We MUST ban declawing in Michigan!

Please sign our petition to support a ban on this inhumane, cruel, and unnecessary amputation procedure and support HB 6459 that was introduced on Oct. 11, 2022!

Most veterinarians in Michigan are making easy and good money from this animal cruelty. (declawing)

Here's one example from a declawing animal hospital's website where this vet advertises her declawing services in her New Kitten section. "Cats may be declawed as early as 12 weeks of age (must weigh at least 3lbs), at the same time as spaying or neutering (4-6 months) or later in life. " Promoting declawing

Here are our Michigan declawing surveys that shows you that it is a common and routine procedure in the majority of clinics.  West Michigan declawing surveys

We, the undersigned, ask declawing veterinarians to tell the truth and educate your clients and the public about how declawing is harmful to the long term health and well-being of a kitty and educate them about the easy, humane alternatives. This will take away the demand to have declawed cats.

Please protect the health and well-being of cats and kittens instead of barbarically mutilating cats and harming their long-term health and well-being by declawing them.

 You do so many wonderful things for animals but declawing does NOT keep a cat in a home and all declawed cats suffer in some way from from this barbaric amputation procedure.

Declawing is the amputation of a cat's last toe bone and claw. It is performed routinely in Michigan veterinary clinics, despite it having absolutely no benefit to the cat and despite it being really bad for the welfare of ALL cats.

Cats deserve better. Declawing is NOT a compassionate solution to finding cats a home.

Many of your clients believe that declawing is ok.

For example, Dr Marie Breuker, a declawing vet at Fremont Animal Hospital said, "Many Americans are lazy and many prefer declawed cats even with the knowledge of the negative repercussions. However, you have brought up many good points of things that I know to be true about the potential side effects of declawing cats. After you email we are going to be more proactive about educating clients of those negative side effects."

Yet she recently (Aug. 2019)  promoted her declawing services on a post on a public facebook page where a cat owner was looking for a cheap declaw.

Dr Breuker could have educated the many pro-declaw cat owners on that post about the awful truth about declawing and about the easy, humane options but instead she touted how she has had "better outcomes" by burning off the toe bones and claws (laser declaw) on cats with her laser.

Dr Marie Breuker, said to us in an email that declawing causes negative side effects and negative repercussions yet she is still performing this mutilating and harmful procedure on young, innocent cats. These cats will never have the chance to show that they will use scratching posts, scratching pads, and get their nails trimmed. 

In 2016 Dr Breuker told us that she declaws cats and kittens for an animal rescue in Newaygo.

Many of Dr Breuker's clients believe that a declaw is not any worse than a spay and they view a declaw as a small price to pay for the reward of getting a quick, loving inside home, rather than dying in a county shelter.

Please educate the public your clients about the TRUTH about declawing. No matter how it's done, it is mutilating and wrong. Here's a recent study proving this. Declawing Study  "Declawing cats increases the risk of unwanted behaviors and may increase risk for developing back pain. Evidence of inadequate surgical technique was common in the study population. Among declawed cats, retained P3 fragments further increased the risk of developing back pain and adverse behaviors. The use of optimal surgical technique does not eliminate the risk of adverse behavior subsequent to onychectomy."

Cats need their toe bones and claws for so many aspects of their health and well-being.

Please provide brochures and information about the humane and commonsense alternatives like nail trims, sturdy scratchers, deterrents, Feliway, Feliscratch, and Soft Paws. Please educate cat owners in Michigan and the local animal rescue about the awful truth about declawing so they stop asking for this barbaric and harmful procedure for their beloved cats.

Here is a simple video from Dr Robin Downing, who is an expert in pain management. Show this to your clients and the public. Ask the local animal rescue to start a campaign to educate the public about declawing and the humane alternatives. http://bit.ly/DrDowningDeclawInfo

It's time for you to be strong and be a true leader in animal welfare and protection in your state. We will celebrate your bravery in leading the way to a better world for cats.

For more information about declawing go to the www.PawProject.org and www.CitytheKitty.com

 Please follow City the Kitty on facebook, Instagram (@citythekitty), and Twitter (@City_the_Kitty) for updates about this campaign and more.

*********Always take the high road and educate with your comments. When you are mean or threatening, it hurts the cause and it's wrong. Also it gives them the opportunity to turn things around and play the victim to deflect from the issue at hand which is that declawing is animal cruelty and should never be done to a cat.