Over the past few years I have been proud to say that my state has  been making small steps to improve humane laws but, I still find myself disappointed when I see the lack of talk around the inhumane practice of declawing. (Onychectomy) 

By not having Anti-declaw legislation enacted, we are openly allowing people to mutilate their companion animals and not calling it abuse.

We are letting veterinary practices ignore the oath they take to protect animal health, welfare, and the prevention of animal suffering -- all in the name of the almighty dollar.

We are allowing landlords to REQUIRE animal abuse in lease agreements.

Anti-declaw legislation has been spreading throughout the world, but isn't spreading quite fast enough.

Declawing is an inhumane mutilation, regardless of whether it is performed by scalpel, clipper, laser, or any other means. Declawing is NOT just removing the claw - it is a painful amputation of the entire last knuckle of the cat's paw.  Cats are digitigrade (they walk on the tips of their toes) Removing them doesn't allow them to walk properly and causes pain in the legs, shoulders, and back, as well as added trauma to the joints. Because of the pain and the psychological trauma of this procedure, cats are more prone to other behavioral issues, such as improper elimination and aggression. Declawed cats often bite due to their primary defense having been taken away. These bites are often bites that break skin, causing the victims to have to seek medical attention. Declawed cats are often unable to perform natural, necessary actions as their physiology is changed. It causes unecessary strain on their bodies and encourages arthritis. The claw can begin to grow again beneath the skin, causing horribly painful and dangerous infections that can spread into the bone. There is no reason to continue this procedure when not medically necessary for the animal. (There are rare cases in which onychectomy is what's best for the animal medically.) There are plenty of humane alternative routes that can be taken. 

Declawing does not keep cats in homes, nor does it guarantee that they live once they arrive at the shelter. I have seen personally, as a feline behaviorist and shelter worker, just how many cats are being surrendered for behavioral issues following declaw surgeries in my community alone. I have personally seen many declawed cats (especially all four paw declawed) be put down in the shelter system, much sooner than cats that hadn't been mutilated. It also does not mean the cat will get adopted quicker than those who still have their claws. We may have a handful of families a year leave the shelter empty handed because they couldn't get a declawed cat, or that it's against our policies to do it after adopting - but we still manage thousands of adoptions every year.   Additionally, declawed cats have sat on our adoption floor for weeks to months due to lack of interest...usually due to existing disclosed behavioral problems from the procedure. Statistics in cities where anti-declaw legislation has been passed show a steady DECLINE in the number of cats surrendered. I have seen first hand the different levels of suffering and pain these innocent animals have to endure at the hands of uneducated people. There is no excuse for it. Declaw is illegal or considered unethical by the veterinary profession in most of the world, but that's not enough - we need to fight to get it banned worldwide.

According to a petition posted by The Paw Project, "There is no reason to declaw cats to protect human health. The NIH, CDC, US Public Health Service, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and the Canadian Medical Association, all have  stated that declawing is not advised, even for the animals of persons who are severely immunocompromised. This opinion is echoed in statements on declawing published by the AAHA and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP). Declaw-type procedures to treat tumor, infection, disease, or injury would be allowed to benefit the health of the cat."

I hope that together, we can all work towards a better, more humane world for our feline friends, one city, state, country, or even simply person, at a time.

Thank you for your time and consideration. 

I extend extreme gratitude to any and all that sign and share this petition with others. Let's all be advocates for cats, they deserve a voice!