Should Forced Amputations Be Allowed in New York?

What would you say if I told you that forced amputations are occurring all over New York?

Well it’s totally true. The unwilling, with no idea of what is about to happen, are being forced to undergo amputations without any say in the matter. I have been told that sometimes the back rooms where the amputations are performed resemble Civil War field hospitals. That may be somewhat of an exaggeration, but the reality is that the victims are drugged and then amputations are performed without their direct consent.

However, this may soon change. As recently reported by Nicole Pelletiere, on Good Morning America, “New York could be the first state to issue a statewide ban on declawing of domestic, exotic and wild cats.”

Manhattan Assemblywoman Linda B. Rosenthal is writing a bill to that extent. If you are not familiar with Rosenthal, she is profiled as being “an advocate fighting against the mistreatment of animals.” The bill she is preparing is supported by The Paw Project, a nonprofit that works to educate people on the effects of declawing animals. It has also been endorsed by the Humane Society.

Supporters of the bill, and many locals of Eastern Long Island who I have spoken with, agree that there is no logical reason to declaw a cat. The reality of it is that in order to declaw a cat, bones in the cats paws have to actually be amputated. In my opinion, this is cruel and unusual punishment.

What do you think? Should cat declawing be illegal?

Note: Rosenthal also proposed and had a bill signed into law by the Governor last year that prohibits the tattooing and piercing of companion animals. Anyone in violation of this law faces up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

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