The imaging facility staff that did my HSG this morning are twatwaffles. We were 20 minutes late getting started even though I was there half an hour early. The tech could not have been less interested in doing her job, and the doctor promptly said in the most condescending and babying voice, "Today we are going to do an HSG. Do you know what that is? We are doing this for your *infertility*." Complete with the accent on the last word, as if I didn't know this was an issue.
Oh hell no. Being a provider myself, I have little patience with horrible customer service. If that happened to me, I would not be seeing them again.
Yeah, I am going to request another office location if I need to go back for another procedure. Hopefully that won't be the case.
You haven't gave a legitimate reason as to why you are declawing your kitten though, nuggetrn.
Cats have claws. Honestly, I feel like if you can't handle this, don't get a cat.
Yup. My cat DESTROYED my first set of furniture, despite trimming his claws (which is a dangerous act by the way) and offering different surfaces to scratch on. I trim his nails, try to give me a place to scratch and accept that if I can't keep on top of providing him a safe place to do something he inherently does as a CAT, then I'm going to have some scratched furniture.
My dog barks. A lot. At everything. I keep him inside when I can so he can't bark outside because no amount of training would help with this because he's being a DOG. I wouldn't get his voice box removed though, 'cuz that's crazy. As crazy as amputating all of a cat's first knuckles, in my opinion. But it is just that, an opinion.
You said you're backing out of the conversation nuggetrn but I am honestly shocked that you would consider de-clawing an option for the natural behavior of an animal. Just my two cents.
Okay new one. My door is SHUT, my sign says when office hours are. Why do people just wrench on the door? Why can't they just knock? Or read the sign? Seriously, biggest pet peeve is when they come up and yank on the door knob repeatedly. Dude, it's locked to keep you people from driving me crazy (and yet you still continue to do so).
Why is it that people feel the need to remove a cat's claws, but dogs have (generally) larger and more destructive (again, generally) claws and just have them trimmed?
I don't know. It's inhumane. It's animal cruelty.
After thinking about it for a while, I think it's because people think that cats can't be trained like dogs. People put in months of training (and then ongoing practice) to teach a dog to behave. You can take your dog to classes. Cats don't do well with travel and seem to be more independent. You can still teach them what is expected and how to behave. MIL has a cat that occasionally scratches on furniture (they admittedly don't have enough scratching posts), but they would never consider removing his toes.
Post by kasaundrar on Feb 10, 2015 14:46:21 GMT -5
www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/declawing.htmlnuggetrn, even the humane society says not to do it.. Medical drawbacks to declawing include pain in the paw, infection, tissue necrosis (tissue death), lameness, and back pain. Removing claws changes the way a cat's foot meets the ground and can cause pain similar to wearing an uncomfortable pair of shoes. There can also be a regrowth of improperly removed claws, nerve damage, and bone spurs.
For several days after surgery, shredded newspaper is typically used in the litter box to prevent litter from irritating declawed feet. This unfamiliar litter substitute, accompanied by pain when scratching in the box, may lead cats to stop using the litter box. Some cats may become biters because they no longer have their claws for defense."
Are you really going to put an animal through this torture?
After thinking about it for a while, I think it's because people think that cats can't be trained like dogs. People put in months of training (and then ongoing practice) to teach a dog to behave. You can take your dog to classes. Cats don't do well with travel and seem to be more independent. You can still teach them what is expected and how to behave. MIL has a cat that occasionally scratches on furniture (they admittedly don't have enough scratching posts), but they would never consider removing his toes.
Dogs can only be trained to a point though. I can't train my dog to not dig when I'm not around. The best you can typically do is teach them to dig in an appropriate place. Same thing with being on the furniture. Dogs will typically get on the furniture when you're not home, even if they are trained to not do it when you are there. The best you can do is block the furniture with a mat or something obstructive. When dogs don't have the negative or positive reinforcement, they will continue to do the behavior that they want.
After thinking about it for a while, I think it's because people think that cats can't be trained like dogs. People put in months of training (and then ongoing practice) to teach a dog to behave. You can take your dog to classes. Cats don't do well with travel and seem to be more independent. You can still teach them what is expected and how to behave. MIL has a cat that occasionally scratches on furniture (they admittedly don't have enough scratching posts), but they would never consider removing his toes.
Dogs can only be trained to a point though. I can't train my dog to not dig when I'm not around. The best you can typically do is teach them to dig in an appropriate place. Same thing with being on the furniture. Dogs will typically get on the furniture when you're not home, even if they are trained to not do it when you are there. The best you can do is block the furniture with a mat or something obstructive. When dogs don't have the negative or positive reinforcement, they will continue to do the behavior that they want.
You know, that's the opposite of the argument I hear from so many dog owners who are totally against cats. "You can train a dog not to do something and they won't. You can train a cat not to do something and they won't do it in your presence."
But my basic argument was that people think that you can't train cats and you can train dogs. They can both learn what is appropriate and what is not appropriate, it just depends on how hard you want to work.
All the twats on the road who want to drive 30 under the speed limit because it's raining.
I live in the Seattle area, and somehow we still get people who do this. Like, do you not understand how to drive in the rain yet? We get more rain than any other type of weather. How are you still scared of it?
I live in Florida. It always amazes me. It was just a lite sprinkle and people were acting like it was a category 5 hurricane.
I live in the Seattle area, and somehow we still get people who do this. Like, do you not understand how to drive in the rain yet? We get more rain than any other type of weather. How are you still scared of it?
I live in Florida. It always amazes me. It was just a lite sprinkle and people were acting like it was a category 5 hurricane.
Don't you guys get almost daily rain down there? I know we did in the summer living near the gulf coast.
www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/declawing.htmlnuggetrn, even the humane society says not to do it.. Medical drawbacks to declawing include pain in the paw, infection, tissue necrosis (tissue death), lameness, and back pain. Removing claws changes the way a cat's foot meets the ground and can cause pain similar to wearing an uncomfortable pair of shoes. There can also be a regrowth of improperly removed claws, nerve damage, and bone spurs.
For several days after surgery, shredded newspaper is typically used in the litter box to prevent litter from irritating declawed feet. This unfamiliar litter substitute, accompanied by pain when scratching in the box, may lead cats to stop using the litter box. Some cats may become biters because they no longer have their claws for defense."
Are you really going to put an animal through this torture?
Post by kasaundrar on Feb 10, 2015 15:02:25 GMT -5
I think of my cats as my kids. That may seems crazy to people but they saved my life when I got in a very hard place. I wouldn't cut off my baby's fingers.
Post by mlgnumbers on Feb 10, 2015 15:06:42 GMT -5
My DD's tonsils are twatwaffles. They're the size of goofballs and painful. The snow is also a twatwaffle, because I need to get her to the doctor, but we're totally snowed in.
I live in the Seattle area, and somehow we still get people who do this. Like, do you not understand how to drive in the rain yet? We get more rain than any other type of weather. How are you still scared of it?
This is how I feel in MI. Rain seems to scare people half to death. Yet it snows or it's icy and people fly by as if they are invincible.
Yes, exactly! People here drive one of two ways in the snow - either they're terrified and driving way more conservatively than is safe, or they feel like their invincible (usually because they have 4wd) and are driving like maniacs.
You haven't gave a legitimate reason as to why you are declawing your kitten though, nuggetrn.
Cats have claws. Honestly, I feel like if you can't handle this, don't get a cat.
^This. There are pros and cons to having a pet. If you don't have the time or patience to deal with the cons then maybe that kind of pet isn't for you. Especially when those "cons" are part of that animals natural behavior. I just couldn't imagine putting my pet through that much pain for the sole purpose of my own convenience.
TTC #1 since August 2013 DX: Endo November 2014: Hysteroscopy, D&C June - September 2015: Clomid + Novarel + IUI #1-3 January 2017: Laparoscopy - endo removed
Dogs can only be trained to a point though. I can't train my dog to not dig when I'm not around. The best you can typically do is teach them to dig in an appropriate place. Same thing with being on the furniture. Dogs will typically get on the furniture when you're not home, even if they are trained to not do it when you are there. The best you can do is block the furniture with a mat or something obstructive. When dogs don't have the negative or positive reinforcement, they will continue to do the behavior that they want.
You know, that's the opposite of the argument I hear from so many dog owners who are totally against cats. "You can train a dog not to do something and they won't. You can train a cat not to do something and they won't do it in your presence."
But my basic argument was that people think that you can't train cats and you can train dogs. They can both learn what is appropriate and what is not appropriate, it just depends on how hard you want to work.
Oh ya I wasn't trying to argue! I was trying to explain my experience with my dogs. I've had a lot of experience with training as I'm a foster parent, and typically our trainers will agree that some dogs can only be trained to not do something only in your presence, but will do it later when you are gone!
You know, that's the opposite of the argument I hear from so many dog owners who are totally against cats. "You can train a dog not to do something and they won't. You can train a cat not to do something and they won't do it in your presence."
But my basic argument was that people think that you can't train cats and you can train dogs. They can both learn what is appropriate and what is not appropriate, it just depends on how hard you want to work.
Oh ya I wasn't trying to argue! I was trying to explain my experience with my dogs. I've had a lot of experience with training as I'm a foster parent, and typically our trainers will agree that some dogs can only be trained to not do something only in your presence, but will do it later when you are gone!
You actually made my original thought even better, honestly.
Post by GoBigOrGoGnome on Feb 10, 2015 15:11:26 GMT -5
I'm probably making a mistake commenting on the cat de-clawing situation, but here goes...
I got my first cat when I was 15 (obviously still living with my family). My dad was a tyrant and my parents were not cat people, had never had a cat before, and I was told that the only way I could have a cat is if she was de-clawed. So she was. She will be 13 years old this year.
Is de-clawing an elective procedure? Yes. Is it painful? Of course. Would I get my own cats de-clawed now that I'm old enough to make the choice? No. However, I would not go so far as to call it animal cruelty. They are anesthetized during the procedure and medicated for pain after the fact. While I do not agree with the practice, I also do not believe it is the same as chaining a dog in the backyard to withstand the elements or beating an animal, etc. I also do not think it is the same as ear crops and tail docks, since those are done solely for the sake of aesthetics. I nannied for family whose cat accidentally scratched their child in the eye while he was sleeping and they had the cat de-clawed by the next day. Do I blame or condemn them for that? I can't say that I do.
I will also go as far as to say that I think that if the only way a cat can live in a home with it's human family is to be de-clawed, it is preferable over the cat having no home at all. My cat was a stray and who knows what would have happened to her if I hadn't picked her up. I'd like to think the wonderful life she's had (and will continue to have) with me was worth the temporary discomfort of the procedure. I'd also like to think she'd agree.
That being said, yes, there are various alternatives to this procedure and they should be tried. Softpaws are great, I've used them on my dog when we got home to visit for extended amounts of time. I'd guess there are many folks who'd have to get a vet to help put them on/take them off, though. Trimming the nails is a great alternative, too, but it isn't always easy. I'd guess there are many cats that don't tolerate this and plenty of owners who aren't equipped to deal with the wrath of said cats as well. The best option is to do one of the above and also provide acceptable places for the cat to scratch. I'll reiterate that I don't agree with the practice of de-clawing, but the alternatives aren't always easy-peasy.
For the umpteenth time, I do not agree with cats being automatically de-clawed. I do, however, recognize instances where it might be a last resort and the lesser of two evils if it means the cat continues to stay in a loving home. This is merely my opinion, but I'm not just talking out of my ass. I've worked at several vet hospitals as a vet tech and I've even assisted with de-clawing surgeries, so I've seen the procedure itself as well as the recovery. Just my two cents...
Is de-clawing an elective procedure? Yes. Is it painful? Of course. Would I get my own cats de-clawed now that I'm old enough to make the choice? No. However, I would not go so far as to call it animal cruelty. They are anesthetized during the procedure and medicated for pain after the fact. While I do not agree with the practice, I also do not believe it is the same as chaining a dog in the backyard to withstand the elements or beating an animal, etc. I also do not think it is the same as ear crops and tail docks, since those are done solely for the sake of aesthetics. I nannied for family whose cat accidentally scratched their child in the eye while he was sleeping and they had the cat de-clawed by the next day. Do I blame or condemn them for that? I can't say that I do.
Those people are twatwaffles. Sorry. Accidents happen.
They thought their child might end up being blind in that eye but ok.
They thought their child might end up being blind in that eye but ok.
And the cat deserved to get punished because of that why? Especially since it was accidental and non-malicious? Seems like an overreaction to me.
It wasn't done as a punishment but as a preventative measure to keep something similar from happening in the future. It might have been an overreaction but it was pretty terrifying for them and the child at the time and they didn't want it to ever happen again.
I'm probably making a mistake commenting on the cat de-clawing situation, but here goes...
I got my first cat when I was 15 (obviously still living with my family). My dad was a tyrant and my parents were not cat people, had never had a cat before, and I was told that the only way I could have a cat is if she was de-clawed. So she was. She will be 13 years old this year.
Is de-clawing an elective procedure? Yes. Is it painful? Of course. Would I get my own cats de-clawed now that I'm old enough to make the choice? No. However, I would not go so far as to call it animal cruelty. They are anesthetized during the procedure and medicated for pain after the fact. While I do not agree with the practice, I also do not believe it is the same as chaining a dog in the backyard to withstand the elements or beating an animal, etc. I also do not think it is the same as ear crops and tail docks, since those are done solely for the sake of aesthetics. I nannied for family whose cat accidentally scratched their child in the eye while he was sleeping and they had the cat de-clawed by the next day. Do I blame or condemn them for that? I can't say that I do.
I will also go as far as to say that I think that if the only way a cat can live in a home with it's human family is to be de-clawed, it is preferable over the cat having no home at all. My cat was a stray and who knows what would have happened to her if I hadn't picked her up. I'd like to think the wonderful life she's had (and will continue to have) with me was worth the temporary discomfort of the procedure. I'd also like to think she'd agree.
That being said, yes, there are various alternatives to this procedure and they should be tried. Softpaws are great, I've used them on my dog when we got home to visit for extended amounts of time. I'd guess there are many folks who'd have to get a vet to help put them on/take them off, though. Trimming the nails is a great alternative, too, but it isn't always easy. I'd guess there are many cats that don't tolerate this and plenty of owners who aren't equipped to deal with the wrath of said cats as well. The best option is to do one of the above and also provide acceptable places for the cat to scratch. I'll reiterate that I don't agree with the practice of de-clawing, but the alternatives aren't always easy-peasy.
For the umpteenth time, I do not agree with cats being automatically de-clawed. I do, however, recognize instances where it might be a last resort and the lesser of two evils if it means the cat continues to stay in a loving home. This is merely my opinion, but I'm not just talking out of my ass. I've worked at several vet hospitals as a vet tech and I've even assisted with de-clawing surgeries, so I've seen the procedure itself as well as the recovery. Just my two cents...
"Removing claws changes the way a cat's foot meets the ground and can cause pain similar to wearing an uncomfortable pair of shoes. There can also be a regrowth of improperly removed claws, nerve damage, and bone spurs." Doesn't sound like "temporary discomfort" to me.
Personally, if someone told me that the only way I was allowed to have a cat is if I declawed it then I wouldn't get a cat. I think assuming that the cat wouldn't end up in another home is just ridiculous.
TTC #1 since August 2013 DX: Endo November 2014: Hysteroscopy, D&C June - September 2015: Clomid + Novarel + IUI #1-3 January 2017: Laparoscopy - endo removed
And the cat deserved to get punished because of that why? Especially since it was accidental and non-malicious? Seems like an overreaction to me.
It wasn't done as a punishment but as a preventative measure to keep something similar from happening in the future. It might have been an overreaction but it was pretty terrifying for them and the child at the time and they didn't want it to ever happen again.
So if their dog had accidentally done the same thing, would they have declawed him or just choose to put him down? Pet owners need to have the understanding that things can happen. Just like when their sweet child terrorizes the cat and the cat swipes at them It's usually the cat that deals with the consequences. If you don't have the time or patience to train your pet, just don't get one. Simple as that.
I'm probably making a mistake commenting on the cat de-clawing situation, but here goes...
I got my first cat when I was 15 (obviously still living with my family). My dad was a tyrant and my parents were not cat people, had never had a cat before, and I was told that the only way I could have a cat is if she was de-clawed. So she was. She will be 13 years old this year.
Is de-clawing an elective procedure? Yes. Is it painful? Of course. Would I get my own cats de-clawed now that I'm old enough to make the choice? No. However, I would not go so far as to call it animal cruelty. They are anesthetized during the procedure and medicated for pain after the fact. While I do not agree with the practice, I also do not believe it is the same as chaining a dog in the backyard to withstand the elements or beating an animal, etc. I also do not think it is the same as ear crops and tail docks, since those are done solely for the sake of aesthetics. I nannied for family whose cat accidentally scratched their child in the eye while he was sleeping and they had the cat de-clawed by the next day. Do I blame or condemn them for that? I can't say that I do.
I will also go as far as to say that I think that if the only way a cat can live in a home with it's human family is to be de-clawed, it is preferable over the cat having no home at all. My cat was a stray and who knows what would have happened to her if I hadn't picked her up. I'd like to think the wonderful life she's had (and will continue to have) with me was worth the temporary discomfort of the procedure. I'd also like to think she'd agree.
That being said, yes, there are various alternatives to this procedure and they should be tried. Softpaws are great, I've used them on my dog when we got home to visit for extended amounts of time. I'd guess there are many folks who'd have to get a vet to help put them on/take them off, though. Trimming the nails is a great alternative, too, but it isn't always easy. I'd guess there are many cats that don't tolerate this and plenty of owners who aren't equipped to deal with the wrath of said cats as well. The best option is to do one of the above and also provide acceptable places for the cat to scratch. I'll reiterate that I don't agree with the practice of de-clawing, but the alternatives aren't always easy-peasy.
For the umpteenth time, I do not agree with cats being automatically de-clawed. I do, however, recognize instances where it might be a last resort and the lesser of two evils if it means the cat continues to stay in a loving home. This is merely my opinion, but I'm not just talking out of my ass. I've worked at several vet hospitals as a vet tech and I've even assisted with de-clawing surgeries, so I've seen the procedure itself as well as the recovery. Just my two cents...
But the point is it isn't minor discomfort for awhile it is pain they deal with for the rest of their lives
I'm probably making a mistake commenting on the cat de-clawing situation, but here goes...
I got my first cat when I was 15 (obviously still living with my family). My dad was a tyrant and my parents were not cat people, had never had a cat before, and I was told that the only way I could have a cat is if she was de-clawed. So she was. She will be 13 years old this year.
Is de-clawing an elective procedure? Yes. Is it painful? Of course. Would I get my own cats de-clawed now that I'm old enough to make the choice? No. However, I would not go so far as to call it animal cruelty. They are anesthetized during the procedure and medicated for pain after the fact. While I do not agree with the practice, I also do not believe it is the same as chaining a dog in the backyard to withstand the elements or beating an animal, etc. I also do not think it is the same as ear crops and tail docks, since those are done solely for the sake of aesthetics. I nannied for family whose cat accidentally scratched their child in the eye while he was sleeping and they had the cat de-clawed by the next day. Do I blame or condemn them for that? I can't say that I do.
I will also go as far as to say that I think that if the only way a cat can live in a home with it's human family is to be de-clawed, it is preferable over the cat having no home at all. My cat was a stray and who knows what would have happened to her if I hadn't picked her up. I'd like to think the wonderful life she's had (and will continue to have) with me was worth the temporary discomfort of the procedure. I'd also like to think she'd agree.
That being said, yes, there are various alternatives to this procedure and they should be tried. Softpaws are great, I've used them on my dog when we got home to visit for extended amounts of time. I'd guess there are many folks who'd have to get a vet to help put them on/take them off, though. Trimming the nails is a great alternative, too, but it isn't always easy. I'd guess there are many cats that don't tolerate this and plenty of owners who aren't equipped to deal with the wrath of said cats as well. The best option is to do one of the above and also provide acceptable places for the cat to scratch. I'll reiterate that I don't agree with the practice of de-clawing, but the alternatives aren't always easy-peasy.
For the umpteenth time, I do not agree with cats being automatically de-clawed. I do, however, recognize instances where it might be a last resort and the lesser of two evils if it means the cat continues to stay in a loving home. This is merely my opinion, but I'm not just talking out of my ass. I've worked at several vet hospitals as a vet tech and I've even assisted with de-clawing surgeries, so I've seen the procedure itself as well as the recovery. Just my two cents...
Your examples seem to look at what is best for the human family, not the cat. If I was in the position of the family, I would have either kept the cat out of the kid's room while the kid was sleeping or found a new home for the cat if we weren't comfortable enough to keep the cat in the house. It sounds like the family was looking for a "reason" to declaw the cat.
I also think that declawing is most definitely done for aesthetics. You're doing it for the aesthetics of your house. You're also not medicating the cat for its entire life, and cats don't really tell you when they're in pain. They hide it as much as possible, as you should know.
Is this akin to, when I was a kid, one kid got the chicken pox, and everyone wanted their kid to get it too so they could get better and be immune?
Because the measles is way worse than a usual course of chicken pox, and even that is a vaccine now, right?
We did this when I was a kid with the chicken pox! All the kids on our street got together at the "infected" kids house and then the whole street of kids ended up having it at the same time. But measles seems a little extreme.
Post by requiressnacks on Feb 10, 2015 15:46:49 GMT -5
My nomination for TWT is my company's email system. It has been down for hours. Normally that would be great, but I actually have a lot of work that is really at a standstill if I have no way to send or receive emails. GRRRRRRRRRR. (luckily my internet still works!!)
Post by getzystark on Feb 10, 2015 15:51:19 GMT -5
/ancedote for the cat in pain thing. It is definitely true that they don't express discomfort like you would think.
My cat had a bladder infection which then was severe enough to go to his kidneys and require vet ICU treatment. I had no idea he felt bad until he was basically laying lifeless one evening. I am around this cat all day and while he was, in hindsight, acting more "grumpy" than usual, I had ZERO indication he wasn't feeling well, until it was almost too late. The vet said his kidney function was the worst she had ever seen and wasn't sure he'd survive.
I'm probably making a mistake commenting on the cat de-clawing situation, but here goes...
I got my first cat when I was 15 (obviously still living with my family). My dad was a tyrant and my parents were not cat people, had never had a cat before, and I was told that the only way I could have a cat is if she was de-clawed. So she was. She will be 13 years old this year.
Is de-clawing an elective procedure? Yes. Is it painful? Of course. Would I get my own cats de-clawed now that I'm old enough to make the choice? No. However, I would not go so far as to call it animal cruelty. They are anesthetized during the procedure and medicated for pain after the fact. While I do not agree with the practice, I also do not believe it is the same as chaining a dog in the backyard to withstand the elements or beating an animal, etc. I also do not think it is the same as ear crops and tail docks, since those are done solely for the sake of aesthetics. I nannied for family whose cat accidentally scratched their child in the eye while he was sleeping and they had the cat de-clawed by the next day. Do I blame or condemn them for that? I can't say that I do.
I will also go as far as to say that I think that if the only way a cat can live in a home with it's human family is to be de-clawed, it is preferable over the cat having no home at all. My cat was a stray and who knows what would have happened to her if I hadn't picked her up. I'd like to think the wonderful life she's had (and will continue to have) with me was worth the temporary discomfort of the procedure. I'd also like to think she'd agree.
That being said, yes, there are various alternatives to this procedure and they should be tried. Softpaws are great, I've used them on my dog when we got home to visit for extended amounts of time. I'd guess there are many folks who'd have to get a vet to help put them on/take them off, though. Trimming the nails is a great alternative, too, but it isn't always easy. I'd guess there are many cats that don't tolerate this and plenty of owners who aren't equipped to deal with the wrath of said cats as well. The best option is to do one of the above and also provide acceptable places for the cat to scratch. I'll reiterate that I don't agree with the practice of de-clawing, but the alternatives aren't always easy-peasy.
For the umpteenth time, I do not agree with cats being automatically de-clawed. I do, however, recognize instances where it might be a last resort and the lesser of two evils if it means the cat continues to stay in a loving home. This is merely my opinion, but I'm not just talking out of my ass. I've worked at several vet hospitals as a vet tech and I've even assisted with de-clawing surgeries, so I've seen the procedure itself as well as the recovery. Just my two cents...
"Removing claws changes the way a cat's foot meets the ground and can cause pain similar to wearing an uncomfortable pair of shoes. There can also be a regrowth of improperly removed claws, nerve damage, and bone spurs." Doesn't sound like "temporary discomfort" to me.
Personally, if someone told me that the only way I was allowed to have a cat is if I declawed it then I wouldn't get a cat. I think assuming that the cat wouldn't end up in another home is just ridiculous.
You're quoting the Humane Society, which is on the same level as PETA. That doesn't make it a credible resource. I'm not saying there aren't instances where those things occur, but if every single cat that was ever de-clawed suffered from those complications, no veterinarian would agree to perform the surgery.
Judge all you want, but I was 15 years old when given that ultimatum.
If there were enough homes to go around then pet over-population wouldn't be the massive issue that it is. Yeah, maybe that exact cat would end up in another home, but then perhaps then another cat wouldn't.
I agreed with you and everyone else that de-clawing can and should be avoided. I just think the arguments lumping it in with cruelty and abuse are on the extreme side. You could start to say that people can take precautions against their animals getting pregnant, so elective spay and neuter surgeries are cruel. People that don't get their pet's teeth cleaned often enough are abusive because the teeth become impacted and painful and it hurts for the pet to eat. Same if you skip a month of heart-worm preventative. Or how about those whose pets are morbidly obese (not because of a medical issue)? The animals will have more joint problems, could develop diabetes, will probably die earlier, etc.
Again, I don't agree with de-clawing but working as a vet tech for all those years I saw a lot of shit that was a lot worse and should be much more concerning to folks. The ones who were getting their cats fixed and de-clawed tended to be pretty good pet owners in the grand scheme of things. I'm just reminding people to keep that in mind.
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