Stop the painful and unnecessary surgical procedure known as

This petition is to protect cats from the painful and unnecessary surgical procedure known as declawing.

Veterinarians are in the business of healing animals. They should not be performing a procedure on cats that is not medically necessary, provides no benefit to the cat and inflicts pain and suffering.

This petition if billed will prohibit veterinarians from declawing cats. The legislation inserts a ban into the states veterinary medical practice act that will prohibit the declawing surgical procedures known as onychectomy and flexor tendonectomy.

Onychectomy is a surgical procedure where the animals toes or part of the paw are amputated at the last joint in order to remove the animals claws. Bone and tendons are also severed. Flexor tendonectomy is an alternative procedure in which the tendons to an animals toes are cut so that the claws cannot be extended.

The practice of animal declawing is viewed by many veterinarians and animal experts as an act of cruelty. Most Californians who have declawed their cat, including animal lovers, have no idea what they put their pet through. Declawing literally involves amputating part of the cats paws and causes pain and discomfort. Most people do not realize that a portion of the bone not just nail is removed. It is comparable to cutting off part of the human finger at the last joint.

Contrary to most people's idea of declawing, the surgery involves severing not just the claws, but bone, ligaments, and tendons.

Complications of this amputation can be excruciating pain, damage to the radial nerve, hemorrhage, bone chips that prevent healing, painful regrowth of deformed claw inside of the paw, and chronic back and joint pain as shoulder, leg and back muscles weaken. Many cats also suffer a loss of balance since they can no longer achieve a secure foothold on their stumps.
Declawing is a cruel and inhumane procedure that is absolutely unnecessary. Instead, veterinarians should work to educate cat owners about the various alternatives that are available