4/26/06--Declawing Hurts. Urge AVMA To Oppose It

KINSHIP CIRCLE ACTION CAMPAIGN
http://www.KinshipCircle.org

SOURCE OF INFORMATION

First Declawing Ban in U.S. - West Hollywood, CA
http://cats.about.com/cs/declawing/a/nodeclaw.htm

AVMA Position Statements: Declawing Of Domestic Cats
http://www.avma.org/issues/policy/animal_welfare/declawing.asp

RESOURCE SITES
The Paw Project: http://www.pawproject.com/

Declaw Dilemma:
http://www.animalsheltering.org/resource_library/magazine_articles/may_jun_2004/declaw_dilemma.pdf

Declawing Cats: Issues & Alternatives:
http://amby.com/cat_site/declaw.html

The Declawing Information Site:
http://community-2.webtv.net/zuzu22/STOPDECLAWCOM/

Good Cats Wear Black:
http://www.goodcatswearblack.com/declawing/about_declawing.htm

Cats International / The Truth About Declawing:
http://www.catsinternational.org/articles/scratching_and_declawing/declawing.html

Written by Veterinarian, Dr. Christianne Schelling:
http://www.declawing.com/

Hey - Those Are My TOES!
http://www.straypetadvocacy.org/html/declaw_detoe.html

A Directory to Every Major Declawing Site on the Net:
http://www.de-clawing.com/

Why Cats Need Claws, by Gary Loewenthal:
http://www.wholecatjournal.com/articles/claws.htm

==============================================
SAMPLE LETTER
Changing some words and personalizing your comments
adds impact to your letter
==============================================

Headquarters:
American Veterinary Medical Association
1931 North Meacham Road, Suite 100
Schaumburg, IL 60173
ph: 847-925-8070; fax: 847-925-1329; email: avmainfo@avma.org

Governmental Relations Division:
American Veterinary Medical Association
1910 Sunderland Place, NW
Washington, DC 20036-1642
ph: 800-321-1473; fax: 202-842-4360; email: avmagrd@avma.org
Public policy opportunities for veterinarians: MLutschaunig@avma.org

Dear AVMA:

I commend the AVMA for updating its position statement on feline declawing
to "only after attempts made to prevent the cat from using its claws
destructively or when its clawing presents a zoonotic risk for its
owner(s)."

However, veterinarians unified under the oath "above all, do no harm," ought
to represent the well-being of animals. Neither the surgical amputation of
an animal's toes at the last joint (onychectomy) nor the severing of tendons
to disable a cat's claws (tendonectomy) is in the best interest of a cat.

"Declawing represents a clear and undisputable risk to the cat," claims Dr.
Nicholas Dodman, Professor of Behavioral Pharmacology and Director of the
Behavior Clinic at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine.
"Declawing is inhumane."

In fact, a Journal of Veterinary Surgery report shows 50% of 163 cats who
underwent onychectomy suffered from direct postoperative complications such
as pain, hemorrhage, and lameness. Of 121 cats observed for lasting
repercussions, almost 20% had ongoing lameness. Bone chips that impair
healing, recurring infections, and radial nerve injury are among other
outcomes linked to declawing.

In over 20 countries, including the United Kingdom, declawing is
either illegal or extremely restricted. I urge the AVMA to join its global
colleagues with a position statement that denounces declawing as cruel and
unwarranted.

In addition, I respectfully ask you to withdraw the misleading AVMA
statement: "There is no scientific evidence that declawing leads to
behavioral abnormalities..." This claim contradicts studies, as well as
innumerable accounts from cat guardians and shelter workers, that attest to
behavioral consequences associated with the removal of healthy bone, claw
and tissue.

National shelter surveys reveal that 70-80% of cats surrendered for
offensive behavior are declawed. JAVMA's own 2001 study identified the onset
of undesirable behavior in 33% of declawed cats, following onychectomy.
Nearly 18% started or increased their rate of biting. Over 15% stopped using
the litterbox.

Veteran shelter workers are very familiar with post-declaw house soilers and
biters. Shelter director William Lombardi, Gloucester County, New Jersey,
says cats with claws intact are always relinquished for human-related
reasons such as "moving" or "new baby." Conversely, declawed cats are
dropped off with behavioral problems. In another JAVMA study (October 2001)
Dr. Gary J. Patronek, VMD, PhD., maintains, "...Declawed cats were at an
increased risk of relinquishment."

I call upon the American Veterinary Medical Association to firmly oppose
declawing procedures. Why inflict pain upon an animal solely for human ease,
particularly when so many options for training cats and curtailing
scratching damage are now available?

Thank you,

********************************************************************************************
TO SUBSCRIBE TO KINSHIP CIRCLE:
subscribe@kinshipcircle.org

TO UNSUBSCRIBE:
PLEASE DO NOT USE YOUR JUNK MAIL FILTER!

Hit REPLY or FORWARD to send us THE LAST KINSHIP CIRCLE ALERT YOU RECEIVED.
Make sure the “To” and “From” lines of our alert are included in your email.
For example:

UNSUBSCRIBE
-----Original Message-----
From: Kinship Circle
Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 11:34 AM
To: 7. KINSHIP CIRLE
Subject: LETTER/ Costco Brings Back Baby Seal Oil Capsules

*DISCLAIMER: The information in these alerts is verified with the original
source. Kinship Circle does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of
the information or for the consequences of its use. Nothing in this email is
intended to encourage illegal action in whatever country you are reading it
in. Kinship Circle does not engage in, nor support, any form of harassment
or unlawful activity. Nothing in this alert serves to promote such conduct.

*Kinship Circle cannot guarantee the validity of email addresses. During a
campaign, recipients may change or disable their email addresses.

********************************************************************************************
BEAR WITNESS. SPEAK. DEMAND. ACT.
Kinship Circle - Action Campaigns I Literature I Voice For Animals
Brenda Shoss, president * Janet Enoch, vice-president
info@kinshipcircle.org
http://www.KinshipCircle.org

Kinship Circle is a 501c3 non-profit organization.
We accept online donations at:
http://www.kinshipcircle.org/donation/donations.html
We are grateful for your support!