01/16/2015
We are reaching out NOW for YOUR HELP!
To declaw a cat, the veterinarian cuts off the last knuckles of a cat's paw – cutting through bone, tendons, skin and nerves. In a person, it is equivalent to amputating each finger or toe at the last joint
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Yesterday we made the very exciting announcement that Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal has introduced legislation to BAN DECLAWING in the state of New York!
Today, we are asking for YOUR help to get this bill passed!!!
LETTERS in support of this bill NEED TO BE SENT to the chair of the Committee on Agriculture. You can simply use the sample letter below (copy/paste - print - sign - MAIL) or write one of your own and be sure to reference Bill A1297.
PLEASE DO THIS TODAY! Together we can get this bill passed!!
Snail mail is preferred because it carries more weight in delivering the message. If you absolutely cannot or will not snail-mail it then please email! Do SOMETHING! It'll take only a few minutes of your time and can help make life better for untold numbers of cats!
SAMPLE LETTER: (copy/paste - print - SIGN- MAIL) or edit as you choose! :) THANK YOU!!!! MEOW!!
The Honorable William Magee, Chair, Committee on Agriculture
New York State Assembly
LOB 828
Albany, NY 12248
email: [email protected]
Re: In Support of A1297 (Rosenthal)
Dear Chairman Magee,
I strongly support A1297, a bill introduced by Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, which would prohibit “the declawing of cats or other animals…within the state of New York, except when necessary for a therapeutic purpose.”
Cats naturally use their claws to assist in climbing and maintaining balance, to help them stretch and exercise, and to escape danger. Cats are commonly declawed in an attempt to protect furniture from unwanted scratching. Occasionally, animals are declawed in a misinformed attempt to protect human health, despite the CDC’s and NIH’s advice to “not declaw” to prevent opportunistic disease in immunocompromised individuals. There are safe and effective means to manage undesirable scratching behaviors through simple training and other established methods.
Declawing, also known as onychectomy, is the amputation of all or most of the last bone of each of the toes of the animal’s feet. The American Veterinary Medical Association lists “anesthetic complications (including death), hemorrhage, infection and pain” as potential complications of declawing. Chronic pain syndromes, permanent lameness, and behavior changes have been described in the veterinary scientific literature as complications of declawing.
Some veterinarians would have you believe that declawing cats will keep them in homes and out of shelters, which is far from the truth. You will find that most shelters and rescue organizations oppose declawing because of the high surrender rates of declawed cats due to physical and behavioral issues.
Declawing is unnecessary and inhumane. It is banned in eight US cities, including Los Angeles and San Francisco. In many countries, including in the United Kingdom, Austria, Switzerland, and Sweden, declawing is illegal, or is considered unethical by established professional veterinary organizations.
For these reasons, we ask you to support A1297.
Sincerely yours,
