The online publication PhillyVoice recently posted an article titled "Katie's Baby: Preparing my fur baby for my infant," in which the author callously celebrates the declawing of an elderly cat. The piece is not only full of factual errors, such as implying the Humane Society advocates declawing cats, when in fact they oppose the practice as barbaric, but it provides no ethical information on alternatives to this cruel mutilation. In fact, the link to the Humane Society in the piece leads to information on nail trimming--not declawing. This is deceptive at best.

Though it will not be an easy read for anyone who care about animals, here is a link to the article: http://www.phillyvoice.com/katies-baby-preparing-my-fur-baby-my-infant/

To read what the Humane Society actually says about declawing: http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/declawing.html

Most animal welfare advocates condemn declawing as cruel. It is banned in over forty countries and many parts of the United States. This procedure is an amputation that removes a cat's digits at the knuckle and leads to a long list of problems. Helpful information can be found at organizations like the Humane Society and the Paw Project: http://www.pawproject.org/

Despite the outcry from animal lovers and educators, PhillyVoice is digging in, unwilling to admit to their mistake and the harm they have caused to people who might be looking for correct information--and the cats that could suffer as a result. They have even deleted comments from the public challenging the author's claims or attempting to educate others about the reality of a practice that results in years of pain and behavioral problems for many cats.

Please consider adding your name to tell PhillyVoice that cavalier acceptance of animal cruelty has no place in a legitimate publication. Any credible news source checks facts before they are printed or posted, even in an opinion piece, and especially when the potential for harm is present. Responsible publications also recognize that not everyone's opinion deserves a public platform. Please ask PhillyVoice and Executive Editor Matt Romanoski to publish an apology, and to assure readers that the PhillyVoice does not accept cruelty to animals. Further, ask them to counter the damage they have done by publishing an ethical article supported by facts about alternatives to the painful and unnecessary practice of declawing. The Paw Project would be an excellent source of information.

It only takes a minute to sign your name, and by doing so, you might save a cat from pain and a cat owner from making a decision they will regret because they received faulty or incomplete information.

It is too late for twelve-year-old Lucy to escape years of suffering, but together, we can work to see that this doesn't happen to another cat. We can do it by providing pet owners with correct and ethical information. Thank you for standing up to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.