This petition is created to ban declawing in NY and the other states of America.
Why am I filing this petition?
Four months ago, I bought a kitten from a certified Siamese breeder. The day I was supposed to receive my kitten, I received a kitten which was actually meant for someone else. It was clear that there was something wrong with the kitten as her behavior was very dependent, clingy and confused.
One day later, I figured out that she was declawed. It was incredibly sad. She tried to scratch her nails, but didn't have the ability to do so. The breeder offered me to keep this kitten, which would've meant that my own kitten would be declawed as well. I refused and a couple of days later we switched kittens.
What happens during a declawing procedure?
Declawing traditionally involves the amputation of the last bone of each toe. If performed on a human being, it would be like cutting off each finger at the last knuckle.
The amputation happens mostly with a scalpel or guillotine clipper. The wounds are closed with stitches or surgical glue, and the feet are bandages. Another method is laser surgery, where the tissue is heated by small, intense lightbeams.
The third procedure is the tendonectomy, where the tendon that controls the claw is severed. In other words, the cat keeps their claws, but can't use them or extend them in order to scratch. This third procedure often results in abnormally thick claw growth.
Effects that occur after declawing:
Back pain, paw pain, regrowth of improperly removed claws, neurotic behaviour and nerve damage (some would compare the pain of declawing to the pain cause by wearing a uncomfortable pair of shoes).
In short:
It is an unnecessary surgery that provides no medical benefit to the cat. Educated pet parents can easily train their cats to use their claws in a manner that allows everyone in the household to live together happily.
Declawing should be banned in the state of NY, but also in the other states of America. Sign this petition if you agree!
