Just thought I'd pass on this Change.org petition in support of an anti-declawing bill in New Jersey. The petition is sponsored by The Paw Project. https://www.change.org/p/support-ne...tZTk2laWMrvaYBJO7yI48+L6s2zQWaAkTna18CzXwJn8v
Thank you, New Jersey Assemblyman Troy Singleton, for introducing legislation that would add onychetomy, or declawing, to the list of criminal animal cruelty offenses in New Jersey. Those who perform declawing would face a fine of up to $1,000 or six months in jail, according to the provisions of the New Jersey Anti-Declaw Bill A3899.
Declawing is amputation, whether performed by scalpel, clippers, or laser. We believe there is never a reason to declaw for non-therapeutic reasons (that is, unless surgery were necessary to treat animals' medical conditions). Declawing does not keep cats in homes, a fact acknowledged by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). Eight cities, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Burbank, Santa Monica, Berkeley, Beverly Hills and Culver City, have enacted declaw bans and their statistics show that the relinquishment of cats to shelters in those cities have not increased - in fact, the number of cats dumped in shelters has DECREASED consistently in the seven to 13 years since the laws were enacted.
There is no reason to declaw cats to protect human health. The NIH, CDC, US Public Health Service, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and the Canadian Medical Association, all have specifically stated that the declawing is "not advised," even for persons severely immunocompromised, including those with HIV. This position is echoed in statements on declawing from the AAHA and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP).
Thank you, Assemblyman Singleton, we hope your bill will be a model for similar humane legislation in other states.
This petition will be delivered to:
Thank you, New Jersey Assemblyman Troy Singleton, for introducing legislation that would add onychetomy, or declawing, to the list of criminal animal cruelty offenses in New Jersey. Those who perform declawing would face a fine of up to $1,000 or six months in jail, according to the provisions of the New Jersey Anti-Declaw Bill A3899.
Declawing is amputation, whether performed by scalpel, clippers, or laser. We believe there is never a reason to declaw for non-therapeutic reasons (that is, unless surgery were necessary to treat animals' medical conditions). Declawing does not keep cats in homes, a fact acknowledged by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). Eight cities, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Burbank, Santa Monica, Berkeley, Beverly Hills and Culver City, have enacted declaw bans and their statistics show that the relinquishment of cats to shelters in those cities have not increased - in fact, the number of cats dumped in shelters has DECREASED consistently in the seven to 13 years since the laws were enacted.
There is no reason to declaw cats to protect human health. The NIH, CDC, US Public Health Service, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and the Canadian Medical Association, all have specifically stated that the declawing is "not advised," even for persons severely immunocompromised, including those with HIV. This position is echoed in statements on declawing from the AAHA and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP).
Thank you, Assemblyman Singleton, we hope your bill will be a model for similar humane legislation in other states.
This petition will be delivered to:
- State Representative
Troy Singleton - Chief of Staff, Assemblyman Troy Singleton
Hilary Beckett
