From: Jack_Webb@mindlink.bc.ca (Jack Webb)
Subject: Re: declawing?
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 01:14:37 GMT

> Judith D. Schlesinger writes:
>
> Msg-ID: <1992Dec21.230952.18380@super.org>
> Posted: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 23:09:5
>
> Org.  : Supercomputing Research Center (Bowie, MD)
>
> In article <1992Dec19.060150.3859@umbc3.umbc.edu> cs431109@umbc8.umbc.edu
> (cs431109) writes:
>
>          <long article in defense of declawing deleted>
>
> Thank you, Mary, for taking the time to write this.  I've started on
> several
> occasions and quit because of time constraints and the anger I feel each
> time I read some of the anti-declawing flames.
>
> A couple of additional points:  it amazes me how much the declaw/anti-
> declaw argument sounds like the abortion/anti-abortion argument.  In
> some articles, you can replace the word declaw with abortion and not
> have to change another word in the whole thing.  On the declaw side,
> people seem to universally say that declawing is not for everyone and
> you have to make an individual choice based on circumstances that only
> you can evaluate; and sometimes you're simply choosing what you consider
> to be the lesser of two evils.  Very similar to the pro-choice (pro
> abortion) argument.  On the anti-declaw side, people seem to say that
> they would never declaw a cat that lived with them and no one else
> should ever declaw any cat.  Sounds a lot like anti-abortion to me.
>
> The bottom line on this, as I see it, is that *everyone* is free to
> choose what they will do but *no one* has the right to dictate to me
> based on their value system.  There have been many people who say
> that their cat is more important than any furniture.  Well, they
> either have a lot of money to keep buying/repairing their furniture
> or don't mind living in a dump.  I don't fall into either of those
> two categories.  I adore my cats and give them far more leeway than
> most people would--including many of the anti-claw people we hear
> from on the net--yet, I want to live in a home where my furniture
> doesn't look like I salvaged it from the dump.  If some of you think
> that's evil, you're entitled to your opinion.  But don't keep trying
> to inflict that opinion on me!
>
> Beyond this, I agree wholeheartedly with all the points Mary made in
> her post.  Well said.
>
> Judith and Charlie (declawed) and Sarah (declawed) and BB (jury's still
> out)
>

RIGHT ON!!!

I am from the anti-declawing camp, I guess you'd say, but I do believe that
it is ultimately everyone's personal choice.  No one is making me declaw my
cats, and I'd never want to make anyone not do it.  I believe the educated
choice is the right choice, and however one wants to interpret the ideas on
the net or off it is their business!!  I have gotten flamed recently for my
ideas... all  I was doing was expressing my OPINION... (remember, IMHO is in
common use on the net).

Let's discuss things without accusations!!  We are all cat lovers here, and
that should be the focus of the discussions here. :)

*j*

p.s. my furniture looks great, too... the scratching post, not so lucky! :)

--
WE SAIL TONIGHT FOR SINGAPORE - WE'RE ALL AS MAD AS HATTERS HERE!!

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