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The Straight Story

(48,121 posts) Fri Jan 20, 2012, 02:39 PM Jan 2012

To ban or not to ban? More people believing declawing is animal abuse [View all]

To ban or not to ban?
More people believing declawing is animal abuse

The first time I met animal lover Joyce Smith she told me how horrible it is to declaw a cat.
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Plus, according to an information sheet on the Second Chance website, declawing cats may just shift the problem of scratched furniture to another one altogether. Paw sensitivity resulting from the operation may lead to litter box avoidance, meaning they may use furniture or carpets instead.
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I've read on numerous websites against declawing that it is 10 different amputations equivalent to cutting off a human's fingertips. Ouch.

"The public is not educated on how harmful and abusive this procedure is," said Deidre Wilson, founder of Mississauga-based Adopt Me Canada Cat Rescue.

...
Since June the group has collected 3,000 signatures through an online petition and have nearly 1,000 members in an application called "causes" on Facebook.

http://www.durhamregion.com/community/petsanimals/article/1282553--to-ban-or-not-to-ban

97 replies

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Highlight:

To ban or not to ban? More people believing declawing is animal abuse [View all] The Straight Story Jan 2012 OP

My sister works for a vet out in rural VA. They won't declaw animals. n/t FSogol Jan 2012 #1

Many veterinarians won't perform the procedure anymore. n/t ProfessionalLeftist Jan 2012 #2

While I don't like, or have ever, declawed my cats HockeyMom Jan 2012 #3

Yes, and if claw trimming is done when they're kittens they don't even protest that much. Gormy Cuss Jan 2012 #23

Same Here ProfessorGAC Jan 2012 #27

I should use a Dremel on my cat JustABozoOnThisBus Jan 2012 #94

clipping and declawing Dorian Gray Jan 2012 #51

You have to cut their nails, especially indoor cats HockeyMom Jan 2012 #54

NYC's Animal Medical Center, a premiere animal hospital, told me that ... GodlessBiker Jan 2012 #4

Not a good time to answer the question cilla4progress Jan 2012 #5

Is owning a pet animal abuse? IADEMO2004 Jan 2012 #6

for some people, yeah. ret5hd Jan 2012 #8

Well, if it is, people should just open up their doors The Straight Story Jan 2012 #10

Does everything on the planet need to legislated? matt819 Jan 2012 #7

There's no reason to declaw a cat tammywammy Jan 2012 #9

But chopping out their gonads is a caring gesture. cthulu2016 Jan 2012 #11

The problem is us Warpy Jan 2012 #16

I agree cutting off an animal's nuts is pretty fucked up. ZombieHorde Jan 2012 #26

Disagree ProfessorGAC Jan 2012 #28

Cutting the nuts off non-human animals doesn't benefit them anymore ZombieHorde Jan 2012 #31

Simple Solution: The Straight Story Jan 2012 #32

You'd need an awful lot of cat testicles just to feed one homeless person. Warren DeMontague Jan 2012 #44

Awww MAN, you had me going for a second. Jonathan Swift eat your heart out! Zalatix Jan 2012 #88

And? ProfessorGAC Jan 2012 #60

I thought you may have wanted to back up your opinion with critical thinking. ZombieHorde Jan 2012 #67

O K ProfessorGAC Jan 2012 #77

"reduces the number of animals that MUST BE KILLED!" ZombieHorde Jan 2012 #83

Critical Thinking, Huh? ProfessorGAC Jan 2012 #91

I have addressed your arguments. You have failed to address mine. ZombieHorde Jan 2012 #93

Next they'll be doing it to humans. Zalatix Jan 2012 #89

Second the outrageousness of this jsmirman Jan 2012 #29

Doh! cthulu2016 Jan 2012 #35

Oh - just saw your edit jsmirman Jan 2012 #43

I support spay and neuter cthulu2016 Jan 2012 #50

Supporting spaying and neutering jsmirman Jan 2012 #58

It may not be in the best interests of the animal it is done to but... Ohio Joe Jan 2012 #34

Perhaps according to our mindset, but the other animal probably wanted to produce offspring. ZombieHorde Jan 2012 #38

Well... Yes Ohio Joe Jan 2012 #42

When I get out of school, and get a real job, I will probably get a dog and cut his nuts off. ZombieHorde Jan 2012 #47

Had a vet give my dog a vasectomy yrs ago. Took the dog in for neutering, vet asked why. uppityperson Jan 2012 #87

So you would just prefer we pretend that the current situation doesn't exist jsmirman Jan 2012 #46

We kill those animals for our benefit, not theirs. ZombieHorde Jan 2012 #53

How does this make any sense? jsmirman Jan 2012 #59

I am only advocating that people see the truth of pet ownership. ZombieHorde Jan 2012 #62

I can't take this any further jsmirman Jan 2012 #68

You are concerned about the plight of dogs and cats, so you want them sterilized. ZombieHorde Jan 2012 #69

Your hypothesis on the cause of deer problems is the opposite of the truth Drahthaardogs Jan 2012 #79

Your position... sendero Jan 2012 #78

I didn't make the comparison, I posted a reply to someone's story about sterilizing pets. ZombieHorde Jan 2012 #85

I would never do it, and my vet won't do it rox63 Jan 2012 #12

More and more vets are refusing to do it. Warpy Jan 2012 #13

Post-op declawed cats absolutely delight in rubbing furniture without being reprimanded. kestrel91316 Jan 2012 #17

I did it only very rarely, when I felt it was the only appropriate solution. I averaged 2/year. kestrel91316 Jan 2012 #14

Yeah, it's a fine line to walk Warpy Jan 2012 #18

Soft Paws work for some people. The main problem is, you have to dick around with the cat's paws kestrel91316 Jan 2012 #61

I had to have one of my cats declawed; it was entirely my fault Occulus Jan 2012 #22

Only if the cat owner agrees to have their fingernails removed. yellowcanine Jan 2012 #15

Banning declawing kctim Jan 2012 #19

I think it's cruel. sinkingfeeling Jan 2012 #20

I think most vets these days are against it. ceile Jan 2012 #21

We have 4 cats, 2-14 year olds and 2-9 month olds,,,, benld74 Jan 2012 #24

Years ago the Learning Channel had a show about cats, they showed a kitten being declawed. Archae Jan 2012 #25

The cat I adoped from the pound had it's front paws declawed. Yooperman Jan 2012 #30

I absolutely refuse to declaw a cat Ruby the Liberal Jan 2012 #33

What a beautiful cat!! Yooperman Jan 2012 #37

She came to me about 4.5, so that is 6? Ruby the Liberal Jan 2012 #45

OOOh! She looks like my Bengal. SharonAnn Jan 2012 #41

Yay for Bengals! Ruby the Liberal Jan 2012 #49

beautiful cat. n/t JesterCS Jan 2012 #66

Thank you kindly on behalf of her. Ruby the Liberal Jan 2012 #74

What a beautiful cat! hardcover Jan 2012 #72

I appreciate the kind remarks. Ruby the Liberal Jan 2012 #75

I do not like the idea of declawing cats. Having said that, I did have one declawed years ago. davsand Jan 2012 #36

Sounds like you did the right thing, but you could have tried medical pot (and some pics) The Straight Story Jan 2012 #39

Was the pot for me or her? davsand Jan 2012 #55

The cruel practice should be outlawed. AtomicKitten Jan 2012 #40

Scratching my couch is people abuse Ter Jan 2012 #48

Have you tried to find him an alternate target? Ruby the Liberal Jan 2012 #52

They are stretching when they do that--did you know that? davsand Jan 2012 #56

Ban it. If you can't have a cat wihtout declawing it, don't have a cat. nt Skip Intro Jan 2012 #57

^^^ This ^^^ MadrasT Jan 2012 #63

Ban it graywarrior Jan 2012 #64

I had my cat declawed and fixed. JesterCS Jan 2012 #65

As long as it's all about you. nt Skip Intro Jan 2012 #76

lol JesterCS Jan 2012 #82

Because the mutilation of an innocent, defenseless animal lies in the balance. nt Skip Intro Jan 2012 #90

well JesterCS Jan 2012 #96

poppycock. pansypoo53219 Jan 2012 #70

Like any cosmetic alteration (declawing, ear cropping, tail docking), absolutely animal abuse. flvegan Jan 2012 #71

My vet will not declaw or perform any cosmetic procedures. a la izquierda Jan 2012 #73

Declawing sucks! justiceischeap Jan 2012 #80

Owned 3 declawed cats and 1 not declawed over the years Mumble Jan 2012 #81

I have two cats, both with their claws and fully intact furniture tammywammy Jan 2012 #84

My cat wouldn't be here if he'd been declawed. polly7 Jan 2012 #86

Alot of hyperbole zipplewrath Jan 2012 #92

"Basically" means indoors? Ruby the Liberal Jan 2012 #95

Can't know every situation zipplewrath Jan 2012 #97