Pre-Adoption Declawing Gets an Okay in Illinois
Published June 14, 2010
With the exception of the few forward- thinking municipalities in California that have already banned this inhumane and unnecessary procedure, declaw surgery remains extremely popular in the United States.
In fact, the procedure is often offered by veterinarians as a "bargain rate" package while kittens and cats have already been anesthetized for neutering or spaying.
While neutering and spaying are critical to the wellbeing and robust health of cats, with the exception of a few rare conditions, according to Wikipedia "The amputation of the distal phalanx is indicated in case of chronic inflammatory processes, tumours, persistent and severe infections and gangrene that are limited to the distal phalanx. The procedure is usually limited to the affected claw, leaving the healthy claws (if any) intact."
So when I read an article online a few weeks ago, that, in spite of receiving over 600 opposing emails, Macon County, Illinois' Environmental, Education, Health and Welfare Committee voted 8-0 to recommend a $125.00 fee for declawing cats' two front paws, and a $50.00 fee for dogs to remove their dew claws, I became enraged.
The rationalization for this decision was to accommodate people who adopt pets from the Macon County Animal Control and Care Center, giving them the option of having these procedures performed before taking their new pet home.
Dr. Devin Forden, the center's veterinarian, began full time employment, making these offers feasible. If the fees are approved by the county board this service will be available July 1.
However, I wonder if the shelter is really providing sufficient pre-surgical information to adopters, or providing them with easily available alternatives to declawing.
Training your cats to use appropriate scratching devices, and learning to trim their nails is really not that difficult. Since simple education would prevent declaw surgeries, this would be far more humane.
Would you consider me naive to remain skeptical about whether staff is offering training in preference to surgery?
Cats need their claws. They are essential for balance, for necessary defense, and to be able to stretch their muscles and joints.
Check out the video uploaded to YouTube by Doggy TV of the highly informative interview with Jennifer Conrad, Founder and Director of The Paw Project, in which she describes reasons why cats should not be declawed and in fact how declawing can actually cause significant behavioral problems which often backfires resulting in the animal's surrender to a shelter. However, declaw bans are now in place in cities mentioned in the video, with many thanks to The Paw Project.
Shortly after retiring as a social worker and psychotherapist, I discovered my "writer's voice"…
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Comments (12)
As a current veterinary student and future shelter veterinarian, this is appalling to me. The argument that declawing is acceptable as long as someone will deign to take a cat into their home speaks to a sickening lack of respect for our fellow creatures in this society. I have worked for many shelters, and a simple conversation about what declawing actually is and the alternatives that exist can and does open potential adopters' eyes about this unnecessary and cruel surgery. For those who insist on having a declawed cat, there are plenty of adult cats in shelters who, sadly, were declawed by their original owners. Hopefully this kind of policy will remain an anomaly in the animal control and humane society community rather than becoming the norm.
I have had declawed cats as rescues and it is a sad situation. There are so many problems that come up as a result a declaw. It is heartbreaking to meet a beautiful cat that has become a sad shadow of what cats are all about. I have politely asked people if they would like to try life without the ends of their fingers. They have no idea what they have done or are about to do to their cats. These people should be ashamed of even thinking of doing that.
I totally agree with Iniki 'a sad shadow of a cat' sums it up completely. Its heartbreaking. A sad shadow of a cat trapped in a body with no defences; basically a stuffed living breathing toy. Anyone responsible for this brutality is sub human nothing more.
I never declawed my cat, and I'm happy about it, sure I have some scratches on my arms from playing with him, but he doesn't do this on purpose, he is only 1 1/2 so he is still really a kitten, and my couches are a little torn up on the sides, but there are ways to get him to stop that.
There are ways to stop any animal's unwanted behaviour, and it doesn't have to mean declawing them.
I definitely do not judge people that do, it just isn't what I would want for my kitten. We also live in a rural area, and even though he is an indoor cat, if he ever for some reason got out, I would want him to be able to protect himself if he was attacked.
My co workers think I'm an idiot for not declawing him when I show up with scratches on my arms, but like I said, I would rather have those than put him through that, especially at this age, like with any other surgery, I'm sure it is easier to bounce back from when they are younger.
"My co workers think I'm an idiot for not declawing him when I show up with scratches on my arm" Melissa, They are obviously not cat people. LOL :) I don't think you are an idiot, I happen to agree with you. Oh, and something I learned from experience, if you try to clip kitty claws when they are half asleep, it goes much better. :)
Ooops, I forgot to add that I do NOT believe that under ANY circumstances should a SHELTER offer the procedure. IF it is to be done, it should be done after thorough discussions with the vet as to the procedure itself, the possible consequences and alternitives to the procedure.
I have mixed feelings about this. I would not declaw my cats and have not done it even though my house would probably look better if I did. However, having said that, I do work for a veterinarian. I believe she may be a very rare vet but she practices excellent pain management when it comes to declawing. She as the vet, and we as the support staff try diligently to discourage people from declawing their cats. HOwever, some people's minds just won't be changed and rather than seeing the cat abandoned, she will declaw. BUT!! Before people start screaming at me and cussing their computer screens, please read what I have to say..... ALL cats that present to us for declawing are given an injection of pain medication before they go under anesthesia. Once under, they are given a nerve block. Before they wake up, a fentanyl patch is placed. When these cats wake up, they are happy and have no visible purrsonality changes. We also have had only one complaint of behavior problems post declaw and I have been working for this vet for over eight years now.
I have worked for other vets that were not so concerned for the welfare of the animals and have seen all the behavior issues and purrsonality changes first hand. I saw cats that were sweet, loving cats turn into aggressive terrors that had to be sedated just to be touched the day following surgery. I have also fielded calls from countless owners that are frustrated because their once loving cat now hides and bites.
I truly believe that the pain suffered, behavior problems, and purrsonality changes are a direct result to the care and pain management (or lack thereof) the cats recieve when the procedure is done. JMHO.