Woman Tries To Have Pet Lynx Declawed At Veterinarian

[matcom]

<snip>

OGDEN, Utah --The cat Karen Goeckect brought to a veterinarian to be spayed and declawed was actually a lynx -- a threatened species that wildlife officials say is illegal to own in Utah.

Veterinarian Greg Johnston said 16-week-old Sasa was the size of a large house cat, but had black-tufted ears, thick, lanky legs and oversized feet tipped with half-inch claws.

"After working for Fish and Game and spending 40 years as a veterinarian, I knew what I was dealing with" -- a lynx, Johnston said.

Johnston said Goeckect, who listed a Garden City address, told a receptionist Sasa was a domestic cat when she left the animal Monday to be spayed and declawed at the Johnston Animal Hospital.

Goeckect said Tuesday that she bought Sasa for $2,000 from a breeder in Minnesota. She said she planned to raise the animal at her home in Idaho, where lynx can be kept as pets if owners have a health certificate and an Idaho import license.

In Utah, lynx can be kept only by zoos or pelt farms, Division of Wildlife Resources Conservation Officer Kip King said.

Sasa is good-natured, people-friendly, and has never seriously bitten or scratched anyone, Goeckect said.

http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2005/08/17/woman_brings_illegal_lynx_to_veterinarian?mode=PF

[Liberal Veteran]

1. Geez...sounds like another potential resident of Cat Tales

Cat Tales works with various state wildlife agencies, USDA, and HSUS plus private agencies throughout the United States in rescuing and relocation of exotic animals of all types. The Park is on standby to receive and house exotic cats which need homes for various reasons ranging from abandoned or abused animals to the cases where someone wanted a "unique pet" but tired of it after the novelty wore off.

[demnan]

3. I wonder why people feel the need to adopt these animals

when there are so many domestic tamed animals available and ready for adoption?

[Ready4Change]

7. Article says she bought it.

$2,000, from a breeder in Minnesota.

Until that I was supposing she'd found a "stray" kitten on the back porch and took it in, with no idea it was wild.

[latebloomer]

8. because they think they're cool and exotic

I know someone who always had to get expensive pedigreed animals-- Sharpeis, a parrot, rare breeds of cats-- then he'd get tired of them and the upkeep they took and dump them on someone else.

To him they were nothing but a status symbol.

Disgusting.

[ET Awful]

2. "This cat would have always been in charge,"

Johnston said. "The family would have been pretty much hostages to it."

And that's different from any other cat how???? :evilgrin:

You have to love a state where a "pelt farm" can own an animal just for the joy of killing it for its fur, but an individual citizen can't posess the same animal for the joy of keeping it alive and nurturing it.

[demnan]

4. Ha-ha

you have a good point there, we're all hostages. :rofl:

[lildreamer316]

5. My SO used to have a manx (sp?)

He said that it was great except it killed dogs (!) and was VERY protective over him. Almost ripped out the throat of a roomate who tried to wake him up (cat was sleeping on end of bed)Guess they are one-person animals if they are "domesticated".

[LostinVA]

6. Manx are small, tailless kitties from wales

And are sweet and lovable. I have known other breeds of cats that are evil, though (will not mention which ones!).

http://www.fanciers.com/breed-faqs/manx-faq.html

[hyphenate]

10. Yeah

I noticed that too. Pretty sad state of affairs in thinking that, huh?

[Shell Beau]

9. I know a guy that has a Lynx!

I didn't know they were a threatened species!