Here in England the ban on declawing works very well,it's looked upon as an outdated barbaric procedure and people who don't like cats to have claws, don't get cats. But even so, cats are the most popular pet in our country.We bring up our babies and children alongside our pets and teach them to respect the animals,having children is no excuse to have a cat declawed.Our children grow up loving animals and treating them properly.Having a dog scratched by a cat is no excuse either,taking away the cats claws is removing its defence against dogs, dogs soon learn not to mess with cats,declawed cats wouldn't stand a chance against a dog.
I worked as a vet nurse all my working days and even before the ban, people here rarely asked to have a cat declawed,if they did they were told in no uncertain terms that it was just a last resort for very serious scratching problems. I knew about declawing, of course because of my training, but in all the years I worked, I never saw one done because once people knew it was amptutation of the toes, they wouldn't put a cat through it.A lot more vets are refusing to do it in the USA and Canada, because research shows that many many cats have problems, they are forced to walk differently for a start, after the first days of excrutiating pain, it takes a fortnight to adjust to the new walk,which causes back problems to many poor cats.Some people say well my cats are OK ! But are they ? Cats hide a lot of pain and they adjust, they have no choice but to go on,many suffer secret mental torment. A cat needs it's claws for everything ....walking, grooming, playing, stretching it's muscles .....the more research I do the more I'm sickened that anyone can deprive the beautiful creatures of their rightful claws.The stories I've heard have kept me awake at night, I could go on for ever about it all.....more and more are joining in the quest to have it banned.There are some really explicit remarks alongside some of the signatures.
THANK YOU to everyone who has signed it, sorry the link was broken, I can't think why, but I'll post it here again ...
http://www.petitionthem.com/default....etail&pet=4312
and finally my poem on behalf of the many declawed cats in Rescue Centres right now ....
I once used to have such elegant paws,
My furry feet had beautiful claws.
How I loved to stretch them out,
I was really happy just jumping about.
They tidied my ears, they groomed my coat,
They kept the fur neat around my throat.
I thought I had my claws for good,
I thought my owners understood
Just how much they meant to me,
Oh but how wrong can a cat be!
One day I was taken to a frightening place,
I had no idea what I had to face.
I was put to sleep against my will
And woke up in pain and feeling ill.
My paws hurt so much I couldn’t stand,
How would I jump? how would I land?
Worse was to come, as I was later to see
Just what those people had done to me.
My toe ends and claws had gone for good
My owners hadn’t understood.
I couldn't ask why as I don't have a voice,
Or free will, or any choice.
They had ruined my life without a doubt
So I bit those people and they cast me out.
Now I sit in a shelter hurting and sad,
How could anyone treat me so bad?
My paws always ache, I feel very alone.
I wish someone kind would give me a home.