Email New Hampshire’s Republican Senators:
(if sent as a single email, please BCC them)
Carrie.Gendreau@leg.state.nh.us, Timothy.Lang@leg.state.nh.us, Jeb.Bradley@leg.state.nh.us, James.Gray@leg.state.nh.us, Daniel.Innis@leg.state.nh.us, Ruth.Ward@leg.state.nh.us, Denise.Ricciardi@leg.state.nh.us, Sharon.Carson@leg.state.nh.us, Howard.Pearl@leg.state.nh.us, Keith.Murphy@leg.state.nh.us, Daryl.Abbas@leg.state.nh.us, William.Gannon@leg.state.nh.us
Suggested email template for veterinarians:
As a veterinarian, I urge you to support HB231. The New Hampshire State Veterinary Medical Association does not represent our interests. Declawing has already been banned in over 40 countries, as well as Maryland and New York. New Hampshire should not be left behind. More than 20 years of evidence shows how declaw bans successfully protect cats, veterinarians and the public.
An American Association of Feline Practitioners survey found that a majority of the 1,200 veterinarians surveyed support legislative bans on declawing.
A 2017 study showed declawed cats were more than four times more likely to bite, three times more likely to be aggressive, nearly three times more likely to have back pain, three times more likely to excessively self-groom, and seven times more likely to avoid the litter box. Changes in litter box habits are one of the most commonly reported reasons for surrendering cats to shelters, according to a six-year retrospective study. Sadly, shelter cats with a bite history are more than four times more likely to be returned; if they were adopted, their biting can result in serious injury and lawsuits.
Opponents of declaw bans claim that without declawing available as an option, feline guardians will surrender their cats. However, data doesn’t support that claim. A 2022 study found that after a declaw ban was passed in British Columbia, there was no change in the number of cats relinquished to the animal shelter system.
As veterinarians, we took an oath to work for “the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and relief of animal suffering.” Veterinarian support of this bill is consistent with this oath. New Hampshire, along with the rest of the nation, must follow the science and lead efforts to advance bills that protect animals.
Check out more information here:
Opinion in Keene Sentinel Dr. Karen Campbell: Declawing Surgery is inhumane to cats
Opinion piece by Dr. Crystal Heath in the Laconia Daily Sun
Thank you for supporting HB 231!
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Suggested email template for regular cat people:
As a cat lover I support the veterinarians who want to ban declawing and urge you to support HB231. Declawing has already been banned in over 40 countries, as well as Maryland and New York. New Hampshire should not be left behind. More than 20 years of evidence shows how declaw bans successfully protect cats, veterinarians and the public.
An American Association of Feline Practitioners survey found that a majority of the 1,200 veterinarians surveyed support legislative bans on declawing.
A 2017 study showed declawed cats were more than four times more likely to bite, three times more likely to be aggressive, nearly three times more likely to have back pain, three times more likely to excessively self-groom, and seven times more likely to avoid the litter box. Changes in litter box habits are one of the most commonly reported reasons for surrendering cats to shelters, according to a six-year retrospective study. Sadly, shelter cats with a bite history are more than four times more likely to be returned; if they were adopted, their biting can result in serious injury and lawsuits.
Opponents of declaw bans claim that without declawing available as an option, feline guardians will surrender their cats. However, data doesn’t support that claim. A 2022 study found that after a declaw ban was passed in British Columbia, there was no change in the number of cats relinquished to the animal shelter system.
New Hampshire, along with the rest of the nation, must follow the science and lead efforts to advance bills that protect animals.
Learn more here:
Opinion in Keene Sentinel Dr. Karen Campbell: Declawing Surgery is inhumane to cats
Opinion piece by Dr. Crystal Heath in the Laconia Daily Sun
Thank you for supporting HB 231!