Outrage

"Lastly, as a sacrifice to emphasize America's continued commitment to disarmament and world peace, I will recommend universal de-clawing - and even (ouch!) submit to it myself."

 In my email this week I received the following note telling me about the above-quoted ad placed by the Ralston Purina company:

"This week Ralston Purina has run an ad for Purina One that seemed very amusing until I got to the last line (Newsweek magazine, Feb 12 issue). The ad purports to be from a cat running for President and listing his qualifications. All was fine until the last line which said:

"Lastly, as a sacrifice to emphasize America's continued commitment to disarmament and world peace, I will recommend universal de-clawing - and even (ouch!) submit to it myself."

Not to be one to react to rumor, I zipped down to the library and opened up their issue of Newsweek.  Much to my horror, the advertisement was not just another internet rumor.  I am shocked that a company who purports to be supportive of pet health issues would make light of this extremely painful procedure considered by many to be inhumane mutilation.   What could be next?  An endorsement of raising healthier puppies for better results in product research labs? Perhaps a Purina One ad with a cat wearing a bulls-eye target saying, “With better nutrition I can outrun most oncoming vehicles.”  I can’t imagine what Purina’s advertising staff was thinking when they devised this ad that sounds like Purina is endorsing declawing for cats.

I am not exactly the activist, save-the-world type.  But if there is one thing that will send me into a screaming rage, it is animal cruelty.  Yes, its true that there have been more than a few humans I have come into contact with for who I felt a nice declawing would be in order.  But I have never met a cat I would wish such pain and trauma on.

Declawing is  not a simple matter of removal of a cats claws, but is amputation at the first joint of the digits.  This procedure is considered unethical by many vets and every cattery purchase contract I have reviewed stipulates "no declawing."   Cat shows ban declawed cats to discourage this practice.  The Cat Fanciers Association in October of 1996 unanimously took a stand against declawing, stating:

" Because of post operative discomfort or pain, and potential future behavioral or physical effects, CFA disapproves of declawing or tendonectomy surgery."

How could Purina have missed the overwhelming outcry in the cat community to put an end to this heinous procedure and imply their support of declawing?  Doesn't anyone on their advertising staff actually own a cat?  They certainly should have run this ad by "Fluffy" before sending it to press!  I beg anyone considering this operation for their cat to read up on it first and investigate the alternatives.

Ralston Purina, in my opinion, has gone to the dogs.

A descriptive article of the procedure  Not for the faint of heart.
 
  Cat Fancier's Association Health Committee Statement on Declawing

  Softpaws  A sane alternative to declawing.

Voice your opinion

  No, not to me; but to Purina One at  oteam@ralston.com

 

 

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