Veterinarian Reprimanded, Fined in Identity Sharing Case

LONGVIEW — A Longview veterinarian has been reprimanded and fined $500 by state regulators for sharing his identity. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report Barton Owens let the Humane Society of Northeast Texas use his license and his name to get medications and vaccines. Officials say the society purchased them between April and December of 2012. Owens works at the West Loop Animal Hospital in Longview. He says he thought the shelter was only using his name to purchase non-prescription drugs for a discount. Humane Society Shelter Director Scott Holloway, who took the job six months ago, said the practice cited by the veterinary board no longer occurs at the shelter. Holloway added Owens probably was only trying to do a good deed for local animals in allowing his name be used by the shelter.