Hi Phaewryn, I know that we will probably have to agree to disagree on this, but if I take your opinion to it's logical conclusion, then all declawed cats that end up in a shelter should automatically be euthanized to end their suffering? Like you, I am not a knee-jerk no-kill ever person. Like you,I believe that it comes down to quality of life. I just don't think that a declaw tips the scale so far into poor life quality that euthanasia is required. Weighing a life of being collared, open head wounds, and increased risk of infection against a declaw, the scale tips for me in favor of the declaw, (once we have exhausted all other medical and food options). Although we disagree, I still respect your opinion. In my life away from the Internet, I have yet to meet ANYONE, friends family or acquaintances, that understands our decision not to declaw our five. I hope to lead by example, without preaching, and at least show them that full claws can be an option. And I try to understand when they feel that it is not workable for them (admittedly hard to do with the "save-the-couch" crowd), and at least find joy in the life that was saved.
Respectfully, Beth On 6/10/07, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Beth, it's not my "never declaw ideal" that made me say that, it is my genuine belief that declawing causes long term physical and psychological suffering, and I do not think putting a suffering cat through more things to make it suffer more is a correct course of action. Two wrongs don't make a right. Declawing is 100% cruel and inhumane, and euthanasia is 100% humane when done correctly. To me, there is no gray area there, it's black and white. To eliminate suffering, yes, I will euthanise an animal. I do not have those strong no-kill ideals others have these days. My son bites his fingernails until they bleed sometimes... would I ever THINK to even consider amputating his fingers to solve that problem? True, it WOULD completely eliminate the problem, and his self-mutilation, but at what cost? That's how I feel about it. That's just me, personally. I'd like to see a $1000 fine and mandatory 90 days in jail for felony animal cruelty for anyone that has a cat declawed - that and the revoking of veterinary licenses for any vet that does the surgery. But I admit, I'm totally way on one side of the fence on declawing - probably to the point of being impractical and even a bit of a lunatic. Phaewryn http://ucat.us/domesticcatlinks.html Special Needs Cat Resources http://www.iGive.com/html/refer.cfm?causeid=21303<http://www.igive.com/html/refer.cfm?causeid=21303> Sign up for iGive and a percentage of your purchases helps save animals!
