Woman charged with cat mulilation for unlicensed declawing (two articles)

[QueenScoopalot]

http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-.../s_280922.html
Animal cruelty charges filed

Items allegedly used by a Sewickley Township woman to mutilate the paws of at least two cats in botched surgery attempts were obtained during her past employment with an unidentified local veterinary hospital, according to humane officer Kathy Hecker, of Animal Friends in Pittsburgh.
On Tuesday, two charges of cruelty to animals were filed by Hecker against Loria Baur, 45, of Herminie, before District Justice Joseph A. Dalfonso, Monessen. Baur's criminal complaint and affidavit of probable cause were then delivered to the office of District Justice Charles M. Christner, where a preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Jan. 31.

The charges came as a result of an investigation into injuries suffered by the cats when the woman, who is not a licensed veterinarian, allegedly tried to declaw the animals.

Hecker said an eyewitness to one of the procedures had in her possession a plastic bag left at her house by the defendant containing animal drugs, bloody surgical instruments, needles and two vials of Telazol, an anesthetic commonly used during cat surgery. The anesthetic is a controlled substance available only to licensed veterinarians, Hecker said.

"The actor is known to be a past employee of a local veterinary hospital, where she had access to many animal medical products, syringes and instruments," Hecker said.


http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/...25/detail.html

Cat's Paw Mutilated; Do-It-Yourself Vet Charged

POSTED: 2:54 pm EST December 7, 2004

GREENSBURG, Pa. -- A Westmoreland County woman is accused of seriously injuring a cat by attempting to declaw it in exchange for payment.

Loria Baur, 45, allegedly performed the botched operation on Nov. 15 for the pet's owner, who lives in Greensburg.

Police say Baur claimed to have veterinary experience before the pet owner agreed to pay her $50 for the declawing.

After the cat's paws became infected, the owner took it to Grace Veterinary Hospital in Mount Pleasant for surgery.

Dr. John O'Laughlin, who is caring for the animal, said it may end up losing part of a paw.

"This surgery is going to have to be redone because there were bits of bone left in the good foot," O'Laughlin said. "The rotted foot, she has only two toes left."

Investigators say Baur used to work at a veterinary hospital but is not a licensed veterinarian in Pennsylvania.

Baur, of Lowber, is charged with cruelty to animals.

[moosmom]

I think I'm going to be sick!!!!!!!

I hope they throw the book at this piece of $hit. Not only should she be charged with cruelty to animals, but also for possession of a controlled substance AND criminal impersonation.

I also think the owner of these animals shouldn't get the cats back!!

Those poor babies!!!

[Laura's Babies]

I agree with you moonsmom.. 100%.... Throw the book at her!

[QueenScoopalot]

I think the cat's owner should be held responsible as well! Talk about so cheap she has an operation done for $50.00! That should have sent her running in the other direction, but obviously didn't. She's paying through the nose now, and the cat's the one that is suffering the consequences.

[Jods]

Has anyone seen the movie Elf... On the movie there is one part where your watching but there is a girl talking on the phone and I thought it was odd that she would say this. They are in an office shes sitting at a desk talking on the phone. She says: I've never declawed kittens before. How many are they're? 8 ( I think thats the number) hmm alright bring them by... No I'm not going to charge you for it just bring them by... Wierd HUH??

[davidpizzica]

This is awful!! I hope this piece of scum gets the maximum. However it's the poor kitty that has to serve life with a mangled paw! It's really shameful that it happened in my hometown of Pittsburgh!

[Pit Chick]

If it's anything like dogfighting busts, they'll probably charge her more severely for the controlled substances than the animal cruelty. I think she needs to have her fingers choped off with a dull butter knife.