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.
VetCor says that this is their mission. "To enhance the health and well-being of pets and the people who care for them." https://www.vetcor.com/about-us/our-story One of the first Values that they list is, "Do the right thing." In January 2025 our researchers looked into the vet clinics associated with VetCor's veterinary leaders. Out of 22 clinics, we found that 9 of them declaw cats.
Out of 13 vet clinics in Abilene, we found only 3 who do not perform declawing. One declawing vet clinic said that they will only declaw cats on all four paws if it's for a cat who is scratching a waterbed or for leather furniture. One declawing vet was asked if declawing is bad for a cat and he said, ""It's not good or bad. It's all about what you want for the cat. The cat's not making the decision, you are."
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) updated their declawing position statement in June 2021. They say they strongly oppose declawing, explaining that declawing is no longer a reasonable or supported procedure… But then they say if veterinarians are going to declaw, they should use pain meds before, during, and after.
Story published on August 23, 2024 Why is this Southern Veterinary Partners vet clinic that’s a Cat Friendly Practice in Indiana still declawing cats when AAFP banned declawing in their Cat Friendly Practices on Jan. 1, 2021? On August 8, 2019, All Star did a Facebook post that said, “Happy International Cat Day! What better […]
Remember, declawing is a $900,000 - $1,200,000,000/year business. That's a lot of clams. So here's the hypocrisy in a nutshell. AAHA has strict guidelines for compliance. AAHA has a strong anti-declaw position. Get ready for the big BUT... But, they openly tell their 3500 members who pay $1070 for membership, that they don't have to follow the AAHA declaw position. (They aren't however, ever lax on the dentals.)
AAHA's 2024 Practice of the Year Contest is here! Let's vote for the no-declaw animal hospitals! There are 20 finalists. Three of them perform declawing. In 2023 there were 4 finalists for AAHA's practice of the year. Three of them did not declaw cats. AAHA chose the declawing clinic as their 2023 Practice of the Year.
Story published on April 30, 2024. Why is AAHA.org still putting profits over the welfare of cats by allowing declawing in their hospitals? Please sign our petition to AAHA.org. We are almost at 50,000 signatures. AAHA Petition Are the leaders of AAHA.org confused? If you know any of them, please ask them why AAHA won’t […]
Story published on April 25, 2024. On March 19, 2024 Assembly member Wendy Carrillo introduced the anti-declawing bill AB 2954 in CA. https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB2954/id/2962679 (On April 8, 2024, Assembly member Carrillo unexpectedly pulled the bill from being heard in the committee. We sent emails and called Carrillo’s office and her Legislative Director Natalee Vicencia sent an […]
Four animal welfare organizations, who say they are against declawing, the Richmond SPCA, the Virginia Federation of Humane Societies, Best Friends Animal Society, and PETA, supported this corrupted bill with the Virginia Veterinary Medical Associations "owner's health" amendment in it.
The Virginia anti-declawing bill. HB 1354. Story published February 28, 2024 On February 21, 2024 in a Virginia legislative hearing for the bill, the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association used their lobbyist, Susan Seward, to convince Virginia legislators that they should add an amendment to allow a cat owner with any type of health issue to […]