AAHA’s Ethical Collapse: Knows Declawing Is Wrong but Delays Ban for Member Support, Prioritizing Profits
LAKEWOOD, Colo. (Sept. 29, 2025) — The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), claims to be the gold standard in veterinary excellence, is under fire for refusing to ban the cruel and outdated practice of cat declawing—unless its member hospitals and veterinarians, many of which still perform and profit from the procedure, support the ban. […]
What Every AAHA Con 2025 Attendee Should Know & Why AAHA’s Idea of Excellence Includes Cat Cruelty
More than 4,500 practices representing 50,000 veterinary team members pay thousands of dollars to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA.org), a company that allows a barbaric, antiquated, and inhumane amputation procedure (declawing) so they can be branded as hospitals that deliver quality medicine, embody the “gold standard” of excellence, and raise the bar for the veterinary profession.
This deceives pet owners into believing accreditation guarantees excellence.
Why Does AAHA.org Lie About Declawing, Put Profits Over The Welfare of Cats, And Allow Declawing In Their Animal Hospitals?
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.
How Dr Andy Roark Played The Victim Instead of Helping The Welfare of Cats.
In one sentence he said he was, “impressed by my passion and dedication”, and that I’m someone who is working hard to help pets and do good in the world. He said that he hopes I see similar characteristics in him.
And in the next sentence he said he didn’t feel inspired but he felt attacked.
Hmmmm. How did I attack him?
I simply asked some questions in a private email as to why so many employees at his practice that is a AAHA, AAFP Cat Friendly hospital were saying that they are a high volume declawing practice and that cat owners could book a declaw surgery with him personally.
‘Monumental Moment’ or Hollow Hype? AAHA Fails to Ban Declawing, Trails Behind Industry Leaders
LAKEWOOD, Colo., July 25, 2025 — The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) introduced “groundbreaking new Standards of Accreditation” calling them a “historic milestone” in elevating veterinary care in their press release. Yet, AAHA’s new standards merely “discourages” nontherapeutic declawing, ear cropping, and devocalization, allowing their accredited hospitals to continue these practices without penalty. AAHA’s Director […]
The Rebuttal of the AVMA’s Declawing Position. Is This The Data The ASPCA Is Using To NOT Want Declawing Banned?
The Point by Point Rebuttal to the AVMA’s Declawing Position Statement by Dr Jean Hofve Who is An Expert in this Issue.
A Declawing Horror Story at a Standard of Excellence AAHA Accredited Animal Hospital.
This is a horrific story about 3 kitties named Teeger, Abby, and Ryder, whose lives have been tragically ruined because of being declawed.
No Mercy for Cats: AAHA’s Failure to Stop Allowing Declawing Shows Money Matters More Than Cat Welfare
Cat mutilation and torture masquerading as the best in veterinary medicine: Many of AAHA’s Standard of Excellence Accredited Animal Hospitals declaw cats. AAHA allows their accredited animal hospitals to declaw cats for profit, advertise their declawing services, and lie about it to their clients and to the public. They also allow their veterinarians to submit […]
AAHA’s Declaw Communications Toolkit To Help Their Declawing Hospitals
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.)
Will AAHA’s 2024 Practice of the Year Be Another Declawing Animal Hospital?
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.