Comments on A thinking person's blog about cats: Banfield Veterinary Group Policy on Declawing

I realize & respect that many are against decl...

2011-11-19T06:25:20.498-08:00

I realize & respect that many are against declawing, you're free to share your opinion. I have a declawed cat, that I adopted (I only adopt) as such & I also have a cat that I chose to declaw for the safety of the declawed cat I owned. It became a concern when the declawed fella was being scratched and bullied. So, it was my choice to do so & for safety issues I went through with it.

It's funny how many of you are so, against declawing but, you allow a "domestic" cat to roam all over the neighborhood...they run the risk of being stolen, injured, poisoned, attacked, run over by an automobile & you're worried about a healthy, well adjusted cat with a cushy life inside of someone's home - minus claws. I couldn't live with myself if I allowed my cat to roam around without any supervision & run the great risk of getting hurt or sick...I find that to be irresponsible.

I've done my research and besides the typical fanatical individuals who blow things out of proportion and embellish details of studies to bring their point across to others...they're no true dangers with the laser (the scalpel method seems to be questionable). It's important that you choose a reputable Vet in a impeccable environment & are a responsible pet parent during the short healing time then there are no dangers to your cats health.

They're are risks and complications associated with any medical procedure both medically necessary and elective. But, proper care is of major importance!!

A bigger problem than declawing is hoarding, crazy cat people (maybe even some of you) hoard many cats and they go through life in cramped homes that aren't kept clean, sharing diseases and cheap food with no nutrients. But, yes let's focus completely on declawing & ignore that the cat is happy and well adjusted afterwards...that makes sense.

Proper Veterinarian care, quality food (not packed with fillers), lots of toys for mental stimulation and TONS of love are all what cats (& any animal) need.

Pet adoption (no breeders) and Veterinarian care should be the ultimate concern of any pet parent. Let's hop down off of our soapbox and insure that we are providing proper nutrition and care. Declawing is a choice...you can choose wether it is something you would or wouldn't do. Wonderful FREEDOM we have!!

Be well folks!

My two little buddies are one year and the happies...

2010-08-09T21:03:45.479-07:00

My two little buddies are one year and the happiest cats. They enjoy cat toys/posts, claws, the great outdoors, being neutered, organic meat, pure water and no toxic vaccines to give them cancer and other sicknesses later. They only go to the vet if they get sick because vets are trauma to a poor cat! All cats and dogs should be as healthy and lucky as mine!

Video and interesting info… Dr. Jean Hovfe a de...

2010-03-22T05:24:00.414-07:00
Video and interesting info…
Dr. Jean Hovfe a declaw expert speaks for the declaw ban in Santa Monica
Nov. 3, 2009
“Dr. Jean Hovfe (rhymes with Bon Jovi) is an expert on cat declawing. She used to work for the DAX Foundation collecting research on declawing. She's since parted ways. When asked about Dave Weiss the CEO of the DAX Foundation she stated that he was in contact with the CVMA daily. She was told if Dave was to kill the declaw ban the CVMA promised him business from the vets. This explains why Dave Weiss did a 180 deg on the issue. Just weeks ago he had press releases in his website supporting the ban saying that declawing was inhumane.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHzZwp2jQU4&feature=PlayList&p=C71729500436AF57&index=6

Video of other speakers for and againt the declaw ban are listed there too.

Article and Facebook cause - In this article,
2010-03-22T05:06:51.544-07:00
Article and Facebook cause -

In this article, "Declawing: Another Veterinarian's Perspective" from Jan. 8, 2010, Dr. Michael W. Fox has allowed LittleBigCat.com to reprint his essay "Say No! To De-clawing Cats". Link http://littlebigcat.com/index.php?action=library&act=show&item=declawinganothervetsperspective

Dr. Hofve also includes a link inviting people to join her Facebook Anti-Declawing Cause: PawSavers http://apps.facebook.com/causes/397662

I agree with your positions on declawing. Dr. Jea...

2010-03-22T04:48:34.910-07:00
I agree with your positions on declawing.

Dr. Jean Hofve has published an excellent summary online which presents the main arguments against a legal ban on declawing (of cats and other animals), and the documented, scientific facts about each one--as opposed to the opinions expressed by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and various other individuals and organizations.
In "Declawing and Science - Should Declawing be Banned?" she includes references to studies. I believe this data has successfully lead to declawing bans in 8 cities in California. She posted her article on Dec. 25, 2009. Link - http://littlebigcat.com/index.php?action=library&act=show&item=declawingandscienceasummaryofthefacts

Thanks for your comments. We are three of a kind. ...

2009-08-06T07:55:25.230-07:00
Thanks for your comments. We are three of a kind. We hate this curse that hangs over the lives of the domestic cat in the US.

The idea that cats recover quickly from this hatef...

2009-08-06T06:27:44.541-07:00
The idea that cats recover quickly from this hateful surgery probably stems from the depressing inability of so many vets and vet techs to identify feline expression of pain. It's laziness, pure and simple, along with a deeply ingrained belief that the findings of behavioural science on pain expression are not worth attending to.

The common practice of offering pain relief as "optional" is proof that many members of the veterinary profession in the USA have gone right off the rails and lost any trace of humaneness.

Disgusting.

I agree we need to BOYCOTT Banfield, and PetsMart ...

2009-08-06T05:46:46.407-07:00
I agree we need to BOYCOTT Banfield, and PetsMart stores as well since many of the Banfield clinics are inside their stores, until they discontinue cat abuse & dismemberment. In 2006, Banfield started marketing declawing in their Optimum Wellness Plan for "preventative health care" for kittens - check it out: ohttp://network.bestfriends.org/groups/celebrateclawsnotdeclaw/news/archive/2006/10/30/action-alert-from-avar-national-veterinary-clinic-chain-promotes-cat-declawing.aspx

They've made great progress for humanity towards the dogs, now they need to step up to the plate and start protecting healthy cat paws instead of needlessly destroying them!

If this Kim Van Syoc is the Senior Communications ...

2009-08-06T04:29:20.492-07:00
If this Kim Van Syoc is the Senior Communications Specialist for Banfield and is a representative of the sort of people who work for Banfield,then that is shocking! That she doesn't even use the correct term for declawing just shows how little regard these people have for cats.
Who are they trying to fool that declawing is done in their clinics as a last resort ? Declawing kittens is far from a last resort,it's far too easy for lazy selfish owners to have a kitten's toe ends amputated rather than buy it a scratching post.Neuter/declaw packages encourage these people and of course put more money in Banfield's bank account.
I wish everyone would boycott Banfields 730 + veterinary hospitals, until they stop the mutilation of many cats and kittens, once and for all