I know that Dr. Kemmerer can defend herself...but WOW, this is pretty
self-righteous and rude.  Everyone has a right to an opinion and that
includes vets, many of whom have made a serious commitment (financial and
otherwise...do you know the divorce rate among vets) to do the right thing
by owners and their pets, which may include doing a surgery that is
controversial.  I think that a discussion about declawing is good, but
making it so personal is certainly not that constructive.  The discussion
gets lost in the heat of the arguement...(Oh boy am I going to flamed for
this...oh well).
 
>From:    Sheila Crompton <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: De-clawing + a reply to Dr Kemmerer's questions.
>Come on Dr Kemmerer - you save ferrets lives, that is obvious from the
>posts on this mailing list but does that give the you God given right to
>remove the top joints of a ferrets toes because the ferret has destroyed
>$2000 couch and the keeper demands it?  If the couch is already destroyed
>let the ferrets keeper (I use the word keeper as animals are free spirits
>and as such cannot be owned!) turn it into a ferret toy!
 
Turn it into a vet student couch.  After $65k in loans and counting, my
wife, 2 fuzzbutts, kid on the way and I could use that couch.  I have about
105 classmates who would be interested, too.
 
>Maybe, just maybe, if all veterinary surgeons really stood back and looked
>at what they were doing by chopping off the ferrets toes at the first joint
>they would realise just how unethical it is...
 
It's not the vet surgeons who don't "stand back", most "keepers" probably
don't think that far ahead when purchasing a pet.  Client education is a
big part of veterinary medicine, but most vets probably don't get to see
the "keeper" and the pet until there is a problem...usually later than the
time of purchase.  IME, most veterinary surgeons are acutely aware of what
they are doing to the animal and do wrestle with the ethics of "cosmetic"
surgery.  However, this isn't as simple as human medicine...the animal
can't speak for itself and the "keeper" has most of the legal rights (at
least in the US).  The vet is often just doing the best they can under the
circumstances.
 
>If the keeper doesn't like the fact that you've refused to de-claw and then
>wants you to put it sleep because (in her/his opinion) it wouldn't do well
>in another home ... I've got 48 of them here, ...
>
>IMO if a ferret keeper demands the death of ferret because they can't get
>it de-clawed they are not fit to have the privilege of keeping *any*
>animal, and should be banned for life from keeping one.
 
I agree, but in the United States, animals are still considered property.
Thus, "keepers" can have "cosmetic" surgery performed if they can afford it
and they can tell the vet to put the animal to death if they can't.  As long
as the law is interpreted this way, this is probably how it will be done.
Declawing seems aweful to me too, but these people are at least seeking
veterinary care for their animals and the vet has an obligation to both the
client and the pet.  Given a choice between killing a healthy animal and
performing a cosmetic procedure...well, I will cross that road when I come
to it.  One thing that I do know is that people do a lot worse to
pets/animals...you should see some of the results of the organized (illegal)
dog fights here in Philadelphia.
 
>I'm sorry if this post is rather strong but I feel very strongly when it
>comes to ferret welfare and I get upset when folk do terrible things to
>ferrets.
 
IMO strong is fine, but rude...well, its just rude and this was a personal
attack on a vet who has other people indicating compentent (if not better)
ferret treatment.  You are probably preaching and attacking the wrong people
on this one.
 
Well, I responded and got it out of my system.  Otherwise, I would be
talking about this post all night and my wife gets a little frustrated with
me when I do this and have exam in the morning.
 
PS: 48 ferrets, talk about a poop factory.  You should go into the
fertilizer business to help support them all.  Then you can have the couch
and the ferrets, too.
 
******************************
Sean Sawyer V'00
University of Pennsylvania
School of Veterinary Medicine
 
[log in to unmask]
 
[Moderator's note: I do feel some posts have been stong, but never to
the point of being personal attacks -- at least not the ones which got
posted.  Anyhow, thanks for the reminders... BIG]
[Posted in FML issue 2279]