I should probably send this directly to Johan, but there was one part of his
message that distressed me enough I didn't feel people should have a
misconception about it in case anyone should feel as Johan does:
 
To my knowledge, for the majority of vets who declaw it is not a case of
`getting used to' an `unethical' or `disgusting' practice, and I would hate
for people to think that about their vets.  Naturally a program on declawing
aired in a country where it's illegal and considered disgusting is not going
to portray it in a very pretty light.  Besides which I can think of very few
surgeries which look particularly pleasant, no matter how little post-
surgical discomfort they seem to cause.  No good vet takes surgery lightly or
will perform it without good cause.
 
Though I'm certain there are many vets who will declaw only under duress,
there are probably equally as many who do it not without thought, but
certainly without reservation if they feel the circumstances warrant it.
*That* is almost certainly due, I still firmly believe, to cultural
differences and the manner in which declaw is viewed here: as a means to
giving a needy animal a loving home without having said home and people
residing therein torn to bits, intentionally or no.  This view is taken not
because we are an immoral, unethical, or inhumane society here.  And not
because vets or owners have `gotten used' to anything that is wrong.  It is
simply that by many here it is simply not considered disgusting or wrong.  By
some it *is*, and I respect that view -- I would certainly never try to
convince someone to go for a declaw if they felt it was wrong.  But the view
that it is not wrong or digusting or something that I would hesitate to do if
it seemed necessary to the client and all other avenues had been explored
will not make me less of a vet.  It will just make me a different one from
what you would prefer.  I can't be everything to everyone, and no vet can.
 
What I can be is a vet who lives by my ethics, which I believe are quite
strong, though you may disagree.  That's okay, you're entitled, and so is the
vet down the street who doesn't believe in declawing and won't do it.  S/he
needs clients as much as I do -- as his/her colleague I don't begrudge
him/her that.  To me, it would be almost worse to be a vet who disagrees with
declawing but does it to keep a client than it is to be a vet who believes
declaw is sometimes necessary.
 
I suppose we shall have to agree to disagree on this one, and I don't wish to
bore anyone with continued discussion on the subject -- since no one else has
commented I can only assume few are interested or all has been said that
needs to be.  I hope this doesn't make people think that I'm going to be one
heck of a lousy vet, but I stand up for what I believe (gee, I bet you all
hadn't figured that out yet! ;) ), whether it's popular or not, and I can
only hope that *that* is one of the things that will *make* me a good vet.
 
Laura
 
Laura L'Heureux Kupkee
U. of Illinois Vet Med Class of `96
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[Posted in FML issue 1118]