Seminole County’s animal control board wants to ban the declawing of cats and the sale of rabbits, but county commissioners seem uncertain whether that makes sense
Commissioners on Tuesday also expressed doubt about some of the other proposals — including requiring owners of aggressive dogs to have liability insurance — which are to be packaged together in a new animal control ordinance they are to vote on next month
Commissioner Amy Lockhart — in her last county meeting as commissioner on Tuesday after being defeated at the polls last week — cautioned against such bans
“Today’s concerns are rabbits and declawing. Tomorrow’s will be some other group; it will be the docking of puppies’ tales or cropping of ears or any other number of procedures that qualified licensed veterinarians in the state of Florida perform,” she said. “Let’s take it even out of the animal realm. Let’s take it to the people’s realm…. I just would say: Think about the policy and the enforceability of this and not the politics of it.”
Seminole commissioners will likely be presented with a new animal control ordinance on Dec. 8, one based on the recommendations by the animal control board and Tuesday’s discussion. Residents will have an opportunity to share their views at that meeting
Declawing cats for the sake of an owner’s furniture or to avoid being scratched is rapidly becoming a taboo procedure