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 [log in to unmask] [Posted in FML issue 1118]