CVMA opposes West Hollywood declaw ban

Sacramento, Calif.-Caught off guard by attempts to make cat declawing a crime in West Hollywood, state veterinary leaders absent at the ban's introduction say they won't stand at the sidelines for its passage.

The California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) is seeking legalopinion to challenge the proposed outlaw of a state-legalized medical procedure.At presstime, Executive Director Dr. Dick Schumacher conveyed the opinionto city leaders for consideration Feb. 18, when council members were expectedto cast their votes.

Members also are expected to hear advice from city attorney Michael Jenkins,who was charged at a Jan. 21 meeting with researching the ban's feasibility.

The city, known for its liberal positions, also recently reclassifiedpet owners as "pet guardians." Animal rights activists, includingsome practitioners, deem declawing cruel and unnecessary, while the majorityof veterinarians consider it a last resort in support of animal ownershipand reducing euthanasia of unwanted pets.

DVMs taken aback

Veterinary leaders resisting the ban were "taken by surprise,"says Dr. Brad Brunskill, newly elected president of the Southern CaliforniaVeterinary Medical Association (SCVMA).

"I had no idea about the meeting or the ban until I heard it onthe radio as I was driving to work that morning," Brunskill says. "Theydidn't call us or the CVMA to ask our opinions. It looked like West Hollywoodhad already made up its mind."

A lone voice

Not so surprised was Dr. Larry Kidwell, a practitioner in Culver Citywho reigned as the only DVM opposed to the West Hollywood ban at council'sJan. 21 meeting.

"I figured this was coming," Kidwell says. "I was askedmy opinion on the issue, but I had virtually no support. It was kind oflonely, my one opinion against roughly 100 people wanting to adopt thisban. What a mess."

AVMA reviews position

As veterinary leaders attempt to thwart the ban's passage, the AmericanVeterinary Medical Association's (AVMA) own position on domestic cat declawingis up for its five-year review this month by the Animal Welfare Committee.

The position, which also addresses swine castration and tail docking,currently reads, "Declawing cats is justifiable when the cat cannotbe trained to refrain from using its claws destructively."

The timing is coincidence; the position's language likely won't change,says Dr. Gail Golab, AVMA assistant director.

"It's about further refining of our position, not addressing what'shappening in West Hollywood," Golab says. "As far as I know, we'renot considering an all-out ban."