ACADIANA HUMANE SOCIETY
Saving One Life At A Time
P.O. Box 784
Maurice, LA   70555                                                                                         (337) - 893 - 0337
Http://www.acadianahumane.org                                                                     Fall 2005 Newsletter

 
Why We Say "NO!"
To Declawing
 Since the majority of the animals rescued and fostered by AHS are cats and kittens, one of our strongest requirements for any adoption is that  there be no declawing of our feline friends. 
To understand why we feel so strongly about this, take a good look at the diagram below, which illustrates just what the declawing procedure does to the cat’s paws.
Now put yourself in the position of the declawed cat.  Look at your own fingers, and imagine them being amputated to the first knuckle.  How can you scratch yourself, exercise, and tone your muscles without your fingers?  How can you defend yourself from your enemies or escape from them if you can’t fight back or climb up to a safe spot? Could you endure the chronic pain from the missing fingers, or the crippling effects of arthritis that is sure to set in early? Wouldn’t you take out your anger on the person who forced you through this amputation procedure by adopting destructive behaviors like biting or refusing to use the bathroom in the proper way - especially when you find out that there was no medical benefit for what was done to you, other than for that person’s convenience because they thought you “might” damage something of theirs? 
Despite their independence nature, cats ARE trainable – they CAN be taught where they can and cannot use their claws.

Apply sticky tape or aluminum foil to furniture or other delicate areas during the training process to discourage in appropriate clawing.  Use a “spray gun” or spray bottle filled with plain water and squirt when your cat/kitten displays inappropriate behavior.  Trimming their nails regularly or using products such as “Soft Paws” is also recommended.  But best of all, many pet stores provide cleverly designed cat “furniture”  with  carpet-covered perches, dangling toys, hidey-holes and climbing poles for hours of fun, exercise, and scratching pleasure for cats. 

Cats have claws for a reason, just like we humans have fingers for a reason.  And we ALL are God’s creatures.
 

Fall 2005 - Page 6