Man arrested for posing as female veterinarian

Police arrested an Atlantic City man posing as a female veterinarian inoculating animals in Vineland. Daniel C. Tyce, 26, allegedly posed as Dr. Danielle Smith and ran South Jersey Small Animal Rescue, inoculating animals and setting up adoptions in exchange for small fees.

Tyce and his assistant would drive around in a white Jeep Cherokee with “Animal Cruelty Investigations” written on the side, and the two would dress in police-style uniforms with badges, according to Vineland Police. In fact, Tyce was likely operating out of his Atlantic City apartment, Vineland Police Lt. Tom Ulrich said.



Tyce faces an initial charge of unlicensed practice of medicine, but he could face additional charges, such as theft by deception, Ulrich said. Vineland Police don’t yet know the full extent of Tyce’s activities and are still investigating. They tracked him down Jan. 9 at Atlantic County Jail, where he had been imprisoned on other charges. Police then arrested him on the new charge and transferred him to Cumberland County Jail on $10,000 bail.

Vineland Police investigated South Jersey Small Animal Rescue after a Vineland resident informed them about what she believed to be suspicious activity by the group. Police believe he has operated throughout southern New Jersey and possibly in Delaware, Pennsylvania and New York. His web site claims that Danielle Smith graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and has a doctorate in veterinary medicine.Police say Tyce, who is Smith, has no such degrees.