Story published on May 21, 2021
How can we improve mental well-being in the veterinary profession, especially related to moral distress and ethical trauma?
Ban and end declawing.
As you will see below, declawing causes moral distress and negatively affects the mental health and well-being of many veterinary professionals.
Teeger was declawed at an AAHA Hospital. Teeger and his two siblings have had most of their paws amputated due to horrific complications from their declaw procedures.
Today is Flashback Friday and I’m in quite a reflective mood. That’s me in the middle with the cone of shame on. It’s from my overnight stay at the Emergency Veterinary Hospital when I came down with that scary vestibular disease.
My friends. I want to let you all know how much I appreciate you. You all are family to me.
There is a post from a veterinarian on the AVMA’s facebook page that is causing a big uproar and it’s all about standards, ethics, and poor medical care.
The topic is non-anesthesia dental cleaning.
They’ve even spent a ton of money hiring lobbyists to propagate untruths. They must be spending over $10,000/ month to protect their right to mutilate cat paws! Imagine if they spent that money on helping cats through spay/neuter programs or adoptions!
I received this awesome note and wanted to share it with all of you.
My friends. Tomorrow is CATurday and I seriously need to just have some fun.
I am City the Kitty,
I am the enemy of evil. I am the ally of all cats.
I am the enemy because I protect kitties’ toes. I am the protector of paws.
Dear friend,
I’m sorry.
Yesterday you sent me a note and spoke from your heart. You told me how you feel.
You’re probably not alone. I know you meant well, but it hurt.
I am a medium sized orange tabby who’s had a rough couple of months.
I was canned from my job at Friskies and then I got really sick with some sort of dizzying vestibular problem.
Then my mom was picked on by the very big and powerful veterinary organization, the AVMA, who accused us of cyber bullying them in the America’s Favorite Veterinarian contest.
I’m just trying to keep kitty paws healthy and happy by ending declawing. Why do they call me such horrible names and want to shun me?
What has the world come to when a kitty can’t use his fame to protect other kitties?