Tragic Mistake

"Wendy" wrote in message
...

"Liz" wrote in message
om...

Around here, at least, it's frequently a choice between declawing,
dumping
them somewhere or euthanizing. The SPCA will accept an animal but
will only
keep them a short time before putting them down. The other shelters
are all
filled up and if a foster situation isn't available the owner is
left with a
cat they haven't been able to train. I just heard that two
organizations
that keep their cats at the local PetSmart are losing some of their
space
and will be able to house even fewer animals. Declawing isn't a good
solution but given the option I suppose some vets figure it is the
lesser
evil.

It's true. I am torn because I realize that so many people just don't
care at all about cats, then there is a small percentage who do care
but will not be "put out" enough to actually train cats, so they will
declaw or "get rid of" the cat. Then there is an even smaller
percentage of people who love the whole cat better than the furniture,
and/or will put forth the effort to train.

And a nasty side of me that I call realistic can just see UK folks
drowning bags of kittens rather than find them homes OR spay their
mothers. Declaw or death? The choice must be declaw.

But maybe I am having a bad day.



Sympathies to the poor declawed kitty. I hope she heals well and
doesn't
have trouble with her shudder stumps.

Wendy

Around here, at least, it's frequently a choice between declawing, dumping
them somewhere or euthanizing.

With all due respect to you, I just think that's a bunch of bunk, it's
propaganda created and perpetuated by vets who declaw. I mean, other countries
learn to co-exist with cats & claws. The US can too.

Sherry

The SPCA will accept an animal but will only
keep them a short time before putting them down. The other shelters are all
filled up and if a foster situation isn't available the owner is left with a
cat they haven't been able to train. I just heard that two organizations
that keep their cats at the local PetSmart are losing some of their space
and will be able to house even fewer animals. Declawing isn't a good
solution but given the option I suppose some vets figure it is the lesser
evil.

Around here, at least, it's frequently a choice between declawing, dumping
them somewhere or euthanizing.

With all due respect to you, I just think that's a bunch of bunk, it's
propaganda created and perpetuated by vets who declaw. I mean, other countries
learn to co-exist with cats & claws. The US can too.

Sherry

The SPCA will accept an animal but will only
keep them a short time before putting them down. The other shelters are all
filled up and if a foster situation isn't available the owner is left with a
cat they haven't been able to train. I just heard that two organizations
that keep their cats at the local PetSmart are losing some of their space
and will be able to house even fewer animals. Declawing isn't a good
solution but given the option I suppose some vets figure it is the lesser
evil.

"Sherry " wrote in message

It's sad, it's outrageous that this happened. Unfortunately,
mistakes like that
aren't limited to vets. Ihave a friend who had knee surgery *on the
wrong knee*
last year. I would be curious to hear what kind of offer the vet
makes. Free
lifetime vet care for both cats?

That's what I think, too. Also, a chunk of money to a shelter and
refunding
the money charged to my friend for that vet visit--which was over $200
to have both girls spayed.


Sherry

I think everybody here knows what I think about declaw, so please realize I'm
being realistic. It isn't fair, and it isn't just, but to be honest, I wouldn't
expect much compensation if the case goes to court, so I'd try to negotiate
with the vet. Animals are property, and I just wouldn't expect a judge (and
some of them are not sympathetic to animal issues) to award damages or make any
kind of restitution or donation. It's just that I've seen too many *extreme*
animal abuse/neglect cases go through the courts with a more than
disappointing outcome. The only guarantee is that the media would probably pick
up on it and the vet would get some bad publicity, and he knows that, so he
might be all the more willing to settle out of court.
OTOH, he may be disciplined by the Board especially if it's not the first
complaint he's had.

Sherry

"Sherry " wrote in message

It's sad, it's outrageous that this happened. Unfortunately,
mistakes like that
aren't limited to vets. Ihave a friend who had knee surgery *on the
wrong knee*
last year. I would be curious to hear what kind of offer the vet
makes. Free
lifetime vet care for both cats?

That's what I think, too. Also, a chunk of money to a shelter and
refunding
the money charged to my friend for that vet visit--which was over $200
to have both girls spayed.


Sherry

I think everybody here knows what I think about declaw, so please realize I'm
being realistic. It isn't fair, and it isn't just, but to be honest, I wouldn't
expect much compensation if the case goes to court, so I'd try to negotiate
with the vet. Animals are property, and I just wouldn't expect a judge (and
some of them are not sympathetic to animal issues) to award damages or make any
kind of restitution or donation. It's just that I've seen too many *extreme*
animal abuse/neglect cases go through the courts with a more than
disappointing outcome. The only guarantee is that the media would probably pick
up on it and the vet would get some bad publicity, and he knows that, so he
might be all the more willing to settle out of court.
OTOH, he may be disciplined by the Board especially if it's not the first
complaint he's had.

Sherry

What I said wasn't propaganda spread by a vet who declaws. I have never
discussed the situation with any vet as I've never taken a cat to get it
declawed. I merely made an observation.

Wendy


"Sherry " wrote in message
...
Around here, at least, it's frequently a choice between declawing, dumping
them somewhere or euthanizing.

With all due respect to you, I just think that's a bunch of bunk, it's
propaganda created and perpetuated by vets who declaw. I mean, other
countries
learn to co-exist with cats & claws. The US can too.

Sherry

The SPCA will accept an animal but will only
keep them a short time before putting them down. The other shelters are all
filled up and if a foster situation isn't available the owner is left with
a
cat they haven't been able to train. I just heard that two organizations
that keep their cats at the local PetSmart are losing some of their space
and will be able to house even fewer animals. Declawing isn't a good
solution but given the option I suppose some vets figure it is the lesser
evil.

What I said wasn't propaganda spread by a vet who declaws. I have never
discussed the situation with any vet as I've never taken a cat to get it
declawed. I merely made an observation.

Wendy


"Sherry " wrote in message
...
Around here, at least, it's frequently a choice between declawing, dumping
them somewhere or euthanizing.

With all due respect to you, I just think that's a bunch of bunk, it's
propaganda created and perpetuated by vets who declaw. I mean, other
countries
learn to co-exist with cats & claws. The US can too.

Sherry

The SPCA will accept an animal but will only
keep them a short time before putting them down. The other shelters are all
filled up and if a foster situation isn't available the owner is left with
a
cat they haven't been able to train. I just heard that two organizations
that keep their cats at the local PetSmart are losing some of their space
and will be able to house even fewer animals. Declawing isn't a good
solution but given the option I suppose some vets figure it is the lesser
evil.

From: "Mary"

It's true. I am torn because I realize that so many people just don't
care at all about cats, then there is a small percentage who do care
but will not be "put out" enough to actually train cats, so they will
declaw or "get rid of" the cat.

But if someone is so lazy that they won't take the time to train their cat, or
if they care so much more about their furniture that they are willing to digit
amputate their cat, then what happens if the cat starts avoiding the litterbox
and pees all over the house because his paws hurt? What if that cat starts
biting because he feels so defenseless now that his claws are gone? I don't
think those selfish people will keep the cat and try to work through the
problems. I've just seen too many declawed cats in our shelters here, so
obviously declawing didn't save those cats their home

Lauren
________
See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe
Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html
http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html
Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm

From: "Mary"

It's true. I am torn because I realize that so many people just don't
care at all about cats, then there is a small percentage who do care
but will not be "put out" enough to actually train cats, so they will
declaw or "get rid of" the cat.

But if someone is so lazy that they won't take the time to train their cat, or
if they care so much more about their furniture that they are willing to digit
amputate their cat, then what happens if the cat starts avoiding the litterbox
and pees all over the house because his paws hurt? What if that cat starts
biting because he feels so defenseless now that his claws are gone? I don't
think those selfish people will keep the cat and try to work through the
problems. I've just seen too many declawed cats in our shelters here, so
obviously declawing didn't save those cats their home

Lauren
________
See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe
Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html
http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html
Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm

Sherry wrote:
"Sherry " wrote in message
I think everybody here knows what I think about declaw, so please
realize I'm being realistic. It isn't fair, and it isn't just, but
to be honest, I wouldn't expect much compensation if the case goes
to court, so I'd try to negotiate with the vet. Animals are
property, and I just wouldn't expect a judge (and some of them are
not sympathetic to animal issues) to award damages or make any kind
of restitution or donation.


You nice folks are really taking that ball and running with it,
aren't you? G

My friend isn't interested in suing, and she doesn't want to hurt the
doctor over this. He is a nice man who does a lot of volunteer work
for shelters and loves animals--though he does declaw, I imagine that
is about making a living and meeting demand. But that is beside the
point. My friend doesn't need the money, and doesn't want to cause
problems for the doctor. The person responsible for the mix-up will be
fired, and my friend will ask the vet to make a donation to her
favorite shelter so that something good can come out of this thing in
exchange for the bad thing that has been done to her cat. He may offer
other things, I don't know. But that is the plan as of yesterday.