Story published March 10, 2026
Here are some of Vetcor’s new reviews on their Google review page:
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Vetcor’s Senior Marketing & Event Specialist: Praises Vetcor as a company where “the people here genuinely care… about the pets we serve.”
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Friends of Vetcor’s Senior Marketing Specialist are posting 5 star reviews.
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Vetcor’s Marketing Manager: Highlights the company “obviously cares about pets.”
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Family members of Vetcor’s Marketing Director (Most likely husband and father) posted three separate no-text 5-star reviews.
According to Google’s policies, this type of activity can violate their conflict-of-interest and fake engagement rules, which prohibit employees, affiliates, friends, or family from posting reviews intended to manipulate ratings.
There can also be serious risks for companies that engage in this behavior:
• Conflict of interest: Employees reviewing their own company is prohibited.
• Fake engagement: Reviews must reflect genuine customer experiences, not coordinated reputation management.
• Legal concerns: The Federal Trade Commission considers undisclosed employee reviews a form of deceptive advertising, which can lead to enforcement actions and fines.
So the obvious question is:
Why did Vetcor’s marketing staff think inflating their Google rating was a better response than addressing the declawing issue itself?
For six years, Vetcor has never answered the simple question about declawing. When supporters began asking it publicly on Vetcor’s Google review page last week, the company’s rating started to drop, then suddenly the wave of 5-star reviews appeared.
Why try to manipulate ratings rather than confront the reality that cats are still being mutilated by declawing in many Vetcor clinics?
The nation’s two largest veterinary groups, Mars, Incorporated (owner of Banfield Pet Hospital and VCA Animal Hospitals) and National Veterinary Associates, have already banned declawing, Vetcor, the third-largest veterinary group in the U.S., still allows it.
Many Vetcor clinics have stopped declawing, but others still perform the procedure, forcing veterinary staff to witness or participate in a brutal amputation they know is wrong, causing severe moral stress and injury to these veterinary professionals. As you can see below, many Vetcor clinics are performing this barbaric animal cruelty on cats.
Tragically, a kitten recently died after a declaw procedure at a Vetcor clinic, leaving staff devastated over a death that may have been prevented if the company had banned the practice.
This is not a game!
Vetcor’s apparent review-manipulation stunt raises a serious question: if a company’s marketing team is willing to manipulate public reviews instead of addressing animal suffering, can the public truly trust the leadership at VetCor, or trust their pets with this company?
If these marketing leaders truly care about Vetcor, they should use their influence to push leadership to ban declawing, protect cats and support veterinary staff, just as other major veterinary groups have already done.
Please ask Vetcor on their Google page: “Why does Vetcor allow declawing when its mission is to ‘enhance the health and well-being of pets’? Do cats not count?”
Vetcor’s Google review page: https://bit.ly/VetcorGoogleReviews
If Vetcor bans declawing, supporters can update their reviews with praise.
Please email their CEO, Chris Strong: CStrong@vetcor.com and Chief Veterinary Officer Michelle Shoemaker: MShoemaker@vetcor.com
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Here’s a small glimpse of how declawing is addressed in Vetcor clinics.
Our researchers made a short phone call and asked how much they charge for a declaw, if they do them regularly, and if declawing is ok long term for a cat.
We have withheld the names of employees for fear that they might suffer a backlash for their honest answers.
2026
Meadowlands Veterinary Hospital. Washington, PA
The employee said that a neuter/declaw is $420-$500 and Dr Laurel Marshall does their declaws. Dr Marshall, their declawing vet’s bio says, “Dr. Marshall’s medical interests include dermatology and feline medicine.” The feline medicine link goes to a page that says, “Help your cat live a longer, happier life.”
Researcher asked if Dr Marshall does declaws regularly and the employee said yes.
Researcher asked if a declaw is ok for a cat long term and the employee said, “Yes, they do stay overnight with us here.”
Researcher asked how she declaws the cat and the employee said, “She just takes the bone right off” and said she uses something that’s kind of like a nail cutter. Researcher asked if it’s a nail clipper and the employee said yes. (This method is the guillotine nail clipper which is the old school and most mutilating method because bone fragments are often left behind.)
Troy Animal Hospital, Troy, OH
2026: Researcher asked for the cost of a neuter/declaw. The employee asked if you wanted two or four feet. They said a two paw declaw is $398.75 and a four paw is $434. A neuter is $225. The employee said they use a laser and it cauterizes as it cuts, they do around one declaw a week, and said people get the declaw done when the cat is 6 months old with the neuter, so they can go under anesthesia once.
2022: Researcher asked for the cost of a declaw. The employee asked, “Do you want a four foot or front foot?” They said that Dr Sarah Knight does their declaws, uses a laser, and does them regularly. A 2 paw declaw is $307.30 and a 4 paw declaw is $360. Researcher asked if a declaw is ok for a cat long term and the employee said, “Oh yea.”
Delphos Animal Hospital, OH
2026: Researcher asked for the cost of a neuter/declaw. The employee said that the cat has to be seen first and they do not declaw unless they get a letter from a medical doctor for the owner.
2022: Employee asked, “Just two paws?” $260 for a 2 paw declaw/neuter and $300 for a 4 paw declaw/neuter. Researcher asked if their vets do declaws regularly and the employee said, “We do enough.” They said that they have 3 vets who do the declaws.
Doubs Veterinary Hospital, OH.
(They have the Fear Free logo on their website. Fear Free does not allow declawing in their practices.)
2026: The employee said that a neuter package, with a front feet declaw is $579. Researcher asked if declawing is ok long term for a cat and they said as far as they know and they haven’t had anyone call back and say something. Employee was asked if they do declaws regularly and they said, “We do see quite a few of them.”
2022: A spay/declaw is $387. The employee said that all 5 of their vets do declaws. Researcher asked if declawing is ok long term for a cat and they said yes. Employee was asked if they do declaws regularly and they said, “Oh absolutely.”
Town and Country Veterinary Clinic, Eaton, OH
2026. Researcher asked for the cost of a neuter/declaw. The employee said the cat has to have an exam first and they can do both procedures at the same time.
2022. A spay/declaw is $193. Researcher asked if a declaw is ok long term for a cat and they emphatically said yes. They said that a lot of people get their cats front declawed to save their furniture and keep them from clawing stuff. They said to just not let them out.
They can do a declaw over 2 years old but need more blood work for the cat.
Barry Road Animal Hospital, Kansas City, MO.
2026 The employee said they do not perform declaws. Researcher asked why and the employee said that doctors are finding that it’s inhumane and can cause arthritis and issues with their feet.
2022 A neuter/declaw is $393.25. They said that Dr Johanson and Dr Montrose do the declaws. When asked if they do them regularly, the employee said yes and said, “In fact, 5 minutes ago we released a patient that had a declaw.” Researcher asked if a declaw is ok for a cat long term and the employee said that kittens do really well and heal easier but it’s more of an adjustment for an older cat. They said that a front declaw is best because those are the paws they use for kneading and shredding things.
Cavanaugh Pet Hospital, Blue Springs, MO.
2026: The researcher asked for the cost of a neuter/declaw and the employee said a neuter/2 paw declaw is $450 and a neuter/4 paw declaw is $500. Researcher asked if declawing is ok long term for a cat and they said yes. Employee was asked if they do declaws regularly and the employee said yes. They said that they only have one surgeon that will do the declaw, Dr Stukey. (They have 6 vets listed on their website. https://cavanaughpet.com/veterinarians )
2022: Employee said that a spay/declaw is $272.50 and Dr Cavanaugh and two other vets do a great job with the declaw procedures. They said they do at least 5 or more declaws a week. Employee was asked if a declaw is ok for a cat long term and they said yes, they do just fine.
Ames Pet Hospital, Ames, IA.
2026: The employee said that they do not perform declaws. Researcher asked why and the employee said that it is not in the best interest or health of the cat and in the last decade or two there’s been more research coming out and since it removes the whole first knuckle, it causes long term pain and discomfort because it changes how their feet connect with the ground when they walk, higher rates of arthritis, it can increase aggression and biting and said that’s why a lot of clinics don’t declaw cats anymore. They said they recommend nail trims and nail caps for any scratching issues.
2022: Researcher asked for the cost of a spay declaw and the employee asked, “just a front declaw?” They said that a spay/declaw is $389.50. A 4 paw laser declaw is $350- $400. Employee was asked if a declaw is ok for a cat long term and they said there can be side effects but that they don’t follow up on the cats later in their lives.
East Holmes Veterinary clinic, Berlin, OH.
2026: The researcher asked for the cost of a neuter/declaw and the employee who has worked there for 16 years asked, “Are you talking front paw declaw or back?”
The employee said a 2 paw declaw is $432.50 and a 4 paw declaw is $527.50. They said that there’s a little bit of a discount if you do the neuter/declaw at the same time. The employee said that they have two vets who can perform the declaws, Dr Eric Shaver who started their practice (in 1986) and Dr Kelsey Dalton. (They have 6 vets listed on their website. https://eastholmesvet.com/berlin-veterinarians )
The employee said they use the Guillotine method to cut them off. (This is the very old school and more mutilating method.) Researcher asked if those cats seem to be ok after the declaw and the employee said yes, and said, “I’ve done mine, every cat I’ve had, I’ve had 4 paw declawed.” Researcher asked again if they are ok long term after their declaws and they said yes, and said, “the one I have now, my Ragdoll, she’s four, I had it done.”
Employee was asked if they do declaws regularly and the employee said yes.
They said they keep them for two days and give them pain meds. Researcher asked how they perform the declaws and they said they go in and remove the nail, “just like what they do if you have an ingrown nail” and said that’s what they do with the cat. The employee said, “They open up the foot, take out the toenail then sew it shut.” They said the cat is going to be sore but that’s why they give them pain meds.
2022: Employee said that a two paw declaw is $170.50 and a four paw is $231.75. They said that Dr Wise and Dr Shaver do the declaws and they use the guillotine method. They will even declaw a 5 year old cat. Employee was asked if a declaw is ok for a cat long term and they said, “Oh yea” and said that that they had their cat declawed and they are fine.
Ridgeville Animal Hospital, OH
2026 The employee said they do not declaw cats and said none of their doctors don’t do them. Researcher asked if it’s bad for a cat and the employee said, “Not that I know of, mine are, I guess it’s just doctor preference.”
They recommended Animal Clinic Northview for a declaw and provided their phone number.
Animal Clinic Northview (NOT A VETCOR CLINIC) AAHA Accredited Animal hospital since 1978. North Ridgeville, OH
The employee said they only do the front declaws and a neuter/declaw is around $1800. The employee said they use a laser for the declaw and said Dr Miller is their main doctor who does their declaws. They said Dr Randy very rarely does them and said, “Dr Miller is the one who we typically advertise them with.”
(They have 33 veterinarians listed on their website. https://northviewvet.com/our-story/ )
They said you need a consult exam first and she needs to check the cat out and go over the surgery.
Researcher asked if the cats are ok long term after a declaw and the employee laughed and said, “Yes definitely, Dr Miller is an excellent doctor” and said they haven’t heard any issues with her declaws.
Researcher asked if they perform declaws regularly and the employee said yes.
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VetCor location’s Google page that you believe are from employees or family members, you must flag them for violating Conflict of Interest or Fake Engagement policies.
- Find the VetCor Profile: Search for the specific VetCor clinic location on Google Maps or Google Search.
- Locate the Review: Scroll to the “Reviews” section and find the specific post you want to report.
- Flag for Removal:
- Click the three vertical dots (⋮) or “More” next to the review.
- Select “Report review”.
- Select the Violation: Choose the most relevant reason provided by Google:
- Conflict of Interest: Use this if you have evidence the reviewer is an employee or has a financial relationship with the clinic.
- Spam / Fake Content: Use this if the review is part of a coordinated effort or doesn’t reflect a real customer experience.
- Submit: Follow the prompts to finish the report.