Two Charged With Animal Cruelty After Declawed Kitten Dies

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- A pet owner and a man accused of performing an unlicensed declawing procedure are facing animal cruelty charges in the death of a kitten.

An attorney for Carmenza Piedrahita, 54, said his client thought she was going to a legitimate veterinarian to have her kitten Toby's claws removed, according to CBS4 News partner The Miami Herald.

Geronimo Gonzalez, 72, is accused of helping perform the surgery. In the arrest report, another man named "Jose" was said to have done the illegal do-it-yourself operation, while Gonzalez assisted. Jose has not yet been charged.

Toby the kitten died two weeks after it had surgery to remove its claws. (Source: Miami-Dade Police Dept.)

After the procedure, Toby fell ill with infected and exposed bones on his swollen paws, suffering from dehydration, vomiting and necrosis of the declawed digits. Two weeks later, the cat was dead.

Further diagnosis revealed possible sepsis due to an inflammation of the bone or bone marrow as a result of infection.

Piedrahita and Gonzalez were both charged with felony animal cruelty. On Wednesday, Gonzalez pleaded not guilty in a Miami-Dade court.

Prosecutors say Piedrahita took too long to get the cat help after the surgery. She told police it was four days after, however, records at the Animal Welfare Society of South Florida show it was between 15-17 days post-surgery. In court, graphic photos were shown of the animal with exposed and infected bones in its front paws.

Police also said she knew that Gonzalez was not a licensed vet.

Piedrahita faces up to five years in prison if convicted.