JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — There’s a new push in Florida to make a medical procedure on pets illegal.
Lindsay Layendecker works at the Jacksonville Humane Society.
Long before she got the job, she adopted her cat, Copper.
TRENDING:
- Cyntoia Brown is released from Tennessee women's prison
- Photos: UNF students' pictures with Jacksonville Uber driver go viral
- Officers investigating shooting on Riberia Street in St. Augustine
- Jacksonville grocery store Native Sun closing its doors, cites 'dramatic increase of grocery stores'
“He was the best little kitty,” she described.
According to the cat mom, the only problem she had with Copper was he refused to use the litter box.
“His previous owner had declawed him. Using the litter box hurt, so, Copper didn’t want to go in the litter box because he associated it with pain and peed around my house quite a bit," she said.
A Florida senator is pushing to stop all cat declawing.
Democratic Sen. Lauren Book, of Plantation, filed a bill Friday that would make it illegal for veterinarians to perform the surgery.
MORE: PHOTOS: Kitten Crisis: Jacksonville shelters at record high for number of animal surrenders
Action News Jax reported just a few weeks ago when New York passed a similar ban.
The Associated Press reported that declawing a cat involves slicing through bone to amputate the first segment of a cat's toes.
The procedure has come under scrutiny by animal welfare advocates, cat owners and many vets.
“Not only are you removing part of their body, but you’re also removing their ability to defend themselves, to reduce stress and their ability to do things that just come naturally to them," Layendecker said.
STAY UPDATED: Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on breaking stories
Not everyone is on board with the ban.
Action News Jax asked for opinions on Facebook.
One viewer wrote: "So sad these laws are changing to control someone’s life. I have 3 kitties that has never been outside, declawed and very happy."
If passed, the bill would fine veterinarians $1,000 for declawing a cat when not medically necessary.
“When people do want to declaw their pet, we want to make sure they know you may be removing what you consider one bad behavior for another one,” said Layendecker.
She claimed she experienced the bad behavior for herself.
She also knows that, for the time being, the decision to declaw is up to a pet’s owner.
Cox Media Group
