Tag: veterinary

Western Veterinary Partners Says, “We Believe Every Pet Deserves a Healthy, Happy Life.” So Why Do They Allow Declawing?

Western Veterinary Partners (WVP) CEO Carollee Brinkman mentors others in leadership and animal health while leading one of the largest veterinary group companies in the U.S with over 300 clinics.
Yet under her leadership, Western Veterinary Partners (WVP) continues to allow their vet clinics to perform declawing — a harmful and inhumane procedure that amputates the last bones of a cat’s toes.
The contradiction raises a fundamental question: How can a company that says every pet deserves a “healthy, happy life” and claims to put people first continue to allow declawing when it harms cats and creates ethical conflict and harm for veterinary professionals and staff who oppose it?

“The discomfort level is no more in a neuter than it is in a declaw that is done properly.”- NJVMA SpokesVet Dr Mike Yurkus

When cats start walking on their balls then we will start believing the NJVMA’s spokesvet Dr Yurkus and his animal hospital that declawing isn’t more painful than neutering.

Meanwhile, the American Association of Feline Practitioners’ policy on declawing states:

“Physically, regardless of the method used, onychectomy causes a higher level of pain than spays and neuters. Patients may experience both adaptive and maladaptive pain; in addition to inflammatory pain, there is the potential to develop long-term neuropathic or central pain if the pain is inadequately managed during the perioperative and healing periods.” [AAFP Policy Statement on Declawing, 2007.]

CareVet to Ban Declawing on Oct. 1, 2026; Advocates Urge Clinics to Voluntarily Stop Now

Story published June 16, 2026 UPDATE AUGUST 4, 2026. CareVet posted this on their website. “Effective October 1, 2026, CareVet does not perform elective declawing. A declawing procedure may be performed only when a CareVet veterinarian determines that the procedure is medically necessary as part of the diagnosis or treatment of a patient’s medical condition.“ […]

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.

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.)

In 2024 The CVMA Once Again Tried To Keep Declawing Legal in California For Their Member Vets

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 […]