THE ISSUE

Western Veterinary Partners (WVP) says: “At WVP, we believe every pet deserves a healthy, happy life.”

So why does CEO Carollee Brinkman allow declawing?

Western Veterinary Partners (WVP) CEO Carollee Brinkman leads one of the largest veterinary groups in the U.S., with more than 300 clinics, and mentors others in animal-health leadership.

WVP also says: “People are at the heart of everything we do.”

Yet under Brinkman’s leadership, WVP continues to allow affiliated hospitals to perform declawing—the amputation of the last bones of a cat’s toes, a procedure associated with chronic pain, nerve damage, arthritis and behavioral problems.

How can amputating healthy toes possibly give cats a “healthy, happy life”?

And how does it put people first when veterinarians and staff who oppose declawing may still be expected to schedule, assist with or care for cats undergoing the procedure—creating moral distress and ethical conflict?

WVP’s Medical Advisory Board is supposed to act in the “best interests of the pets, clients, veterinarians and practice team members.”

Yet six of the 13 Medical Advisory board members are affiliated with practices where veterinarians have the choice to perform elective declawing. Five of those six practices choose to offer it. Only one chooses not to.

Whose interests are being protected?

WVP has been asked repeatedly to explain how allowing declawing aligns with its promises of animal health, compassion, healthy workplaces and putting people first.

WVP has not responded.

NOW WE’RE ASKING Women In Leadership And Management In Animal Health (WILMAH) TO STAND UP FOR CATS

WVP CEO Carollee Brinkman is a WILMAH mentor, and WVP is a WILMAH corporate sponsor.

WILMAH says: “At WILMAH, we share a unique dedication to the well-being of all animals.”

If WILMAH is truly dedicated to the well-being of ALL animals, cats must count, too.

WVP continues to allow declawing while many other veterinary group companies, including VCA, Banfield and NVA, have banned the cruel practice.

WILMAH has an opportunity to use its voice and influence to ask WVP to match its words with its actions and ban elective declawing.

WE ASK CEO CAROLLEE BRINKMAN AND WESTERN VETERINARY PARTNERS TO:
HONOR YOUR WORDS THAT EVERY PET DESERVES A “HEALTHY, HAPPY LIFE” AND BAN ELECTIVE DECLAWING ACROSS WVP!

Protect cats from the unnecessary amputation of their healthy toes.

Protect veterinary professionals and staff from being placed in ethical conflict and moral distress.

Western Veterinary Partners: Put cats first. Put your people first. Ban declawing NOW.

PLEASE TAKE ONE MORE STEP FOR CATS
After signing this petition, please send WILMAH an email and ask them to use their voice and influence to urge WVP to ban elective declawing.

WILMAH says it is dedicated to the well-being of all animals. https://www.wilmah.org/

Please ask them to prove it by standing up for cats. 🐾

Email WILMAH: tellmemore@wilmah.org

Let us know if you get a response from either WVP or MILAH.  Citythekitty@gmail.com

Here's our shocking story. https://citythekitty.org/western-veterinary-partners-says-we-believe-every-pet-deserves-a-healthy-happy-life-so-why-do-they-allow-declawing/