There are more than 100 big cat sanctuaries in 41 states caring for over 1000 declawed big cats that live each day in constant pain. The Paw Project's goal is to help every one of these cats by providing support to animal sanctuaries and veterinarians. 

Paw Project Founder Dr. Jennifer Conrad has over two decades of experience caring for wildlife on six continents. An impassioned advocate for animal welfare, Dr. Conrad has witnessed animal suffering and exploitation, destruction of habitat, and gratuitous hunting, which threaten the welfare and the very survival of many species. Dr. Conrad supports and participates in many programs to protect and improve the lives of wild and captive animals as well as domestic cats.

The Paw Project exists to promote animal welfare and increase public awareness about the crippling effects of feline declawing, to rehabilitate big cats that have been declawed, and to end the practice of declaw surgery. Dr. Jenny Conrad and The Paw Project initiated efforts which led to the ban on declawing in West Hollywood, CA, the first law of its kind in North America. The Paw Project was also the sponsor of AB 1857, introduced by Assemblyman Paul Koretz (D-42nd District). In January 2005, the California Anti-Declaw Act, signed into law by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, became the first state law in the US banning the declawing of wild and exotic cats.   Now, because of The Paw Project, it is illegal to declaw exotic cats in all 50 states. 

Scientific research published by Paw Project veterinarians provided the data behind the 2006 USDA ruling forbidding declawing of animals by USDA-licensed owners of exotic and wild animals. The USDA ban is enforced by the federal Animal Welfare Act. Declawing is a surgical procedure, also called onychectomy, in which the animal's toes are amputated at the last joint. Most people do not realize that a portion of the bone—not only the nail—is removed. Declawing may result in permanent lameness, arthritis, and other long-term complications. It is actually illegal in many countries. View case studies of cats that have suffered negative health effects due to declawing.

Since April 2000 veterinarians working with The Paw Project have performed reparative surgery on lions, tigers, cougars, leopards, and jaguars that had been victims of declaw surgery. Enjoying relief for the first time after years of suffering, declawed cats that could hobble only a few agonizing steps prior to reparative surgery are able to leap, run, and play much more as nature intended.

ALL CATS NEED THEIR CLAWS.   Please don't declaw!

www.pawproject.org

www.myspace.com/pawproject

Really thoroughly thought out and nicely written article, thank you.  The cat pictures are beautiful.  I sincerely hope this article touches hearts of many, whether they are appreciative of cats or not.  I was certainly touched.

K. Velasquez