January 2023
In 2021 the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) hired a new Chief Medical Officer, Dr Jessica Vogelsang.
AAHA says that they are strongly opposed to declawing, that veterinarians should tell their clients that it is a procedure that is no longer supported or reasonable yet they allow it in their AAHA Accredited Animal Hospitals. Many of them perform this inhumane amputation on a regular basis, they advertise declawing, put out declawing coupons, and lie about it and say that the cats are ok long term after they are declawed.
We are optimistic that Dr Vogelsang will be the progressive, ethical, and humane veterinary leader at AAHA who sees the value in doing the right thing, being on the right side of this issue and history, and will inspire AAHA to put the welfare of all animals first and ban declawing in their AAHA accredited animal hospitals.
After all in 2020, Dr Kelly St. Denis became the President of AAFP and inspired them to finally do the right thing and ban declawing in their Cat Friendly Practices. https://citythekitty.org/http-bit-ly-iskellystdenispowerfulenoughtomakecatfriendlytrulycatfriendly/
Here’s our story about AAHA and declawing. AAHA puts profits over the welfare of cats
Dr Vogelsang said this in 2016 in a story. “Tail crops, ear docks, declaws, and debarking for any reason other than the health of the pet should go the way of the dodo.” https://www.petmd.com/blogs/thedailyvet/jvogelsang/2016/april/changing-world-one-seed-time-33957
She said this in 2017. “The Three Prongs of Change: Vets, Owners, and Leadership. In addition to more individual vets declining to do the procedure, we need to move the dial on demand. Public opinion is changing. Yay! The tide has turned significantly since I have graduated, and I’m very grateful for that. Somehow the good people in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, and good chunk of Europe manage without the procedure, so I bet we can too.
She said this in a 2022 story on AAHA’s website. “”The patient is the center of the universe, at least when it comes to their healthcare.” https://www.aaha.org/publications/newstat/articles/2022-12/2023-the-year-of-the-team/
In 2016 she wrote this story on Dr Andy Roark’s website. https://drandyroark.com/proudly-admit-wrong/
By the way, if anyone knows if Andy has finally publicly said he is against declawing, please sent us a note. Here’s something you might like to read about Andy and declawing. https://citythekitty.org/how-dr-andy-roark-played-the-victim-instead-of-helping-the-welfare-of-cats/
AAHA didn’t give their 2021 President, Dr Pam Nicols, any power to ban declawing in AAHA hospitals, in fact silenced her when it came to this issue and told her to stop having a respectful conversation about declawing with our President.
Hopefully their CEO Garth Jordan and AAHA won’t do the same to Dr Vogelsang when it comes to this inhumane, cruel, and very unnecessary amputation procedure.
Please send a polite note to AAHA and their CEO Garth Jordan and ask them to let Dr Vogelsang do what’s right and ban declawing in AAHA hospitals. aaha@aaha.org garth.jordan@aaha.org
