SANTA MONICA—The long awaited decision over the controversial issue regarding the ban of feline declawing is over.  The Santa Monica City Council voted on October 27, and with a 6-1 vote passed an ordinance to ban the practice of cat declawing procedures in Santa Monica.

Those who oppose the ban argue that declawing procedures should be allowed as a last resort. According to the City Hall Report, opponents of the legislation argue that “In some cases, [declawing] is necessary or advisable to protect the cat’s health.”

Mark Nunez vet and President of California Veterinarian Medical Association who opposes the ban, said at the meeting that, “We are opposed to this ban because we fear the unintended consequences of a ban…in support of other options such as resolutions, such as educational programs, those are things that we can truly support.”

 

Photo by Joanne DeCaro Afornalli

Nunez also brought up at the City Council meeting that opponents of the ban fear that if declawing is no longer allowed, then those who feel strongly about declawing their cats or immunecompromised owners will abandon their cats or even choose euthanasia. “There are some people who truly love their cat and they believe that if I can’t have this cat then no one can have this cat,” said Nunez.   

The City Hall Report also states that, “Supporters of the declawing bans argue that declawing procedures are inhumane and unnecessary.”  Those who are for the ban argue that declawing deprives the cat of his/her defenses, that it is painful for the cat and that it degrades the cats’ health.

Brandy Ferdit an owner of seven cats had all of her cats declawed in a spay/ declaw package sold to her by “[her] trusted veterinarian…5 of those 7 cats developed complications and 3 of those have since died.” Ferdit who is for the ban on declawing, stated at the meeting that she has spent nearly $9,000 in vet costs due to medical issues that were a direct result of the declaw.  The procedure was done “according to industry standards so I have no legal recourse,” said Ferdit. 

Ferdit went on to state that vets would not admit that the medical issues were a direct cause of the declawing, “Why would an industry that stands to make millions from the initial declawing procedure and then billions from ensuing medical complications want to admit just how problematic the procedure truly is?” 

The proposed ordinance “is virtually identical to West Hollywood’s in content,” according to the City Council Report, as West Hollywood has already adopted the ban on declawing procedures. 

The ordinance which will prohibit onychectomy and flexor tendonectomy, both declawing procedures, will take effect 30 days after a second and final reading in December.