory of
Muffy Munson
the best doggie in the whole world!

Muffy - Our backyard - circa 2003
February 10, 1988
October 10, 2005

Muffy, our beloved female Lhasa Apso, passed away due to old age and cancer 10 days after Stempy on October 10, 2005 at the grand old age of
17
¾ years old.

She is dearly loved and dearly missed!

WE LOVE YOU, MUFFY!


Stempy - our back porch - circa 2003

Stempy - June 1998 - 11 months old

Stempy's spot in the bed.

Cindy and Stempy circa 2002.


Stempy was an AKC champion-sired
male Shih Tzu. He was only 8 years old. He was truly a once in a lifetime dog.
In our opinion, he had about half
of his life taken away from him due
to the negligent and substandard
care he received at the hands
of his vet. Unfortunately,
Stempy's veterinarian was:


ANN K. THOMAS, DVM
Rodeo Dr. Veterinary Hospital
Rodeo Dr. Veterinary Hospital
Mesquite, Texas

In our opinion,
we think the DVM means:



(D)oesn't know
(V)eterinary
(M)edicine


Be sure to click the page links at the top of the page to learn all about the veterinary negligence that Stempy endured for 2 years because we were all-trusting of this vet. If only we had researched two years prior.....

You MUST do your research NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!

No matter how great you "think" your vet may be, do not leave it to chance!

There is no 2nd chance for Stempy!

We miss you, little boy!

We will
NOT let you die in vain!

NEVER BLINDLY
TRUST YOUR VET!


Let us repeat that....


NEVER BLINDLY
TRUST YOUR VET!




STOP Veterinary Negligence Malpractice & Abuse!
Sign the Guestbook
Texas Veterinary Board Watch
View the Guestbook
If you love your pet, NEVER blindly trust your vet!
Evaluate a Vet with Stempy's Checklist





The dead cannot cry out for justice;
it is a duty of the living to do so for them.

"Stempy, we think about you every single day! We love you & miss you so much! Oh, how we long to hold you in our arms again; to hear your little bark; to hear you snort at us; to see your little tail wag! Such a beautiful little boy you were! Our promise to you: We will fight for justice for you to the ends of the earth. You will NEVER be forgotten!" Love always, Your Daddy & Mommy.
Ann Thomas, DVM - This vet commit
ed veterinary negligence in our opinion.


arrow"Injustice  ANYWHERE  is  a  THREAT  to  justice  EVERYWHERE."  
-  Martin Luther King Jr.

Our Lifetime Wish

If we could have a lifetime wish,
dreams that would come true.
We'd pray to God with all our hearts,
For yesterday and you.
A thousand words can't bring you back,
We know because we've tried.
And neither will a million tears,
We know because we've cried.
You left behind our broken hearts
and happy memories too.
But we never wanted memories
We only wanted you.



arrow"Corn cannot expect justice from a court composed of chickens."
- OLD AFRICAN PROVERB

Stempy - March 2005 - 7 years old

arrow "He who decides a case without hearing the other side,
cannot be considered just."  
- OLD ROMAN PROVERB



Never blindly trust your veterinarian....
Stempy died 3 days after surgery to remove a bladder stone, but there is so much more to the story. We have filed a formal complaint (January 2006) with the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners for the veterinary negligence that Stempy endured at the hands of Ann Thomas, DVM . We will update this site as we go through the process. (Dismissed May 2006 - Dismissed again August 2006) Click on the links up above to learn more about the veterinary negligence.
.
....your pet's life may depend on it!
Veterinary Negligence / Malpractice / Incompetence / Abuse is, unfortunately, a growing problem in the United States and elsewhere. You must become an informed consumer. While we hope that most veterinarians practicing today are knowledgeable and compassionate professionals who truly care about their patients, you just simply cannot leave it to chance. Our personal experience has now made us painfully aware of the "other" veterinarians out there that, in our opinion and as seen through our eyes, are incompetent or could care less about you and your beloved pet. If you don't do your "homework," your beloved pet could pay the price with their life. Research complaints, diagnoses, medications, etc. If the veterinarian recommends surgery, get a second opinion! For more opinions and information on this topic, please visit our friends at the Veterinary Abuse Network .


arrow"Corruption is authority plus monopoly minus transparency."
Is this the definition of the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners? It might as well be....


VETERINARY NEGLIGENCE & SUBSTANDARD CARE

...at the hands of Ann K. Thomas, DVM - Mesquite, Texas

CONDENSED AND COMBINED VERSION OF THE 33+ ALLEGED VIOLATIONS:

(full details are available by clicking the page links above)

IN OUR OPINION, AS SEEN THROUGH OUR EYES, AS PERSONALLY
WITNESSED AND EXPERIENCED FIRST HAND, AND AS
CORROBORATED BY THE MEDICAL RECORDS:

Ann - T
 Dr. Thomas had Stempy on the wrong prescription diet for 2 years and failed to record dispensing his prescription diet on multiple occasions.
  • Dr. Thomas never took postsurgical radiographs to verify removal of all stones
  • Dr. Thomas failed to perform or recommend any aftercare or management that is required for Stempy's condition, canine bladder stones (urolithiasis), beginning post-surgery in November 2003.
  • Dr. Thomas failed to do full and complete diagnostics (radiographs) on multiple occasions.
  • Dr. Thomas failed to get consent and performed an unauthorized procedure on 9/27/05.
  • Dr. Thomas had a duty to refer this case and she completely failed by not referring this case to a specialist.
  • Dr. Thomas failed to properly examine Stempy for 2 days in a row following surgery on 9/27/05.
  • Dr. Thomas' staff refused to see Stempy at 5 pm on 9/29/05, even after being informed by phone of patient's deteriorating condition. Client was told, specifically, "No! Do not bring Stempy back in. He will be in pain for another 2 or 3 days." Clinic stated he would be in pain for another 2 or 3 days, yet Dr. Thomas had taken Stempy completely off of pain killers earlier this day and put him on tranquilizers without client's knowledge (client was led to believe that tranquilizer was yet another pain killer). Patient passed away the very next morning.
  • Dr. Thomas prescribed Acepromazine despite it having no pain killing abilities and failed to inform client that this was a tranquilizer, not a pain killer, and despite having been informed on 11/1/03 of Stempy's two prior seizures. Acepromazine lowers the seizure threshold.
  • Dr. Thomas failed to record shot she gave to patient on 9/28/05.
  • Dr. Thomas wrote down the wrong procedure performed on 9/27/05. She did NOT perform a urethrostomy.
  • Dr. Thomas failed to follow client's instructions and breached the verbal agreement the parties had that if anything more severe than a cystotomy had to be performed on 9/27/05, client would be immediately notified first so client could decide how to proceed.
  • Dr. Thomas falsified and/or altered Stempy's records on multiple occasions.
  • Dr. Thomas withheld radiographs from client for 8 months, and then provided unusable "pictures" of the radiographs on a homemade cd-rom. Client is still waiting for the State Board to provide usable x-ray film duplicates.

IN OUR OPINION, THIS IS VETERINARY NEGLIGENCE & SUBSTANDARD CARE. PERIOD.

(click the page links up above for a detailed listing of all of the alleged violations)


NO JUSTICE FOR STEMPY!?!
HEY TEXAS VET BOARD! WE ARE NOT GOING AWAY!
~ WE DEMAND JUSTICE!! ~
Texas Veterinary Board Watch
Surgery can cause excruciating pain and distress, especially a botched surgery. Ann Thomas, DVM has obviously forgotten how to recognize pain & distress in the animals she is treating. Ann Thomas, DVM has lost her concern for the distress that surgery can create.
----------------
Stempy was literally in worse shape and in constant extreme pain post surgery. It's why we took him back up there every day post-surgery. She literally acted like we were a bother to her post-surgery. She said, "Stempy was just being whiney." We know our dogs extremely well. Stempy was NOT being "whiney"... he was in excruciating pain!She lied in his records about what we observed and reported to her. She butchered our little boy. His incision was from his anus to his scrotum. The incision was stitched up w/ big, thick stitches. There was severe bruising. There was NO new or temporary opening made anywhere. We only remember seeing him dribble some urine post surgery....never a solid stream.

He was in CONSTANT excruciating pain post 9/27/05 surgery.
Ann Thomas, DVM - This vet commited veterinary negligence in our opinion.
She severely hurt our little boy........She did not help him.
Ann Thomas, DVM - This vet commited veterinary negligence in our opinion.
NO PATIENT SHOULD BE WORSE FOR HAVING SEEN THE DOCTOR.

TWICE DISMISSED
In spite of all evidence proving negligence.
WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?
OBVIOUSLY, THE BOARD PROTECTS VETS...NOT OUR PETS.
8/7/06 - OUR APPEAL HAS NOW BEEN DISMISSED
Texas Veterinary Board Watch
Robert L. Lastovica, DVM of Friendship Veterinary Center
Friendship Veterinary Center  Friendship Veterinary Center
- and of Lastovica Angus Farm
Lastovica Angus Farm
in Fredericksburg, Texas - was the reviewing veterinarian who dismissed the appeal. He is also the President of the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.Of course, we were not allowed any contact during the appeal or complaint process.We have made several attempts to communicate with Dr. Lastovica and the otherBoard members. There should be no problem with communication now, butnone of Board members have ever responded to us. We are waiting forsomeone to explain how all 33 alleged violations were dismissed.

Why was Dr. Thomas not punished?

Ann Thomas, DVM - This vet commited veterinary negligence in our opinion.
Just an honest and ethical explanation is what we seek from each of you.
Ann Thomas, DVM - This vet commited veterinary negligence in our opinion.
Stempy is deserving and we want to hear your explanation.
Ann Thomas, DVM - This vet commited veterinary negligence in our opinion.
The complaint and appeal process is over.
Ann Thomas, DVM - This vet commited veterinary negligence in our opinion.
There is no reason you cannot communicate with us now.
Ann Thomas, DVM - This vet commited veterinary negligence in our opinion.
We are waiting.........and waiting ........and waiting


.News Flash
March 23, 2007
Ann Thomas, DVM - This vet commited veterinary negligence in our opinion.
Dallas, Texas - KTVT - CBS 11 - Dallas / Ft. Worth television station KTVT - 11, the local CBS affiliate, ran a two-part story March 21st and March 22nd on Veterinary Malpractice and what happens in Texas when your pet is a victim of a Bad Vet. Veteran news anchor Tracy Rowlett, the "Walter Cronkite" of Dallas / Ft. Worth, interviewed us for this story. Stempy's story was a prominent part of both segments. We were very pleased with the story and we are sincerely appreciative of Mr. Rowlett for interviewing us and very thankful to Executive Producer John Sparks for contacting us and arranging the interview.

WATCH THE TWO PART VIDEO:




You can also watch the videos at the KTVT CBS-11 website:

Bad Vets - KTVT CBS-11 - Special Report - Part 1


Bad Vets - KTVT CBS-11 - Special Report - Part 2

Here are a few still shots taken from the video:

Greg being interviewed by Tracy Rowlett




News Flash

AUGUST 16, 2007
Ann Thomas, DVM - This vet commited veterinary negligence in our opinion.
It took over a year, since the 2nd dismissal, to get a Board Vet to talk to us as has happened recently. In that period of time, we have attended 3 public Board meetings (there are 3 a year) - voicing our objections, concerns, questions, and asking to speak to a Board Vet. The Board Vet who finally spoke to us  was NOTBoard President Robert Lastovica, DVM or the other 2 Board Vets who supposedly "reviewed" Stempy's case.

Robert Lastovica, DVM
Robert Lastovica, DVM - President
of the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (at the time of Stempy's complaint.)
Texas Veterinary Board Watch
In fact, we even paid a visit to Dr. Lastovica last month (July 2007) at "Lastovica Angus Farm," where he welcomes visitors and even posts a map to the location. We asked him to please call us at his earliest convenience to discuss Stempy's case and address our remaining questions and concerns. What did Dr. Lastovica do?  Face to face he was cordial and said he would call us. He lied. After we left, he decided to squeal like a stuck pig and "tattle" to Dewey Helmcamp, the Executive Director of the Board.

Lee Mathews and Dewey Helmcamp
Left to right - Lee Mathews - retiring General Counsel & Dewey Helmcamp, Executive Director
of the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. Mr. Helmcamp is the leader of this "Three Ring Circus."
Texas Veterinary Board Watch
We are guessing the conversation between Dr. Lastovica and Mr. Helmcamp probably went something like this:  

*Lastovica:
"Wah....wah! Daddy, I mean Dewey, the Munson's won't leave me alone! They want to ask me questions!  Can you imagine the horror?!?"

*Helmcamp:
"Well, them mean old Munson's! Don't they know we only care about vets, not them and their pets? I'll fix them! I'll just send a note to all Board Members warning them to have NO contact with the Munson's at all! That'll fix them!" 
 

* - This is speculation & sarcasm on our part as to what their conversation might have actually sounded like, but you get the idea. We do know that Helmcamp, 
after being contacted by Lastovica, did indeed notify and warn all the veterinary board members to have no contact with us . This is absurd.  This is just further proof of just how far off this Board is from performing its stated mission of protecting the public. This Board is in desperate need of reform.  Despite Helmcamp trying to prevent us from speaking with a Board vet, we found one willing to speak with us recently. That discussion was even more discouraging because it further revealed the "anything goes" mentality of the Board. Truly a sad state of affairs for pets here in Texas.


 STEMPY'S CHECKLIST - CHOOSING A VETERINARIAN 
 (so maybe you and your pet won't have to experience the physical and
emotional pain caused by an incompetent and negligent vet.)


Prospective vet with a pet.


STEMPY'S EXPRESS CHECKLIST 
(A new, SHORTER version. CHOOSING A VETERINARIAN)
According to the CBS-11 investigation (see above), the Texas Vet Board received 212 consumer complaints in 2006 and only 17 vets were disciplined. That's an 8% disciplinary rate and that is absolutely deplorable. Reform is CRITICAL to protect the pets of Texas. These numbers make it CRYSTAL CLEAR that the Board is incapable of policing themselves in the current climate. Take a moment and VOTE with Stempy's VoteCaster in our informal poll. Make your voice heard! Write your legislators!

Texas Veterinary Board Watch
DOES THE TEXAS STATE BOARD OF VETERINARY
MEDICAL EXAMINERS, IN ITS CURRENT FORM, SERVE ITS PRIMARY ROLE OF PROTECTING THE PUBLIC?
VOTE NOW!

Board's numbers from the years 2004 - 2005.

397 complainants (according to c/s survey on board website)
53 resulted in some action (not counting C/E and DEA reg. violations)

Breakdown on punishments:

Informal reprimand - 17
Formal reprimand - 15
Formal + - 2
Formal + fine - 19
---------------------------

arrowDisciplinary rate - 13.35% (53 / 397) UNACCEPTABLE!

arrow Informals are not reported to the national database. As far as the national database goes then, that would lower the Texas disciplinary rate to 9.07% . PATHETIC!

arrow Only 4.79% of all 397 complaints filed by the complainants resulted in a fine for a respondent vet. EXTREMELY POOR! Texas Veterinary Board Watch

Pee on alleged negligent vet Ann Thomas, DVM.

Visit our new website:

Texas Vet Board Watch

The eyes of Texas are upon you.

UPDATES:

UPDATE 1/31/06: We received a letter yesterday, 1/30/06, from the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners stating that our complaint against ANN K. THOMAS, DVM - RODEO DRIVE VETERINARY HOSPITAL - MESQUITE, TEXAS has been received and that the investigation is under way.

UPDATE 2/08/06: Happy 7th Birthday to NayNay (Renay) - our female Shih Tzu. Meet her on the Meet Our Doggies page.

UPDATE 2/10/06: This would have been Muffy's 18th Birthday. Happy Birthday Muffy! We love you and we miss you! Meet Muffy on the Meet Our Doggies page. She passed away 11 days after Stempy on 10/10/05.

UPDATE 2/13/06: We have received reports of difficulty signing our guestbook. We have gone in and changed some options to hopefully make it easier to post. If you have not yet done so, please do stop by and sign our guestbook. We would love to know that you were here! Also, we have added "page appropriate" music to each of the pages. We hope you enjoy the selections we chose. The music can be easily turned off by pressing the stop button on the player or your browser. We have no news at present to report on our complaint. Thanks for stopping by! Come back soon!

UPDATE 2/17/06: We have posted a few more pictures on the Meet Our Doggies page. Take a look!

UPDATE 2/21/06: Ann K. Thomas, DVM has 21 days to respond to the State Board regarding our complaint. That 21 day period should now be over. Hopefully we will hear something soon from the investigator assigned to our complaint. We will post information here just as soon as it is received. PLEASE STOP BY AND SIGN STEMPY'S GUESTBOOK! We would love to know that you were here!

UPDATE 2/23/06: We have made an informal poll / questionnaire that we would love for visitors to this website to answer. Please visit Stempy's VoteCaster to take the poll. We want your answers!

UPDATE 3/17/06: Happy Birthday to my beautiful wife, Cindy Munson - co-author of this website and Stempy's "Mommy" - from her husband, Greg. Take a look at the new page we added recently: Additional Info. It includes the text of a letter given to us by another local veterinarian that reinforces our claim of Veterinary Negligence on the part of Ann K. Thomas, DVM. We still have no news to report on the status of our complaint filed with the TSBVME . Hopefully soon.

UPDATE 3/21/06: Updated the Meet Our Doggies page with more pictures and added our newest addition, Tempy, to the page. Also added a new About Us page.

UPDATE 5/03/06: We received the worst possible news today. The State Board has dismissed our complaint. We are not surprised, as approximately 85% to 90% of all veterinary complaints filed with State Boards are dismissed without ever reaching conference level. There is something seriously wrong with the system. It's all here for everyone to see. The Board's job is to protect the public. Since they obviously cannot do their job, we STRONGLY believe the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners should be ABOLISHED! This vet got off scot-free! Who is protecting your pets? The answer is......ONLY YOU. It's surely not the State Board, who, in our opinion, regularly lets guilty vets off the hook. What a sad state of affairs. If you are as appalled as we are, write your congressman to complain. Together, we can effect change. For Stempy, and all the other vet victims. We will NEVER forget.

UPDATE 5/11/06: We are NOT giving up on our fight for justice for Stempy. We are not allowed to even see the vet's response to our complaint. Through our eyes, she lied in Stempy's records....so why wouldn't she lie to the board? No one from the board ever even called us to clarify any issues (while the complaint was under its original review...we did receive calls from Pete Hartline during the appeal process). This is a travesty of justice! It just further proves that the complaint process in this state is not working in the best interests of the public, but, rather, is working in the bests interests of a guilty veterinarian. The board is, once again, proving incapable of policing their own. There MUST be changes made to this process! We will NOT go quietly!

UPDATE 5/24/06: Happy Birthday to Tilly, our female Irish Setter who is now 3 years old! Go to the "Meet Our Doggies" page to meet her!

UPDATE 6/26/06: We are still in the "courtesy" appeal process. Dr. Thomas was told to give us copies of Stempy's radiographs, finally. She sent us the poorest excuse for x-rays....a homemade cd-rom where she, herself, took a picture (you can see her fingers in the photo) of the "x-rays." The name can only be made out on one or two of five (should have been 3). They are all fuzzy. They are completely useless in the form sent to us....which, we are sure, was the general idea. What Dr. Thomas has done is tantamount to obstruction of justice. She is just continuing her pattern of deception and lies. Could someone at the Board please WAKE UP and take notice? Sometime or another, the board is supposed to provide us with x-ray film to x-ray film duplicates, since Dr. Thomas will not provide these for us. We figure we will not see those x-rays until it is too late...once a decision has been made. We want the opportunity to examine and have examined the x-rays Dr. Thomas submitted as we have serious doubts about their legitimacy. By the time we finally get our hands on readable radiographs....well, in our opinion, the "fix may already be in...a decision will have most likely been rendered." That sure is how it appears to us....and if this complaint is dismissed again without us having the chance to have usable radiographs examined by a third party, that is completely unfair and utterly outrageous. We will keep you posted as to how all of this unfolds. (UPDATE: 8/7/06 - Yes, the complaint was dismissed again without us having the opportunity to have the radiographs examined. COMPLETELY UNFAIR! ) WE STRONGLY FEEL THIS PROCESS IS GEARED TOWARD PROTECTING VETS, NOT OUR BELOVED PETS!

UPDATE 7/17/06 : Today is a very hard day for us. It is Stempy's Birthday. He would have been 9 years old today. ----We love you and miss you, Stempy! It is not the same without you. We will continue fighting to hold Dr. Thomas accountable for your preventable death. You deserved better, boy. Please forgive us for choosing Dr. Thomas to be your vet. We did not know then that, according to our experiences, she was incompetent, unprofessional, and deceiving.-----

UPDATE8/08/06: Today is Ditto's first birthday. Happy Birthday Ditto! Meet him on the "Meet Our Doggies" page.

UPDATE 8/12/06: Today is Echo's first birthday. Happy Birthday Echo! Meet her on the "Meet Our Doggies" page.

UPDATE 1/04/07: Today is Tempy's first birthday. Happy Birthday Tempy! Meet him on the "Meet Our Doggies" page.

UPDATE 2/08/07: Today is Renay's 8th birthd