AAHA Veterinarians Fight to Stop The Anti-Declawing Bills. AAHA.org Puts Profits Over The Welfare of Cats

Here are some examples of how the vets with AAHA Accredited Animal Hospital’s fight to stop the anti-declawing bills and ordinances.
Dr Lynn McEwan of Palmdale veterinary hospital, an AAHA accredited animal hospital, submitted this letter of opposition to the California bill to ban declawing in 2018.
In August 2021, another AAHA veterinarian, Dr Peter Pelissier testified to the Sheridan, WY City Council and Mayor about why he opposes the declaw ban amendment to the animal cruelty/abuse ordinance. Here’s his full testimony.  He was not truthful with some of his information. This declaw ban amendment was stopped by a 5-2 vote. One of the Sheridan City Council members told us that he voted no because of Dr Pelissier’s testimony. 

The ASPCA’s Antiquated Declawing Position Is a Gift to Veterinarians Who Profit From This Barbaric Cruelty

The ASPCA claims to be the nation’s voice to prevent animal cruelty — yet when it comes to declawing, it sides with veterinarians who profit from this act of mutilation, not with cats.

The ASPCA’s declawing position shamefully condones cat declawing — a cruel and inhumane amputation procedure — hiding behind the flimsy excuse that in rare cases it might prevent euthanasia.

If the ASPCA truly cared about saving cats from being euthanized, they’d just support the humane alternatives to declawing or re-homing, not this barbaric and inhumane mutilation. They would also support laws to ban declawing.
The ASPCA’s declawing position has been used by veterinary medical associations and pro-declaw vets to block anti-declawing laws in Wyoming (2021), Arizona (2022), and Illinois (2023), helping protect profits rather than cats.

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 […]