From: vleppert@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Valerie Leppert)
Subject: Re: DECLAWING? (ALSO: PLUG FOR IL NO-KILL SHELTER)
Organization: Northwestern University, Evanston Illinois.
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 18:27:55 GMT

In article <1993Jan5.142022.29554@porthos.cc.bellcore.com> gck@hector.cc.bellcore.com (kemmerling,gayle c) writes:
>In article <1992Dec30.154853.10161@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu>, cldavies@nyx.cs.du.edu (cindy davies) writes:
>> In article <1669.110.uupcb@hal9k.ann-arbor.mi.us> laurel.schippers@hal9k.ann-arbor.mi.us (Laurel Schippers)  writes:
>> 
>> Are you kidding?  Many shelters make you sign an oath in blood, that not only
>> will you not get this cat declawed, you will never declaw a cat in the future,
>> have never declawed on in the past (or are really really really sorry if you
>> did) ...
>> 
>What?  I've never heard of this.  In Illinois the shelters only ask that you
>get them spayed and will even pay for part of it along with a vet visit to
>ensure the animal is healthy or you can return him/her.  In my opinion if they
>are more worried about declawing than finding a loving home for the animal then
>their priorities are a little confused.
>
>gayle

I'm going to make a plug for a no-kill shelter here.

Felines
P.O. Box 268020
Chicago, IL 60626
(312) 465-4132

Here are the rules in their adoption agreement:

1. I will regard my cat as a member of the family, and , accordingly, will
provide my cat with TLC.
2. If my cat is not altered, I will have my cat neutered/spayed no later than
seven months of age (Note: this is now a city law). I agree to furnish Felines
with proof of said neuter/spay.
3. I will not allow my cat at liberty outdoors.  My cat is to be on a leash,
in a carrier, or in a safe enclosed area when out of doors. (Note: this is in
Chicago).
4. I will feed my cat a wholesome and varied diet and will keep my cat clean,
well-groomed and free of parasites.
5. I will provide my cat with prompt vet care, whenever necessary.
6. I will provide my cat with a yearly check-up by a vet, along with necessary
booster shots.
7. If my cat is lost, I will call Felines immediately.
8. I WILL NOT HAVE MY CAT DECLAWED, UNLESS PERMISSION IS GIVEN BY FELINES.
9. If I move, I agree to notify Felines promptly of my new address and
telephone number.
10. If for any reason I can no longer keep my cat, I will call Felines to mare
arrangements to reutrn him/her.
11.  I hereby give Felines perission to telephone me and/or visit my residence
during reasonable hours to check my cat.

THese guys are great, send them LOTS of money so they can keep doing such a
good job.

We saw a cat there who had been returned when his owners got divorced a few
years after adoption.  I think it is great that they will take these cats
back, insuring that they're not dumped on someone who will not properly care
for them.

They have an agreement with a nearby vet, so we get reductions on certain
types of vet care. The vet is very familiar with the 12 year old we adopted.

Felines did call us to check on our cats we adopted from them.  They haven't
visited, yet.

I don't know under what circumstances they allow declawing, but I think the
rule hints that they consider it on a case by case basis.

My old roommate went to a place that did a check on her job and our landlord
tomake sure cats were allowed.  They were so difficult to work with that she
ended up not adopting one of their cats.  Felines was not as hard to adopt through,
but they did interview us on previous pet ownership, our living circumstances,
and our discipline plans.  One group we wanted to adopt through suggested we
shouldn't move out of the Chicago area, because it would be too difficult on
the cats. We didn't work with them.

Valerie