SAN FRANCISCO, September 19, 2006 -
The San Francisco SPCA is in full agreement with the August, 2006 policy resolution of the United States Department of Agriculture that now prohibits the declawing and defanging of captive wild and exotic animals nationwide. This applies to "all regulated non-human primates [such as monkeys and apes] and captive wild or exotic carnivores, including, but not limited to, big cats [lions and tigers], canid species [wolves], and bears." The utilization of these procedures is no longer permitted under the federal Animal Welfare Act. The SF/SPCA applauds the USDA for its humane decision.
The USDA has declared that "declawing or the removal of canine teeth (fangs) in wild or exotic carnivores or non-human primates is no longer considered to be appropriate veterinary care unless prescribed by the attending veterinarian for treatment of individual medical problems of the paws or teeth. These procedures are no longer considered to be acceptable when performed solely for handling or husbandry purposes since they can cause considerable pain and discomfort to the animal and may result in chronic health problems."
The new policy will apply to all breeders, dealers and exhibitors who are licensed under the Animal Welfare Act. Research facilities registered under the same Act are similarly affected.
For many years, The San Francisco SPCA has opposed the declawing of domestic cats as being inhumane and unnecessary. This surgery is not performed at its facility, and the Society strongly advocates against the procedure by way of educational materials written by its Cat Behavior Department and available to veterinarians, cat owners and potential adopters. Declawing does not just mean removing a cat's nails; it involves an operation, under anesthesia, which amputates the first joint of each toe, including the end bones. Complications from the surgery can include hemorrhage, infection, and great pain. Serious long-term physical and behavioral problems can also result. The SF/SPCA has no reason to believe that wild and exotic animals are not equally impacted by this inhumane practice.
