Cat neutered at home, suffers severe infection
Pukalani, HI (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Nov 30, 2006
County: Maui
Disposition: Convicted
Defendants/Suspects:
» Dina Santos
» Victor Prones
Two Upcountry residents have been ordered to pay fines after being convicted of animal cruelty for a home neutering of a cat that suffered a severe infection.
The case illustrates why home neutering and spaying of cats and dogs is illegal, said Aimee Anderson, director of animal control for the Maui Humane Society.
"In today's society, there is no justifiable reason to do home castrations of companion animals if you're not a veterinarian," she said. "It's important to spay and neuter, obviously. However, it has to be done properly."
The Maui Humane Society began an investigation in December after a Pukalani woman found an intact male cat on her property and she attached a note to the animal suggesting it be neutered, Anderson said. A few days later, when the cat showed up again, the neighbor decided to take the cat to a veterinarian to be neutered.
The veterinarian discovered that the cat had been home-neutered and was hemorrhaging into its scrotum and suffering from a severe infection, Anderson said.
She said the cat's owner was identified through a lost-cat report she had filed. Questioned by animal control officers, the owner admitted she had asked a friend to do the neutering at the owner's residence, Anderson said.
She said the owner reported the cat wasn't given pain medication or anesthesia for the procedure, which took about 20 minutes. Hair was missing from the cat's limbs, which had been duct-taped to a board to keep the animal from biting while its testicles were removed, Anderson said. She said a knife was used to fray ends of blood vessels in an attempt to stop bleeding.
The cat had to be hospitalized overnight, incurring more than $400 in medical bills, Anderson said.
She said the owner was allowed to keep the domestic short-haired white cat, which recovered from the injuries.
The owner was identified as Dina Santos, 32, of Pukalani.
After pleading guilty to a charge of animal cruelty Jan. 16 in Wailuku District Court, Santos was fined $255, Anderson said.
She said Victor Prones, 50, of Kula, who did the home neutering, also was convicted of animal cruelty after pleading no contest to the charge Wednesday in Wailuku District Court. He was fined $500, with half that amount suspended for one year if he complies with court requirements.
Despite the law, Anderson said animal control officers frequently see dogs and cats that are suffering infections and other ill effects from having been neutered at home.
"It's not an acceptable practice or a legal practice for companion animals," Anderson said. "There are certainly no financial barriers in Maui to prevent people from spaying and neutering companion animals through a veterinarian."
The Maui Humane Society offers snip certificates that can be used for discounts on spaying and neutering at any veterinarian. Some low-cost spaying and neutering is also available through the agency. References |
