Former Sex Kittens Help Bring LA Declaw Vote to State Level
The Barbi Twins, instrumental advocates for the city of Los Angeles' ban on declawing, are now taking the issue to state level in California.
Monday, 11/09/2009 - The Barbi Twins, made infamous in the 90's for their record-breaking Playboy covers, top-selling calendars and their E! True Hollywood Story documentary have now retired to become full-time animal activists. Their newest and most urgent animal campaign is a nationwide ban on the painful practice of declawing cats.
This past Friday, the city of Los Angeles voted to ban the practice of Onychectomy, the medical term for declawing. The movement is spreading nationwide as towns and cities become aware of the facts behind the inhumane practice. "In a perfect world, my sister and I would like less government involvement, but the government must step in for those who have no voice and in this case, the animals need that help!" Shane said. "When big business interferes, comes in and tries to profit from cruel practices on animals, then we have to stop their actions." Sia added.
"Most people don't realize the declawing of cats is a cruel amputation of a cat's 'fingers' or 'toes' which can increase crippling of the animal by as much as 50%." Sia said. Reportedly, Veterinarians advise declawing of animals for owners who have poor immune systems. The idea of course, is to reduce any accidental scratches to the skin. However, declawed animals have shown an increase in behavioral problems, biting and unwanted marking of furniture and carpets. Many owners claim that when their natural primary defense is taken away by declawing, aggressive behavior quickly follows and some cats even stop using their litter box because of the initial pain. But fighting against an industry, where individual vet clinics can net $100,000 a year just from the procedure, is a most difficult proposition. It is a battle which involves educating the public with facts and studies. Even the USDA has recently banned declawing of big cats (Tigers, Lions, etc.) as an inhumane and cruel practice. The United States has no broad laws banning declawing of small cats, while 20 other countries, including Brazil, Japan, Israel and most of Europe have outlawed the practice on pets.
On January 1, 2010 the veterinarian associations are working to pass a law prohibiting any interference in regards to the surgical practice of declawing. "Compassionate people are trying to move ahead of this movement to ban the declawing of cats city by city before the SB 762 Bill becomes law." Shane said. "People are responding. There are already cities outside California, like Norfolk, Virginia, passing laws against declawing. In nationwide polls concerning animal safety or cruelty - like in the Michael Vick case - people will always side with the animals and now is the time for us to become proactive on this issue." Sia added. "Call your own local and state representatives to push for legislature to prevent this state bill and to stop declawing of animals in your own neighborhood."
"Contrary to what many believe, declawed cats are the pets usually abandoned because owners, who choose their furniture's well-being over their cat's, will rarely put up with behavioral issues brought on by the declawing," Shane emphasized. "That's right sis. Get a cat scratching post if you're worried about your furniture. In fact, our old pictures are now popular because they are used for scratching postsinstead of dart boards, and also now used to line the kitty litter boxes!"
"Seriously, we want people to know about this issue. Please go to pawproject.org to find out which cities need support, which cities are voting on the issue now and learn which ones have been successful. Boycott any vet that practices cat declawing. We must put a stop to this cruel and needless act on our animal friends."
Website:
http://www.pawproject.org/
Press Contact:
David M Burrows
214.660.4223
214.674.3283
