I am overjoyed that my colleagues listened to the latest research, to veterinarians and to our community and made the humane choice to support the ban on elective cat declawing. Declawing a cat is a cruel and outdated procedure. It’s an amputation similar to severing a human finger at the first knuckle. It causes lifelong pain and increases a number of negative behaviors. How we treat animals speaks to our deepest values. Today, every cat in Madison lands on its feet as we set an example for the rest of the state and join the numerous cities throughout the country that have already banned this archaic practice.
I want to express my gratitude to The Paw Project. Jim Jensvold and Dr. Jennifer Conrad’s support and expertise were invaluable. I’d also like to thank the Wisconsin Chapter of the Humane Society of the United States, the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, Adam Bauknecht DVM and the Madison Cat Project, Community Cat, Alley Cat Allies, Ken Lambrecht DVM of the American Association of Feline Practitioners, and so many others who made this possible.
