ban on declawing

[RICHARD]

the city of west hollywood is looking into a bill to ban the declawing of cats in the city.




section 2.T

http://www.weho.org/download/index.c...nload&cid=1705

[NoahsMommy]

I posted this in General last week, thanks for giving it some more time.

I am completely for this...declawing is inhumane and cruel. It sickens me that people wont spend the time to train a cat, if that's too hard, Soft Paws works too.

[JillLovesMinnie14yrs]

It is truly disgusting. I have seen the procedure done with my own eyes. I really wish doctors who call themselves "cat lovers" would smarten up and refuse the cruel surgery, and forget about the money involved. When the (very bloody) procedure is over, they tie each finger with thread. Is is shock and damage to the cat or kitten and should be outlawed. Imagine making a fist and not being able to stick your fingers out. I also think they should place the declawing photos in magazines and over the net like they do abortions. I want the world to see how graphic and painful and wrong it is. Once a cat owner sees that, perhaps they'd change their mind.

[NoahsMommy]

Originally posted by JillLovesMinnie14yrs
It is truly disgusting. I have seen the procedure done with my own eyes. I really wish doctors who call themselves "cat lovers" would smarten up and refuse the cruel surgery, and forget about the money involved.

Amen to that! Do you know that when I scheduled Basil's neutering, they asked if I wanted him declawed at the same time!?!?! Its bothered me for quite a while, and although we still take the cats there, I've found the vet (there are five there) that is a complete cat adorer.

[moosmom]

I am dead set against declawing. In fact, the United States is the only country that DOESN'T outlaw declawing. And for the vets, rather than educate their clients on just what the procedure entails, they just do it because it's a money maker. The whole issue makes me ill. We're here to protect animals not disfigure them for our convenience.

[JillLovesMinnie14yrs]

You know, Noah's Mommy, that does not surprise me one bit. If you have your cat neutered at an expensive hospital they actually RECCOMEND you de claw and neuter the same time. Both for money, and the twisted idea that since he is under anestisia, you'd be geting it both out of the way. Well, FORGET that!!

[NoahsMommy]

Originally posted by JillLovesMinnie14yrs
You know, Noah's Mommy, that does not surprise me one bit. If you have your cat neutered at an expensive hospital they actually RECCOMEND you de claw and neuter the same time. Both for money, and the twisted idea that since he is under anestisia, you'd be geting it both out of the way. Well, FORGET that!!

Isn't it terrible? I was shocked, especially since they all seemed so nice and to genuinely care for the animals they treat. I've chalked it up to the possiblity that its the clientele..which is very sad and isn't an excuse.

I hope this passes...I wonder how we could go about getting the U.S. to ban it? Anyone know?

[Cookiebaker]

I think the best war on declawing is education. I used to be all for declawing...there were so many benefits that were glamorized. I had seriously considered declawing Marigold...but I changed my mind when I saw that she really hated being an indoors kind of kitty.

ANYHOO, now that I know what I know now, I would never ever ever ever declaw a kitty...especially one that I hold dear to my heart. Someone recently told me that they had just had their kitty declawed and I was horrified. When I reacted in horror I had completely forgotten that at one point I was for it as well. I think the glamour and easy-fix is more advertised than the pain the kitty has and the gruesomeness of it all. So IMHO, I think that education beats out any law because as lots of people will pass off "laws are meant to be broken" and will have it done anyway. But you are right, a law against it is a very good starting point, and I am very much in favor of it as well.

[wolflady]

Wow! I hadn't seen this one! That is very cool that something like this is being considered by the City. I only wish more of the US would follow suit.
I do agree also, that education is key. I admit that I was one of those people who really didn't think anything of declawing when I was ignorant to the process. Vets are always asking if the customers want it done while the cat is under for spay/neuter. After doing research and learning about it, I was horrified at the procedure!!! I agree that ethical vets shouldn't just outright offer the declaw to begin with. Why don't they suggest alternatives to people who ask for the procedure? Ya know, common sense things like...take the time to train the kitty that you love to a post or there is always the soft paws nail caps. I've been using them for years now on my cat and they work great! It's definitely a better alternative than disfiguring a poor animal's feet for human convenience. It's completely disgusting and I'm totally against it. I imagine it would be like cutting the front part of our foot off and forcing us to walk on our heels. A cat walks on its toes, but after a procedure such as this, they are forced to walk on their heels, which can be very painful for years to come. We may never know our beloved animals are in pain because cats hide it very easily.
I applaud this bill and I agree with everyone here. Education is key, but ethical vets and alternatives should also be offered.
**hugs**
Karen

[AdoreMyDogs]

I have never liked declawing, and I have also seen the procedure at the vet I worked at hundreds of times, and it IS disgusting. My poor little abandoned Minion...the love of my life, the kitty of my dreams, was already declawed when I found him after his owners moved out without him. Min is the only declawed cat that I have ever lived with, and I just know that he is frustrated. He tries to sharpen his "fingertips" on just about everything and I get a strong feeling from him that he has a sensation that he just can't do anything about. I get the feeling that it's like having an itch, and not being able to scratch it. I tell him often how sorry I am that someone had him declawed, and that I would never, EVER do that to any kitty, especially my heart kitty.

I will forever remain against declawing. It is not only a painful procedure, but it scars the psychie of our beloved kitties. It is illegial in several countries, hopefully one day it will also be banned in the US!

[JillLovesMinnie14yrs]

Yeah! Yeah! We can start with an online petetion!! EDUCATE DON'T AMPUTATE!!! This one is for you, Minion

[wolf_Q]

I've never had a cat....of course, I've been around many cats declawed and not-declawed. I didn't realize that it was so painful for the cat.....could anyone fill me in here?? What is so horrible about the surgery and the recovery afterward?

I met a dog that was front declawed....a golden retriever. The owners did not do it to the dog, they got her from a rescue. I want to know what vet would do that!

Originally posted by JillLovesMinnie14yrs
When the (very bloody) procedure is over, they tie each finger with thread. Is is shock and damage to the cat or kitten and should be outlawed.

believe it or not (please do) , but after reading this I HAD TO THROW UP ...................

Poor poor kitties ... Whatan extremely vicious and mean thing to do ... . And all of this just to protect the furniture from being scratched ???

[Vio&Juni]

I think the declawing should be outlawed. I have no idea whether it is legal or illegal in Moldova, the ears and tails are still cut here. I know in Western Europe all these procedures are considered inhuman, and, fortunately, we are aligning to the European legislation, so, it will be forbidden too soon, if it isn't yet.
Still, I don't know any declawed cat here.

[wayne0214]

De-clawing pet cats in the 'States becoming illegal, will have to be legislated state by state -as it is not a Federal issue. However, I do not believe that promoting such a program will be impossible. It will just take time and education, and a little publicity. The West Hollywood law is a municipal ordinance, but I am sure that once pet lovers unite their voices and write or e-mail their state representatives, that the program could get underway. Since animal shelters, who are under state jurisdiction, (with licensening and other regulatory limits) already present themselves as being against the cruelty to animals, that de-clawing could be easily represented as being a cruel act, which it obviously is.

............wayne