Texas vet suspended after outbreak and misconduct allegations

Dr. Joshua Harvey, DVM, a well-known North Texas equine veterinarian and founder of Outlaw Equine in Decatur, has been temporarily suspended from practice by the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. The Board issued the suspension on July 1, 2025, citing a long list of violations and misconduct that, collectively, represent what the Board described as “a continuing imminent threat to the public welfare.”

The board says that the decision comes after a yearlong investigation involving failed inspections, a multi-state outbreak of equine infectious anemia, improper drug use, and serious allegations of unprofessional and criminal behavior.

According to the list, the initial inspection in April 2024 revealed poor recordkeeping and improper storage of controlled substances at Outlaw Equine. But concerns escalated in the following months, culminating in a deadly EIA outbreak that killed 21 horses and infected 22 in total across four states. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and TBVME investigations linked the outbreak to reused syringes and contaminated heparinized saline bottles — basic biosecurity breaches that occurred under Harvey’s watch.

Then, in February 2025, a horse named “Sissy” was mistakenly administered penicillin intravenously instead of intramuscularly, triggering violent seizures. While the horse survived, the incident exposed a lack of training and clinical oversight.

A follow-up inspection in March 2025 allegedly uncovered even more disturbing findings: fraudulent prescriptions for anabolic steroids, dangerous dosages of controlled substances used for performance enhancement, and a lack of legitimate veterinary-client-patient relationships for multiple drug transactions. Harvey also allegedly shipped controlled substances to veterinarians in other states and admitted in recorded interviews to falsifying records.

Adding to the list, the Board determined that Dr. Danielle Araujo Barbosa, who is not licensed in Texas, had performed surgeries and signed off on official documents while Harvey falsely listed himself as the attending veterinarian.

In May, the situation worsened when TBVME received reports accusing Harvey of practicing under the influence of alcohol, as well as sexually and physically assaulting former employees. A police report confirms Harvey was arrested on-site following an alleged physical assault. A separate investigation is underway concerning a reported sexual assault from July 2024.

According to the board, on June 30, 2025, Harvey voluntarily surrendered his Drug Enforcement Administration registration.

Stallion Compare said that this is not Harvey’s first encounter with TBVME discipline. The veterinarian has previously been sanctioned for unlicensed practice, poor recordkeeping, and mishandling of controlled substances — spanning four separate orders between 2009 and 2019.

Effective immediately, Harvey is barred from practicing veterinary medicine, supervising staff, or issuing prescriptions. He may perform administrative tasks only and must not give the impression that he is providing care. A hearing will be held within 14 days to determine whether formal proceedings will move forward.

Despite the severity of the Board’s findings, Harvey retains strong support from some clients. Outlaw Equine released a public statement affirming its continued operations and promising to pursue every legal avenue to reinstate Harvey’s license. Supporters have taken to social media, praising Harvey’s dedication, work ethic, and willingness to provide emergency care when few others would.

One client, Josh Andrews, wrote in a Facebook post that is now unavailable that, “Josh built an empire through sheer grit, skill, and around-the-clock commitment. Has he walked the line? Maybe. But what’s happening now feels less like accountability and more like a punishment for success.”

Whoa Zone Equine has also spoken up, encouraging the equine community to remain calm, respect due process, and avoid rushing to judgment.

“This is not the time to bash, but the time to pause. To trust that the process is doing what it was created to do — seek truth and uphold justice,” reads the post.