Letter: State should prohibit declawing cats

It would be hard to imagine a parent bringing their child into a physician's office and requesting the doctor remove the top digit of each of their offspring's fingers, but this is precisely what happens every day when feline guardians task their veterinarians with declawing cats.

Onychectomy, also known as amputation, is a major surgery that cuts off tendons, nerves, and ligaments in feline toes, preventing cats from engaging in normal behaviors. This procedure offers no benefit to the cat, but the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association has strangely opposed legislation that seeks to ban this practice. Their opposition to this bill harms our profession's reputation as caring advocates for animals.

Without their professional organizations taking a stand against declawing, many veterinarians are guilted into performing unethical surgeries at the behest of their human clients. And without legislation banning the procedure, clients simply shop around until they find a veterinarian willing to comply. By challenging legislation that seeks to protect animals, the ISVMA is turning its back on the veterinarians desperate for this type of legislation that has a long track record of success in other countries and municipalities.

It is essential that those in the veterinary profession remain united in our stance to protect animals from avoidable pain and suffering. We earnestly hope Illinois follows the lead of states such as New York and Maryland by ceasing this cruel and antiquated practice.

Niki Gianni, Robin Hadley, Debra Teachout and Crystal Heath, Veterinarians

Chicago