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 get a note from the physician and take it to their declawing vet who would be able to legally amputate the toe bones and claws on a cat.
Here’s the amendment that the VVMA successfully added to this bill. Link to the bill
“(ii) to protect the owner’s life or health, as documented by a licensed physician, when such owner has been diagnosed with an infection, disease, disorder, or similar condition that could reasonably be expected to worsen if such owner were to be scratched by a cat. For purposes of this definition, “owner” includes members of the owner’s household. “
Also, the VVMA is going against the AVMA’s legislative policy by making a cat owner ask their physician to write a note saying they have a health condition that requires them to declaw their cat so they don’t get scratched.
“The AVMA opposes any initiatives that would authorize a non-veterinarian
to diagnose, prognose, develop treatment plans, prescribe, and/or perform surgery, due to the threat from such legislation to patient health and safety, the safety of animal products, and public health.” Link- AVMA’s policy
Here’s our 3 minute video showing you how the VVMA has successfully kept declawing legal in Virginia if HB 1354 passes with this owner’s health amendment in it. Virginia’s anti-declawing bill video
Also, the big human health agencies and veterinary organization do NOT recommend declawing a cat for any human health issues.
The sponsor of this bill, Delegate Marty Martinez ignored the facts and caved to the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association (VVMA) and added the amendment for human health so that declawing could stay legal in that state.
Also, on February 21, 2024 the Chief of Staff for Marty Martinez sent out this email to us and to a few of our supporters.
“Greetings,
Thank you for your email. Delegate Martinez will be introducing the following Amendment today. Please see attached.
All the best,
Danielle
Danielle Matson
Chief of Staff | Delegate Marty Martinez
General Assembly Building | Office 904
Office Phone | 804-698-1029″
Here’s the screenshot that Danielle Matson, Delegate Marty Martinez’ Chief of Staff sent us that deceived us to think that he was going to take out the owner’s health excuse in the bill.
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Here’s the Feb. 27, 2024 text in the bill with the “owner’s” life or health wording that Del. Martinez allowed to be put BACK into his bill on the same day as his Chief of Staff said he was taking it out of the bill.
Please send a polite note to Del. Marty Martinez and ask him why he took out the word “owner’s” in the Feb. 21 hearing and put it back in the bill on the same day. DelMMartinez@house.virginia.gov or you can call his office. 804-698-1029
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In the 2023 hearing for this Virginia declawing bill, Susan Seward, the VVMA’s lobbyist said, “I have a clinic in the Leesburg area who has two HIV positive clients that requested the cats be declawed because they wanted to minimize any risk of bleeding in that situation.”
The CDC says this about people with HIV. “Persons with HIV should have their cat’s nails clipped to avoid scratches, never allow a pet to lick them in the face or on an open wound, never kiss their animal, keep fleas off their pets, avoid reptiles and exotic pets, and wear vinyl cleaning gloves when cleaning aquariums or animal cages.” Link to this information. CDC’s info on cat scratches
Susan Seward also said in the 2023 hearing, “I have another practitioner in the Fairfax area who had a woman come in for a consult because she works at a biohazard lab and the biohazard lab says any animal bites or scratches you are out of work for a minimum of 2 weeks or until the wound heals.”
On May 17, 2023 the Virginia OSHA sent us this note. Basically they are saying that if someone has a cut then cover it up with gloves. Common sense type of protection.
“The Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) Program does not make suggestions as to whether employees should get their cats declawed. This is a labor/management decision between the employer and their employees to which VOSH would not be a party. However, the PPE standard for hand protection, 1910.38 does require that employers select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees’ hands are exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasions; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes. The bloodborne pathogen standard, 1910.1030 also requires gloves be provided to and worn by employees when there is reasonably anticipated contact with blood or other potentially infectious material.
Ron Graham, VOSH Health Compliance Director, Virginia Department of Labor and Industry.”
We wanted to find out how veterinary clinics in the Leesburg area address declawing and people with HIV after the VVMA’s lobbyist made that comment to the legislators.
Here’s what we found. Our researchers called 25 clinics in the Leesburg area. Employees in 9 of the clinics offered declawing as a service. 16 of the clinics said that they will not declaw cats and suggested nail caps and trimming the cat’s nails for a person who has HIV.
We have withheld the names of employees for fear that they might suffer a backlash for their honest answers.
Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.
They do not declaw cats and say that it’s inhumane.
Researcher asked what they recommend for a person who has HIV and doesn’t want to get scratched and they recommended Soft Paws.
Declawing clinics. (9 clinics)
North Oatlands Animal Hospital, Leesburg, VA
AAHA Accredited Animal Hospital.
The employee said that Dr Valeria Rickard does their declaws.
Researcher asked of the cats are ok long term after a declaw and the employee said, “There have been recent studies about declaws that indicate there might be problems sometimes.”
Researcher asked if Dr Rickard does declaws regularly and the employee said yes.
Ashburn Village Animal Hospital. Ashburn, VA
VETCOR practice.
They said that they don’t declaw and they view it as inhumane and said it’s an amputation that removes the first bone digit and all their fingers.
The researcher asked what they recommend for a person who has HIV who doesn’t want to get scratched. The employee said, “That would be one of the rare instances that we would reconsider that option, yea, in that case that would be ok as long as it is a medical reason.”
The employee said that Dr Kate Keenen, their Chief of Staff and lead veterinarian, does their declaws and a neuter/4 paw declaw is around $1300-$1400. She needs to see the cat in an exam to deem the cat healthy enough for the surgeries.
Researcher asked if there are any other options.
The employee said that when they declaw cats there are some cats that may become “mouthy” and bite because they don’t have claws and some may become more aggressive in their biting and that is another source of exposing blood and then cat owners will have to deal with cat bite infections.
They said there is some hesitancy to declaw a cat for the fear that they may start biting.
Researcher asked which risk is worse. They said cat bites can be very dangerous and can result in bacterial blood infections if you don’t seek medical treatment and get antibiotics quickly.
Researcher asked which is more of a risk. The employee said that’s a conversation that the doctor can go over and discuss the pros and cons of doing the declaw and then you can make a more informed decision.
Stream Valley Veterinary Hospital. Ashburn, VA.
AAHA Accredited Animal Hospital.
The employee said that Dr Mary Corey does their declaws and a neuter/declaw is around $1100.
They said that the doctor will need to see the cat first and the doctor could talk to you about the reason for the declaw and she would discuss the risks and the consequences. They said after the exam, the doctor would do the declaw.
Animal Medical Centers of Loudoun- Brambleton.
The employee said that Dr Taylor does their declaws and a neuter/4 paw declaw is around $700.
Researcher asked if he does them regularly and the employee said yes.
Researcher asked if the cats are ok long term from a declaw and the employee said yes.
Their sister clinic, Animal Medical Centers of Loudoun- Ashburn, does not declaw cats.
The employee said it involves taking off the first knuckle of your fingertips and it can cause problems.
Researcher asked what they recommend for a person who has HIV who doesn’t want to get scratched and they recommended Soft Paws claw caps.
Pender Veterinary Center, Fairfax, VA
Researcher asked for the cost of a neuter/declaw and the employee asked, “Were you looking for front two or all four?”
The employee said that a neuter/4 paw declaw is around $1500.
They said that they have 3 veterinarians who perform the declaws and Dr Patrick Denny is one of them who is their head of surgery and has been at the clinic the longest.
Researcher asked if they do declaws regularly and the employee said yes.
Researcher asked if the cats are ok long term after a declaw and they employee said it takes a long time for them to heal but most of the cats are ok.
Blue Ridge Veterinary Associates, Purcellville, VA
The employee said that Dr Nancy Hall performs their declaws and she likes to have an exam first so she can talk about it.
Heritage Animal Hospital, Sterling, VA
The employee said that they only have one doctor that does their declaws, Dr Moghal and they do them case by case.
Researcher asked if the cats are ok long term after a declaw and the employee said they think they are ok but it’s their only defense mechanism so not a lot of people do them.
House Paws Animal Hospital, Round Hill, VA
The employee said that the cat has to stay 3 days after the declaw.
They said Dr Leah Knode does their declaws.
Researcher asked if she does the declaws regularly. The employee said, “She’s done it. We try not to do a declaw. We try to come up with alternatives through a discussion with you.” And then said, “Yes, we can do it, do you want to set up an initial appointment and come in?”
No Declaw Veterinary Clinics in the Leesburg, VA area. (16 clinics)
Old Mill Veterinary Hospital. Leesburg, VA
They said they do not declaw cats because it’s inhumane and painful and that it’s hard to find a clinic that will do it. They said that a declaw can cause lots of issues and arthritis later on.
The researcher asked what they recommend for a person who has HIV who doesn’t want to get scratched and they said to talk to a physician.
They said that they do nail trims.
Market Street Animal Clinic. Leesburg, VA
They do not declaw cats. They said that you are going to have a very hard time finding a clinic that declaws cats and most places do not.
Towne Animal Clinic. Leesburg, VA
They do not declaw cats. They recommended to try calling Anicira Manassas Veterinary Center or Helping Hands in Richmond to see if they offer declawing.
Anicira Manassas Veterinary Center, Manassas, VA
They do not declaw cats. The employee said that the board came out and said that declawing is inhumane because involves cutting the cat’s fingertips off.
Researcher asked what they recommend for a person who has HIV and doesn’t want to get scratched and they recommend trimming the cat’s nails and nail caps.
Helping Hands in Richmond, VA
They do not declaw cats. They said it’s removing the fingertips of the cat and partially amputating the cat’s toe that they stand on and put weight on.
Researcher asked what they recommend for a person who has HIV and doesn’t want to get scratched and they recommended using nail caps.
Fancy Paws Cat Clinic. Ashburn, VA
They do not declaw cats. They said it causes stress in some cats and it’s like removing the fingertips in our hands.
Caring Hands Animal Hospital, Ashburn, VA
They do not declaw cats. They said that studies show that declawing cause long term harm and arthritis.
Researcher asked what they recommend for a person who has HIV who doesn’t want to get scratched and they said they recommend Soft Paws nail caps and routine nail trimming.
They recommended Pender Veterinary Center in Fairfax, VA which declaws cats on a regular basis according to an employee that works there.
Leesburg Veterinary Hospital, Leesburg, VA
They don’t declaw cats. They said that declawing has been outlawed in many states. They said it’s bad for a cat since they are cutting off the first digit and sometimes and it can cause arthritis and other problems.
Hope Advanced Veterinary Center, Vienna, VA
They do not declaw cats. Researcher asked what they recommend for a person who has HIV who doesn’t want to get scratched and they said they recommended speaking with your primary care doctor.
Clocktower Animal Hospital, Herndon, VA
They do not declaw cats. They said their doctors don’t feel comfortable performing declaws and they don’t recommend it because it’s removing part of the cat’s toe.
Researcher asked what they recommend for a person who has HIV who doesn’t want to get scratched and they said they can do nail trims at their animal hospital and also recommended Soft Paws nail caps.
Nova Pets Health Center, Chantilly, VA
They do not declaw cats. They said that their vet doesn’t like to do them anymore since it’s their opinion that it’s inhumane.
Researcher asked what they recommend for a person who has HIV who doesn’t want to get scratched and they said they recommended nail trims, nail caps, or find another veterinarian.
Goose Creek Veterinary, Ashburn, VA
They do not declaw cats. They said that it is so rarely needed and they can’t stock the pain meds needed for it.
They recommended Pender Veterinary Center in Fairfax, VA which declaws cats on a regular basis according to an employee that works there.
Loudoun Valley Animal Hospital, Ashburn, VA
They do not declaw cats.
Researcher asked what they recommend for a person who has HIV who doesn’t want to get scratched and they said they said, “Trim the nails.”
Catoctin Veterinary Clinic, Leesburg, VA
They do not declaw cats and said it’s unethical and bad for a cat.
Researcher asked what they recommend for a person who has HIV and doesn’t want to get scratched and they recommend trimming the cat’s nails.
Landowne Animal Hospital, Leesburg, VA
They don’t declaw cats.
Researcher asked what they recommend for a person who has HIV who doesn’t want to get scratched and they said they recommend using nail covers. They said that declawing isn’t humane and it is an amputation.
Nova Animal Hospital, Ashburn, VA
They do not declaw cats and said it is unethical.
Researcher asked what they recommend for a person who has HIV and doesn’t want to get scratched and they recommended reaching out to a physician.
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Here’s the short video of the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association’s Jan. 18, 2023 testimony. Susan Seward’s testimony
The VVMA used the human health excuse and HIV patients and a worker at a biohazard lab as to why declawing shouldn’t be banned. Please give a review on their facebook page and educate them on how there are always humane alternatives to any human health issue and declawing should never be the answer. https://www.facebook.com/virginiavma/reviews Here’s their email. info@vvma.org
Fyi, on May 17, 2023 the Virginia OSHA sent us this note. Basically they are saying that if someone has a cut then cover it up with gloves. Common sense type of protection.
“The Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) Program does not make suggestions as to whether employees should get their cats declawed. This is a labor/management decision between the employer and their employees to which VOSH would not be a party. However, the PPE standard for hand protection, 1910.38 does require that employers select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees’ hands are exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasions; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes. The bloodborne pathogen standard, 1910.1030 also requires gloves be provided to and worn by employees when there is reasonably anticipated contact with blood or other potentially infectious material.
Ron Graham, VOSH Health Compliance Director, Virginia Department of Labor and Industry.”
PLEASE send an email to these legislators ASAP and ask them to take out the owner’s health amendment from the bill!
Time is running out!
DelMMartinez@house.virginia.gov
delishin@house.virginia.gov
senatorfavola@senate.virginia.gov
delhseibold@house.virginia.gov
senatorroem@senate.virginia.gov
senatorstanley@senate.virginia.gov
senatorboysko@senate.virginia.gov
senatorperry@senate.virginia.gov
senatorsubramanyam@senate.virginia.gov