Vet Association Updates Stance On Welfare Issues
by Sherry Morse
Posted on January 05, 2004

A taskforce formed by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)
has redefined the Association's official positions on a set of key
animal welfare issues, which include animal abuse, convenience
euthanasia, declawing, devocalization and ear cropping/tail docking.

The positions were approved by the AAHA's board in mid-October and
represent what the organization calls "Phase 1" of the taskforce's
assignment.

"Animal welfare has been a topic of increasing importance to the
profession recently," said Dr. Link Welborn, AAHA president, private
practitioner and taskforce member. "We felt it was important for the
association to give our members guidance as far as the association's
perspectives."

The issues, and the AAHA's corresponding statement regarding each,
are as follows:

1. Canine 'Devocalization.'

The statement says canine devocalization "should only be performed by
qualified, licensed veterinarians as a final alternative after
behavioral modification efforts to correct excessive vocalization
have failed."

Dr. Charles Lippincott, a retired practitioner in Medford, Ore.,
wrote a paper on the 'benefits' of canine devocalization in the
1990s, but said he understands the public perception might not be as
positive these days..

"The climate has changed. Political correctness is spilling over into
animal care. Right or wrong, it has changed what things are being
done," Lippincott said recently.

2. Animal Abuse And Reporting.

"The profession of veterinary medicine recognizes the link between
animal abuse and domestic violence," said Dr. Merry Crimi, taskforce
chair and private practitioner. "We say our profession has an
obligation to take an active role; we actively support state
legislation for mandatory reporting of animal abuse; and veterinary
hospital teams need to be educated so we can actively participate in
identifying and reporting."

3. Euthanasia.

According to the AAHA, "adoptable animals should not be victims
of 'convenience euthanasia'."

The statement demands euthanasia, when necessary, be pain and anxiety-
free and carried out with a sense of dignity. The statement
adds: "Euthanasia is a very delicate decision best left to animal
owners and the attending veterinarian."

4. Declawing.

The new position is that declawing of domestic cats is not medically
necessary and should only be considered when wounds created by claws
would present health risks to humans, such as the elderly or those
with immune suppression issues.

The statement adds: "Veterinarians have an obligation to educate cat
owners completely on declawing before performing the procedure."

5. Ear Cropping/Tail Docking.

"We went from a position of just wanting practitioners to educate
clients that they're optional, to actually stating we oppose them
when done for cosmetic reasons," Crimi said.

The AAHA's official statement on this issue now is that the
procedures should be performed only if medically necessary.

"We're actively encouraging elimination of the procedures from breed
standards, which is a very clear message to outside industry,
breeders and AKC," Crimi said.

AAHA is working on nine more related projects, which will be a
collaboration among groups including the AVMA. The additional
projects will be considered "Phase 2" of the taskforce's assignment
and will address guardianship, the feral cat situation and evolution
of the companion animal bond and its implications on the value of
pets.

When asked whether AAHA plans to lobby for legislation pertaining to
animal welfare issues highlighted in its position statements, Crimi
hedged, saying, "I guess I won't go there right now."

Sources

DVM Newsmagazine
http://www.dvmnewsmagazine.com/dvm/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=80267
AAHA Takes Stand On Animal Welfare

DVM Newsmagazine
http://www.dvmnewsmagazine.com/dvm/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=80271
Practitioners Opine On Animal Welfare Issues

© 2004 Animal News Center, Inc.

http://www.dvmnewsmagazine.com/dvm/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=80271

Posted on SHARE Yahoo group Jan 13, 2004