All language subtitles for The.Paw.Project.2013.1080p.WEBRip.x264-RARBG2_English

O'Leary: FIRSTLY, THE WHOLE IDEA
OF DECLAWING

I NEEDED TO COME TO GRIPS WITH.

I WAS NOT AWARE OF DECLAWING
AS A MEDICAL PROCEDURE,

ALTHOUGH I ASSUMED THAT VETS
HAVE, NUMBER ONE,

THE KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY
AND TECHNOLOGY

TO DO SUCH A THING
AS A DECLAWING

AS YOU WOULD AN AMPUTATION.

SO I REACHED OUT.

THE FIRST THING I DID
WAS CALL MY MOTHER,

AND I SAID, "MOM,

"WHAT DO WE DO IN IRELAND
WHEN A CAT NEEDS DECLAWING?

HOW DO VETS RESPOND?"

AND SHE SAID, "WHY WOULD ANYONE
WANT TO DECLAW A CAT?"

AND IT GOT ME THINKING,
"OH, MY GOD.

"HAVE WE CREATED A MARKET

"FOR WHAT I WOULD
PERSONALLY CONSIDER

A VERY PAINFUL SURGERY?"

Dr. Jones:
A LOT OF VETERINARIANS STILL
CONTINUE TO OFFER COUPONS

OR PROMOTE DECLAWING

MAINLY, I THINK,
NOT FOR THE CAT'S SAKE

BUT AS A REVENUE SOURCE.

BUT DECLAWING DOES NOT BELONG
IN A KITTEN PACKAGE.

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO "DO NO HARM,"

AND I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING
THAT'S MORE HARMFUL,

ESPECIALLY TO A YOUNG ANIMAL

THAT'S GONNA GROW UP LIVING
THAT WAY THEIR WHOLE LIFE.

Dr. Lavizzo:
AT THE END OF THE DAY,

I WOULD THINK ABOUT
EVERYTHING THAT I HAD DONE

AND WHETHER OR NOT IT HAD
BENEFITED MY PATIENTS.

AND FRANKLY, THERE WERE TIMES,
ESPECIALLY AROUND DECLAWING,

WHEN I REALLY WASN'T COMFORTABLE
WITH WHAT I HAD DONE.

IT WAS NOT IN THE INTEREST
OF MY PATIENT.

Dr. Gebroe:
IN OPPOSITION TO THIS GROUP,

YOU HAVE
VETERINARY ORGANIZATIONS

WITH DECADES
OF PROVEN TRUSTWORTHINESS

THAT ARE OPPOSED
TO THE DECLAW BAN.

THEY ARE,
AND ARE NOT LIMITED TO,

THE AMERICAN VETERINARY
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION,

CALIFORNIA VETERINARY
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION,

AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

CAN THEY ALL BE WRONG?

Dr. Conrad: AS A VETERINARIAN,
I'VE WORKED ON SIX CONTINENTS,

AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY GREAT
TO WORK ON ANIMALS IN THE WILD,

BUT A LOT OF MY PATIENTS
ARE ACTUALLY CAPTIVE ANIMALS.

IN FACT, THEY'RE ACTORS.

SO I NAMED MY BUSINESS
VET TO THE (REAL) STARS

BECAUSE I REALLY DO BELIEVE
THAT THE ANIMALS ARE THE STARS.

Woman: HE DID A COMMERCIAL
CALLED "BUDWEISER FRISBEE DOG."

HE WAS ON A TV SHOW CALLED
"HEROES" FOR FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.

HE PLAYED A CHARACTER
CALLED MR. MUGGLES.

ENOUGH ABOUT MR. MUGGLES.

WHAT'D EVERYONE ELSE DO TODAY?

HE'S PRETTY TALENTED.

LET ME JUST LOOK AT HIS FUR.

HI, LESTAT.

OH, YEAH,
HE LOOKS SO MUCH BETTER.

YEAH, HE LOOKS FINE.

[ YELPS ]

OH, HONEY, IT'S ALL RIGHT.

MY GOODNESS!

SHE'S A LITTLE BIT
OF A DRAMA QUEEN.

[ SMOOCHES ]

PEOPLE ASK ME
WHERE MY OFFICE IS,

AND THAT'S JUST IT --
I DON'T HAVE AN OFFICE.

I AM A MOBILE VET.

I DRIVE TO SEE MY PATIENTS.

I THINK IT'S EASIER ON THEM
IF I COME TO THEM,

AND SOMETIMES I HAVE TO DRIVE
HUNDREDS OF MILES.

[ SNARLING ]

THE FAMOUS TIGER FROM THE MOVIE
"THE HANGOVER" IS MY PATIENT,

AND EVEN THOUGH
SHE'S 8 YEARS OLD,

SHE STILL LIKES TO SUCK
ON A BOTTLE.

YOU'RE NICE.

YOU'RE THE NEATEST EATER
I'VE EVER MET.

[ CHUCKLES ]

WHAT'S GOING ON?

CAN I SEE THAT EYE?

IT'S JUST MOSTLY CRUST.
I BET YOU IT'S JUST ALLERGIES.

WHAT'S FANTASTIC
ABOUT BEING A VETERINARIAN

IS THAT EVERY DAY IS DIFFERENT
AND I CAN WORK AN ANY ANIMAL,

FROM AN ELEPHANT TO A BEAR
TO AN ALLIGATOR.

AND THEY'RE ALL SO SPECIAL
AND REALLY INTRIGUING TO ME.

I GREW UP IN MALIBU, CALIFORNIA,
AND I'M ONE OF FOUR CHILDREN,

AND BOTH MY PARENTS
ARE MEDICAL DOCTORS.

I FELT THE PRESSURE IN MY FAMILY
TO DO SOMETHING WITH MEDICINE,

BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO WORK
ON HUMANS.

I WANTED TO WORK ON ALL
THESE DIFFERENT ANIMALS,

AND I FELT THAT THERE WAS
NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT

THAT I COULD DO
THAN TO HELP ENDANGERED SPECIES

BY GETTING
A VETERINARIAN DEGREE.

WHEN I BEGAN TO BE KNOWN
IN HOLLYWOOD

AS AN EXOTIC-ANIMAL
VETERINARIAN,

I GOT MORE AND MORE WORK,

BUT I WAS ALSO A VETERINARIAN
FOR ANIMALS

WHO HAD WOUND UP IN SANCTUARIES
OR ON ANIMAL COMPOUNDS.

MANY OF THEM ARE ILLEGAL PETS

WHO WERE CONFISCATED AND THEY
WERE DECLAWED AND CRIPPLED.

Woman: [ GASPS ]

Dr. Conrad: THAT'S JUST
FROM DECLAWING, HUH?

WHEN I STARTED WORKING IN ALL
THESE SANCTUARIES I WOULD ASK,

"WHY ARE ALL
THESE CATS DECLAWED?"

AND THE ANSWER
ACROSS THE BOARD WAS,

"BECAUSE IT SUPPOSEDLY MAKES
THEM SAFER TO WORK WITH."

WHEN I TALKED TO OTHER
VETERINARIANS ABOUT DECLAWING,

THEY SAID, "WELL,
THAT'S JUST WHAT HAPPENS --

"THEY GET CRIPPLED.
THESE ANIMALS GET CRIPPLED.

THAT'S JUST WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN YOU DECLAW THEM."

ONE DAY, I WAS WALKING THROUGH
THE DIRT ROADS OF THE COMPOUND,

AND ONE OF THE KEEPERS
CAME UP TO ME

AND SAID THAT A DECLAWED
MOUNTAIN LION HAD DIED.

I REMEMBER HAVING THIS
AMBIVALENCE ABOUT HIM DYING

AND THINKING,
MAYBE NOW HE'S FREE

AND HE DOESN'T HAVE TO FEEL
THAT PAIN ANYMORE.

WITHIN A WEEK,
TWO OTHER MOUNTAIN LIONS DIED.

BOTH OF THEM HAD BEEN SUFFERING
FROM BEING DECLAWED.

AND ONE OF THEM WAS SO CRIPPLED

HE WAS BASICALLY WALKING
ON HIS ELBOWS.

LIKE THIS,
AND, IN FACT, I THINK HE DIED

BECAUSE HE COULDN'T GET
TO HIS WATER,

AND HE DIED OF RENAL FAILURE.

AND THERE'S NOTHING
THAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT THAT.

HE CAN'T WALK.

RIGHT, PHOENIX?

I JUST KIND OF ASSUMED
THAT IT WAS SO PAINFUL

BECAUSE YOU CUT OFF THEIR TOES,

BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE
THAT IT WAS SO PAINFUL

BECAUSE THEY'RE DEALING
WITH THE INFECTION

OR THE ANATOMICAL CHANGES THAT
YOU'VE CAUSED IN THOSE PAWS.

AND I REMEMBER
LOOKING AT THOSE TOES,

AND THEY WERE SWOLLEN SO BIG!

AND I THOUGHT, "WHAT IS THAT?"

AND I SLIT IT OPEN,
AND THIS PUS POURED OUT OF IT.

THEY ACTUALLY HAVE PUS
IN THEIR BLOOD,

AND IT'S AFFECTING
THEIR KIDNEYS,

THEIR LIVER, AND THEIR HEART.

AND I COULD SEE
THAT IT WAS HIS NAIL.

IT WAS HIS CLAWS GROWING BACK
IN LITTLE TINY PIECES

FROM FRAGMENTS OF BONE.

AND THEY WERE GROWING NAIL
UNDER HIS SKIN.

THIS IS NAIL REGROWING,

AND ITS PUS
IS SURROUNDING ALL THESE --

YOU CAN SEE,
IT LOOKS LIKE A STARBURST,

LIKE A GALAXY.

IT'S SO AWFUL TO THINK THAT THIS
IS WHAT HE WAS SUFFERING WITH,

AND I THOUGHT, "I'M GONNA DO
SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

THIS IS WRONG THAT THEY ARE
SUFFERING LIKE THIS."

I WAS GONNA TAKE THOSE ANIMALS,

MY PATIENTS,
AND AT THE VERY LEAST,

I WAS GONNA TAKE AWAY THE PUS

AND THE NAIL RE-GROWTH
UNDER THE SKIN.

SO I WENT TO ONE
VETERINARIAN SURGEON,

AND ASKED HIM WHAT HE THOUGHT
OF THE PLAN

OF REATTACHING THE TENDONS,

GIVING THE CAT THE ABILITY

TO FLEX AND EXTEND THE PAWS
LIKE A NORMAL CAT.

OTHERWISE, THE CAT SITS BACK
ON THE WRISTS,

AVOIDING PRESSURE ON THE TOES

AND THIS CAUSES ARTHRITIS
IN THE WRISTS,

THE ELBOWS, AND THE SHOULDERS.

THERE WAS ONE CAT I WAS
PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT.

HIS NAME IS DRIFTER,
AND HE'S A 550-POUND TIGER,

BUT HE'S ONLY 3 1/2 YEARS OLD,

AND HE'S ALREADY
HAVING TROUBLE WALKING.

NO ONE HAS EVER
DONE THIS SURGERY BEFORE,

BUT I'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING
FOR HIM.

HE'S JUST A BABY,

AND HE'S ALREADY
HAVING TROUBLE WALKING.

[ TIGER GROWLING ]

[ ROARS ]

NO, NO, NO, NO!

IT'S SO UPSETTING TO SEE DRIFTER
AND HAVE HIM BE SO MAD AT ME.

BUT HE DOESN'T KNOW I'M TRYING
TO HELP HIM, BUT I AM.

I'M TRYING TO HELP HIM.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

[ GRUNTS ]

CAT'S EYES JUST WENT
[Laughing] "WHOA!"

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

THIS IS A MESS.

Dr. Conrad:
WHAT'S MUCH MORE INVOLVED

IS FINDING THAT DEEP
DIGITAL FLEXOR TENDON

AND ATTACHING IT
TO THE EXTENSOR TENDON.

THAT'S HARD.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, MICROSURGERY.

BUT WHAT WAS SHOCKING
WAS THE AMOUNT OF NAIL

THAT WAS GROWING UNDER HIS SKIN.

AND I USED TO CALL IT
A PEBBLE IN A SHOE,

BUT THIS WAS REALLY
LIKE GIBRALTAR.

I CAN'T EVEN FATHOM
WHAT THAT WAS LIKE

FOR HIM TO HAVE TO WALK ON THAT.

[ INDISTINCT TALKING ]

Dr. Conrad: WITHIN A DAY OR TWO
HE WAS WALKING AND PLAYING.

IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE
THIS CHANGE IN THE CAT.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.
IT WORKED.

SEE HOW HE'S USING HIS FOOT?

HIS WHOLE LIFE
IS GOING TO CHANGE.

IT WORKED!

HIS PAWS ARE SHORTER.

WE DIDN'T PUT THE BONE
BACK IN THEM,

BUT HE HAS FUNCTION IN THEM.

LOOK AT HIM SCRATCHING THAT.

Man: YEAH.

WHAT'S REALLY NEAT IS, HIS TOES
ARE PULLING REAL STRONG,

AS STRONG AS IF HE HAD CLAWS.

Dr. Conrad:: I MEAN, HE'S
CLEARLY NOT IN PAIN ANYMORE.

NOT IN PAIN?!

DOES THAT LOOK LIKE PAIN?

OH, GOD.

[ MOANS LIGHTLY ]

Dr. Conrad:
I THOUGHT, "MY GOD!

"I'M GONNA DO THIS
ON EVERY SINGLE CAT HERE.

I'M GONNA REPAIR THEIR PAWS."

AND THE FIRST EIGHT CATS
I PAID FOR

BECAUSE I WAS JUST SO ECSTATIC
TO SEE THEM CHANGE.

I MEAN, THEY CHANGED
SO DRAMATICALLY.

AND I'M DOING THE VERY BEST
I CAN FOR THESE ANIMALS,

AND I'M PAYING THEM BACK

FOR WHAT HAS BEEN TAKEN
FROM THEM.

I'M GIVING THEM BACK
THEIR LIVES.

AND ISN'T IT AMAZING

HOW VETERINARIAN MEDICINE
CAN BE SO DIFFERENT,

HOW VETERINARIAN MEDICINE
TOOK THEIR CLAWS

AND VETERINARIAN MEDICINE
CAN RESTORE THEIR DIGNITY

AND THEIR COMFORT?

Man: OH!

BUT I BEGAN TO REALIZE
THE NUMBERS.

THERE WERE PEOPLE CONTACTING ME

FROM ALL OVER
THE COUNTRY SAYING,

"WE HAVE 20 CATS WHO NEED
THEIR PAWS REPAIRED,

AND WE HAVE 40 CATS,
AND WE HAVE 60 CATS."

THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF BIG CATS
WHO NEEDED THEIR PAWS REPAIRED.

I REALIZED THERE WAS NO WAY
I WAS GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THIS

ALL BY MYSELF,
SO I STARTED A NONPROFIT.

I CALLED IT THE PAW PROJECT,

AND DONATIONS STARTED COMING IN

FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

WITH SO MANY THOUSANDS
OF BIG CATS

WHO NEED THEIR PAWS REPAIRED...

[ TIGERS YOWLING ]

...I REALIZED THERE MUST BE
MILLIONS OF DOMESTIC CATS,

THE ONES WHO LIVE IN OUR HOMES
WHO NEED THEIR PAWS REPAIRED.

DECLAWING IS NOT A WEIGHT ISSUE.

A 10-POUND CAT CAN SUFFER
FROM DECLAWING

AS MUCH AS A 100-POUND COUGAR.

IT'S AN AMPUTATION.

NO MATTER WHAT SIZE ANIMAL
YOU ARE,

YOU NEED TO HAVE YOUR TOES.

AND BY AMPUTATING THEM,
THERE'S GONNA BE PROBLEMS.

Dr. Lavizzo:
LEONARDO DA VINCI --

"THE SMALLEST FELINE
IS A MASTERPIECE."

I MEAN, THIS IS A MASTERPIECE,
AND HERE WE ARE.

WE JUST MAIMED THIS MASTERPIECE.

Dr. Conrad:
THE WAY THAT A CAT IS

AND THE BEAUTY THAT'S IN A CAT,

THEY'RE LIKE NO OTHER ANIMAL.

AND THEY HAVE A SENSE OF SELF,

AND THEY HAVE A SENSE
OF MAJESTY, I GUESS IT IS.

AND THEY COME IN ALL
DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES,

AND THEY HAVE WHAT THEY LIKE

AND THEY HAVE
WHAT THEY DON'T LIKE.

AND THEY MAKE
THE MOST GLORIOUS SOUND.

[ CAT PURRING ]

I THINK ONE OF
THE MOST MARVELOUS THINGS

ABOUT THE CAT IS THE CLAWS.

Galaxy:
IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO THEM.

IT'S INTRINSIC TO WHO THEY ARE.

ITS PART OF WHAT I CALL
THE "RAW CAT."

WHEN THEY WALK UP TO YOU
AND THEY SCRATCH NEXT TO YOU,

BOTH WITH SCENT AND WITH SIGHT,

THEY ARE CLAIMING YOU --
"I BELONG TO YOU,

YOU BELONG TO ME."

IT'S A COMPLIMENT.

Dr. Conrad: THEY USE THEM
TO GRASP THINGS,

TO PLAY, TO GROOM, TO STRETCH.

THEY HAVE THIS MARVELOUS THING
OF KNEADING

THAT'S SO LUXURIOUS TO WATCH.

EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT IT IS,
AND IT'S PART OF WHAT A CAT IS.

THEY NEED THEM TO CLIMB
AND FOR BALANCE,

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY,
THEY NEED THEM FOR DEFENSE.

[ CAT SCREECHING ]

THE HUMAN HAND AND THE CAT PAW
ARE VERY SIMILAR

IN THAT WE BOTH
HAVE THREE BONES.

THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE IS THAT
IN OUR HANDS,

THE NAIL GROWS FROM THE SKIN,

WHEREAS IN THE CAT PAW,

THE NAIL GROWS
FROM THE THIRD PHALANX.

IT GROWS FROM THE BONE.

THIS IS A NAIL FROM A LION,

AND IT IS THE EXACT SAME ANATOMY
AS FROM A DOMESTIC CAT.

IT'S JUST EASIER TO SEE,

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THE NAIL
IS ACTUALLY GROWING

DIRECTLY FROM THE BONE.

THE MOST COMMON WAY
OF DECLAWING A CAT

IS TO USE WHAT'S CALLED
RESCO NAIL CLIPPERS,

AND THESE WERE ACTUALLY INVENTED

JUST TO TRIM THE NAILS
ON A DOG OR CAT.

BUT THEY'RE USED TO DECLAW A CAT

BY SLIPPING THE ENTIRE NAIL

AND THE LAST BONE
IN THE CAT'S TOE

THROUGH THE GUILLOTINE
AND SNIPPING IT OFF.

NOW, THAT WOULD BE
THE EQUIVALENT

OF TAKING THESE CIGAR CUTTERS

AND SLIPPING MY FINGER THROUGH

AND CUTTING THIS WHOLE
LAST BONE OFF.

OTHER METHODS
INCLUDE USING A LASER,

AND WHILE THE LASER SOUNDS LIKE
A 21st CENTURY MEDICINE,

IT'S ACTUALLY JUST THE SAME
AS USING A SCALPEL.

IT'S AN AMPUTATION OF THE LAST
BONE IN THE CAT'S TOE.

Man:
THE LASER -- IT DOES CUT.

AND YOU CAN SEE,
IT DOES MAKE THAT CUT,

AND IT DOES IT BY VAPORIZING.

Koretz:
IT'S PROBABLY AS CRUEL

OR MORE SO
THAN THE MORE MANUAL DECLAW.

THE VET MAY HAVE SPENT
MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS

ON THIS PIECE OF EQUIPMENT

AND THEN WOULD WANT TO DO
THE DECLAWS

TO MAKE UP THAT MONEY.

VETERINARIANS CAN MAKE UPWARDS
OF $1,000 AN HOUR

DECLAWING CATS.

AND I RECEIVED A LETTER
FROM A VETERINARIAN

WHO CLAIMS TO BE MAKING $75,000
OR MORE A YEAR DECLAWING CATS.

AND SO HE SAYS
HE'S NOT GONNA GIVE IT UP.

IN FACT, HE SAYS
HE RECOMMENDS IT

FOR EVERY SINGLE CAT
WHO COMES THROUGH HIS DOORS.

IN AN ATTEMPT TO OFFER A WAY

TO STOP A CAT
FROM CLAWING FURNITURE

BUT YET NOT DECLAWING THE CAT,

THERE'S ANOTHER SURGERY
THAT'S OFFERED,

AND IT'S CALLED TENDONECTOMY.

AND WHAT IT IS, IS IT'S ACTUALLY
SLICING THE TENDONS

ON THE BOTTOM PART
OF THE CAT'S PAW

SO THAT THE NAILS ARE FLOPPY.

THE TOES DON'T WORK.

AND WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THE CAT
CAN NO LONGER HONE THE NAILS,

AND THEY BEGIN TO GROW,

AND THEY GROW ALL THE WAY AROUND
AND INTO THE PAD,

AND THAT CAUSES THE CAT
TO HAVE AN INFECTION.

SO VERY OFTEN IT ENDS UP

THAT THE CAT HAS NOT ONLY
BEEN TENDONECTOMIZED,

BUT THEN IT HAS TO BE DECLAWED.

THE OTHER PROBLEM
WITH TENDONECTOMY IS,

IN ORDER TO AVOID THE CLAWS
GROWING AND PENETRATING THE PAD,

THE OWNER HAS TO CLIP THE NAILS
EVERY TWO WEEKS.

AND IF THE OWNER CAN CLIP
THE NAILS EVERY TWO WEEKS,

THEN WHY DO YOU NEED THE
TENDONECTOMY SURGERY AT ALL?

Dr. Goldman:
WE WERE TAUGHT IN VET SCHOOL

THAT IT WAS A SURGICAL PROCEDURE
AND YOU WEREN'T TO QUESTION IT.

AND THOSE WHO DID WERE SORT OF
LOOKED AT AS ANIMAL COMMUNISTS.

BUT WE DIDN'T SEE OURSELVES
AS ANIMAL NAZIS.

I JUST KNEW
YOU DO THE RIGHT THING.

YOU DO WHAT YOU WERE TOLD.

SO I GRADUATED VET SCHOOL
PLANNING TO DO THEM.

IT'S GONNA TAKE FOUR MINUTES,
THREE MINUTES,

FOUR MINUTES PER ONE PAW,
ONCE YOU START DOING EVERYTHING.

THEN YOU TURN AROUND

AND YOU'RE DOING THE OTHER ONE,
TIME'S PASSING,

ANOTHER 4 MINUTES ON THAT.

THEN YOU'RE GONNA GO THROUGH
AND YOU'LL DO THE PLACEMENT

OF THE SURGICAL ADHESIVE
IN THE SOCKET,

EACH ONE GOING AT YOUR TIME.

SURGICAL ADHESIVE
HAS DIFFERENT TIMES

OF HOW LONG IT TAKES
FOR IT TO WORK.

I USED ONE THAT WAS ONLY
A TWO-SECOND --

VERY SHORT ACTING.

OTHERS, YOU HAVE TO HOLD
FOR FIVE TO EIGHT SECONDS.

I FOUND THAT TO BE A TOTAL DRAG

THAT I HAD TO HOLD EACH TOE
FIVE TO EIGHT SECONDS

AND THEN GO ON TO THE NEXT ONE.

I GOT 10 OF THEM TO DO.

AND THE TECHNICIANS GO OUT,

AND THEY DO A NICE COMPRESSION
BANDAGE TO PLACE ON THE KITTY.

I WOULD FIGURE IF I HAD TWO
DECLAWS AT THE END OF THE DAY,

I WAS LOOKING AT A HALF HOUR'S
WORTH OF WORK.

Dr. Lavizzo:
WHEN I STARTED DECLAWING CATS,

I FELT IT WAS
AN ACCEPTABLE MEANS

OF ALTERING
UNDESIRABLE BEHAVIOR,

AND SO THE PROCEDURE WAS TAKEN
VERY LIGHTLY.

AND I FELT THAT IT WAS
A VERY SIMPLE PROCEDURE TO DO

AND SHOULD BE DONE IN EVERY CAT
THAT CAME INTO THE PRACTICE.

[ MEOWS ]

Dr. Hofve:
A LOT OF VETERINARIANS SAY,

"WELL, WHILE WE'RE SPAYING HER,
WHY DON'T WE DECLAW HER, TOO?"

IT'S JUST LIKE
DRIVING THROUGH McDONALD'S

AND HAVING THE KID ASK YOU,

"WOULD YOU LIKE FRIES
WITH THAT?"

"WOULD YOU LIKE A DECLAW
WITH THAT?"

I WAS 19 YEARS OLD.

I WAS STUPID, I WAS YOUNG,
I WAS EGOCENTRIC,

AND I MADE
A REALLY POOR DECISION.

BUT THAT DECISION NOT ONLY
IMPACTED ME AND MY CAT,

BUT IT'S SOMETHING I'M GONNA
LIVE WITH FOREVER.

[ CAT MEOWS ]

IF THAT WERE A LAW
THAT I COULDN'T DO IT,

IT WOULDN'T EVEN BE AN OPTION.

I MEAN, IT WOULDN'T EVEN BE
IN THE MIND-SET

THAT THAT'S SOMETHING
TO EVEN THINK ABOUT.

IMAGINE SOMEBODY TAKES YOUR FEET
THAT YOU WALK ON EVERY DAY

AND CUTS YOUR TOES AND THEY SAY,
"OH, YEAH, HAVE A NICE LIFE."

I PAID THE MONEY, AND THEY SAID,

"COME GET HIM TOMORROW MORNING,"
AND THAT WAS IT.

[ CAT MEOWING ]

IT'S OKAY, SWEETIE.

I REMEMBER WATCHING THEM
AND JUST THINKING,

"THIS DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT."

THEY JUST SAID THAT
IF I GOT THE CLAWS REMOVED,

THEN I WOULDN'T HAVE
THAT PROBLEM ANYMORE

AND IT WOULD TOTALLY SAVE
MY FURNITURE.

DECLAW SEEMED TO BE LIKE,
"WELL, THAT'S WHAT YOU DO."

Woman: WHEN I FOUND OUT
WHAT DECLAWING REALLY WAS,

BASICALLY, I WAS HORRIFIED.

I FELT SICK 'CAUSE I HAD DONE
THAT TO MY CAT.

IT'S JUST SO GRUESOME,
WHAT THEY DO,

AND THE SIDE EFFECTS.

IT WAS SERIOUSLY
THE WORST DECISION

I HAVE EVER MADE
IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.

Dr. Conrad: IT'S NOT ON THE
FOREFRONT OF ANIMAL CRUELTY,

BUT IT'S SUCH AN INJUSTICE

IN THE FACT THAT IT'S THEIR
DOCTORS DOING IT TO THEM.

AND IT'S EVEN WORSE

BECAUSE THEIR DOCTORS AREN'T
TELLING WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THESE ARE ANIMALS WHO SLEEP
IN OUR BEDS,

WHO ARE OUR BEST FRIENDS,

WHO ARE ALWAYS THERE FOR US,

AND WE WANT WHAT'S BEST
FOR THEM.

HOW CAN WE LET SUCH AN INJUSTICE
HAPPEN TO THEM?

WE WOULD BANDAGE THEM
WITH BIG, WHITE BANDAGES,

VERY TIGHTLY AND PUT THE CATS,
WHEN WE WERE FINISHED,

IN A LITTLE HOLDING CAGE.

THEY COULDN'T REALLY SEE,
THEIR EYES WERE DILATED,

AND THEY WOULD BE
SHAKING THEIR PAWS

AND, YOU KNOW,
CRYING AND YELLING,

AND FREAKING OUT --

SOMETIMES FLIPPING BACKWARDS AND
UPSIDE DOWN INSIDE THE CAGES,

AND IT WAS REALLY HORRIBLE.

IT WAS VERY DISTRESSING.

Willhite: I PICKED HIM UP
THE NEXT MORNING.

THERE WERE STITCHES IN HIS HAND.

THERE WASN'T A SHEET SAYING
WHAT TO DO OR WHAT NOT TO DO.

HE WAS OBVIOUSLY,
OBVIOUSLY UNCOMFORTABLE.

I KNEW AS SOON AS I SAW HIM.

I KNEW IT WAS A BAD DECISION.
I KNEW IT.

Dr. Jones:
THE LONG-TERM RESULT IS

YOU END UP WITH A CAT
WITH ARTHRITIS,

PAIN, INFLAMMATION, INFECTION.

AND THIS POOR CAT CAN'T WALK.

Willhite: IT IS SUCH AN INHUMANE
AND BARBARIC PRACTICE.

I WANT TO KNOW WHY A
VETERINARIAN DIDN'T SAY TO ME,

"WHY ARE YOU GOING TO GET
YOUR CAT DECLAWED?

"THERE'S OTHER THINGS YOU CAN DO

"BESIDES AMPUTATING
PART OF HIS HANDS

THAT HE'S SUPPOSED TO WALK ON
FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE."

Dr. Lavizzo: WHEN I BEGAN TO SEE
HOW THESE CATS

RECOVERED FROM ANESTHESIA,

AND THAT THEY WERE NOT
WITHOUT PAIN.

WHEN I BEGAN TO SEE
THE BLOOD-SOAKED DRESSINGS

THAT WE HAD TO CHANGE
AND RE-WRAP

AND WRAP VERY TIGHTLY

AND THE SEVERE PAIN
WHICH THAT CAUSED.

AND JUST TO SEE THE STRESS
IN THESE ANIMALS

AND WHAT I WAS DOING TO THEM

BEGAN TO REALLY HAVE
AN EFFECT ON ME.

Hickman:
IN SOME OF THESE PICTURES,

YOU CAN SEE THE CAT SQUINTING.

THAT'S RECOGNIZED BY VETS

USUALLY AS A SIGN OF PAIN
IN CATS.

THE OWNERS WOULD NEVER
BE PERMITTED

TO SEE CAGES LOOKING LIKE THIS,

AND I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT THEY SHOULD SEE.

IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN THOUSANDS
OF HOSPITALS

ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

ANY PRACTICE THAT DECLAWS,

I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET
THE SAME TYPE OF PICTURES.

THERE'S A SAYING
THAT ALL THAT'S NEEDED

FOR EVIL TO PREVAIL IN THE WORLD

IS FOR GOOD PEOPLE
TO DO NOTHING,

AND I BELIEVE DECLAWING IS EVIL.

Dr. Conrad: THE MORE
I LOOKED INTO DECLAWING

AND THE MORE I SAW WHAT WAS
HAPPENING TO THESE POOR ANIMALS,

I BEGAN TO WONDER,
"WHO'S CONDONING THIS?"

MY NAME IS DR. CIA JOHNSON,

AND I'M A VETERINARIAN

IN THE AVMA's
ANIMAL WELFARE DIVISION.

MORE THAN 81 MILLION CATS
CURRENTLY LIVE IN AMERICAN HOMES

AND ARE GREAT COMPANIONS.

UNFORTUNATELY, THEIR CLAWS
CAN ALSO CAUSE DAMAGE

THAT CAN BE DISTRESSING

OR EVEN HARMFUL
TO OTHERWISE DOTING OWNERS.

TODAY I AM JOINED
BY DR. COLLEEN CURRIGAN

OF THE CAT HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO.

DR. CURRIGAN IS GONNA WALK US
THROUGH SURGICAL DECLAW

AT HER HOSPITAL.

SURGICAL DECLAWING
IS THE REMOVAL

OF EACH OF THE CAT'S CLAWS,

ALONG WITH PHALANX 3,

THE BONE TO WHICH THE CLAW
IS ATTACHED.

CATS CAN BE SAFELY DECLAWED
USING DIFFERENT METHODS,

BUT NO MATTER WHICH METHOD
OF DECLAWING IS USED,

AGGRESSIVE PAIN MANAGEMENT
IS NECESSARY.

SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE
THAT DECLAWING YOUR CAT

WILL LEAD TO
BEHAVIORAL ABNORMALITIES,

SUCH AS INAPPROPRIATE
ELIMINATION OR BITING.

HOWEVER, CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE

DOES NOT SUPPORT THIS CLAIM.

THE STRANGE THING ABOUT
THE AVMA's POSITION STATEMENT

ON DECLAWING IS THAT IT SAYS

THAT THERE'S NO
SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE

THAT DECLAWED CATS HAVE
ANY MORE BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS

THAN NON-DECLAWED CATS.

THAT'S REALLY PECULIAR

BECAUSE THEY MUST NOT BE READING
THE JOURNAL THAT THEY PUBLISH.

THE STUDY OUT OF CORNELL SAID
33%, ONE IN THREE,

DECLAWED CATS WILL DEVELOP
A BEHAVIOR PROBLEM.

ISN'T THAT SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE?

Bruce: THE AVMA's CLAIM

THAT DECLAWING CAUSES
NO BEHAVIORAL DIFFERENCES

IS ACTUALLY POSING
SERIOUS CONSUMER FRAUD ISSUES

AND SERIOUS ISSUES IN REGARDS
TO PROFESSIONALISM

IN VETERINARIAN ETHICS
BECAUSE THERE IS EVIDENCE,

AND THERE'S LOTS OF EVIDENCE,

THAT DECLAWED CATS
HAVE PROBLEMS.

AND WHEN THEY'RE TELLING
THE PUBLIC SOMETHING ELSE,

THAT'S DANGEROUS.

THIS IS NOT ONLY PUTTING CATS
AT RISK,

IT'S PUTTING THE PUBLIC AT RISK.

Dr. Conrad:
BY DECLAWING THE CAT,

THE VETERINARIAN
IS NOW INADVERTENTLY

SUBJECTING THE PEOPLE
OR THE PROPERTY

TO A FAR WORSE FATE

THAN JUST THE SCRATCHING
WOULD HAVE BEEN.

ALL THE BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS

BECAUSE HE WAS SCRATCHING
MY USED COUCH

THAT MY 19-YEAR-OLD PUNK-SELF
DIDN'T WANT HIM SCRATCHING,

THEY MULTIPLIED
THROUGH THE ROOF.

THEY'VE BEEN ROBBED
OF THEIR PRIMARY DEFENSE,

AND THIS MAKES THEM
MORE LIKELY TO BITE.

[ CAT YOWLS ]

Gnaegy: I PROBABLY GET,

I WOULD SAY 800
TO 1,000 CALLS A MONTH,

AND I WOULD SAY
A HIGH PERCENT OF THOSE

ARE DECLAWED RELINQUISHMENTS
FOR NOT USING THE LITTER BOX

OR AGGRESSIVE BITING.

Dr. Conrad:
IT HURTS FOR A DECLAWED CAT

TO DIG IN THE LITTER.

AND THAT'S WHY THEY START
TO USE THE COUCH

OR THE RUG OR SOMETHING ELSE
INSTEAD OF THE LITTER BOX.

Dr. Johnson: WHEN I FIRST
GRADUATED FROM SCHOOL,

I THOUGHT, AS I THINK MANY
OTHER VETERINARIANS THINK,

THAT BY DECLAWING A CAT,
I'M KEEPING IT IN THAT HOME,

THAT PERHAPS THE PERSON WOULD
NOT HAVE OTHERWISE GOTTEN A CAT.

SO IN EFFECT, I FELT LIKE
I WAS SAVING A LIFE

BY PERFORMING A DECLAW.

AFTER 10 YEARS
OF PRIVATE PRACTICE

AND BEING AT THE SHELTER
FOR 4 YEARS NOW,

I REALLY HAVE COME
TO FEEL DIFFERENTLY.

BASED ON WHAT I SEE EVERY DAY
IN THE SHELTER,

I DON'T FEEL LIKE DECLAWING
IS SAVING LIVES.

Delgado: WE SEE A LOT MORE
DECLAWED CATS

BEING SURRENDERED
INTO THE SHELTER SYSTEM

THAT HAVE LITTER BOX
OR AGGRESSION PROBLEMS

THAN WE SEE CATS
BEING SURRENDERED

FOR SCRATCHING FURNITURE.

Duran:
CATS WHO ARE DECLAWED

LOSE THEIR
PRIMARY DEFENSE MECHANISM,

AND THEY RESORT TO BITING.

AND ANY TIME YOU'VE GOT
CAT BITING IN THE EQUATION,

IT BECOMES REALLY A CONCERN
FOR PEOPLE

WHO HAVE BOTH COMPROMISED IMMUNE
SYSTEMS OR HEALTHY SYSTEMS.

YOU DON'T WANT TO ENCOURAGE
A CAT TO BE INVOLVED IN BITING.

THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL
IN ATLANTA

PUTS OUT A WEEKLY REPORT,
AND SPECIFICALLY IN THAT REPORT,

IT SAYS, "CAT DECLAWING
IS NOT RECOMMENDED."

I AM ONE OF FOUR ELECTED
OFFICIALS IN THE UNITED STATES

THAT IS LIVING WITH H.I.V.

AND I'VE BEEN H.I.V. POSITIVE
FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

AND I THINK THE REASON

THAT THAT'S RELEVANT
IN THIS DEBATE IS,

OFTEN WE HEAR FROM PEOPLE
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS ISSUE

ABOUT THE IMPACT ON
IMMUNOCOMPROMISED INDIVIDUALS.

AND IT REALLY IS
A FALSE ARGUMENT.

Koretz: THERE WOULD BE MANY
FEWER ANIMALS IN SHELTERS

IF WE BANNED THE DECLAWING
OF ALL CATS IN THE COUNTRY.

Delgado: THE VETERINARIANS
DON'T SEE THE SHELTER WORKERS

HAVING TO EUTHANIZE DECLAWED
CATS FOR BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS.

IT'S A LOT EASIER ON YOUR KITTY

TO DECLAW IT WHEN
IT'S PROBABLY 10 WEEKS OLD

AND WEIGHS 2 POUNDS AT LEAST.

WE WANT TO DECLAW AS YOUNG
AS POSSIBLE.

Dr. Brumley: IT'S SO MUCH EASIER
TO DO WHEN THEY'RE YOUNG.

YOU CAN GET THEM
BEFORE THEY'VE HAD A CHANCE

TO TEAR UP
YOUR GOOD, NEW FURNITURE.

Dr. Churan: I THINK WE NEED TO
RECOGNIZE THAT MOST CATS,

IT IS A NATURAL BEHAVIOR
TO CLAW THINGS,

SO IF WE TAKE CARE
OF THAT EARLY,

JUST LIKE WE DO
SPAYING OR NEUTERING,

DO IT AT A YOUNG AGE.

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT THINK

THAT THEY'LL LEAVE
THE BACK CLAWS ON

SO THAT THEIR CAT WILL HAVE SOME
DEFENSE WHEN IT GOES OUTSIDE.

CATS ARE NOT ABLE TO KARATE KICK
AND DEFEND THEMSELVES AT ALL

OR CLIMB A TREE
WITH THEIR BACK CLAWS.

EVER SINCE FIRST I SAW MY FIRST
DECLAW WHEN I GOT OUT OF SCHOOL,

THIS LITTLE 8-WEEK-OLD CAT
CAME IN,

THEY DECLAWED ALL FOUR FEET.

AND IT COMES BACK
TO THE HOSPITAL

AT 4 OR 5 MONTHS OF AGE,

AND IT'S BITING AND URINATING
ALL OVER THE HOUSE.

AND THE PEOPLE THREW IT OUTSIDE.

AND THEN IT COMES IN
ALL BIT UP

FROM BEING ATTACKED
BY OTHER CATS,

AND SO THEY ENDED UP
PUTTING THE CAT TO SLEEP.

SO, I MEAN,
IT'S JUST A VICIOUS CYCLE.

Dr. Goldman:
I DON'T MEAN TO PICK ON
MY CLASSMATE, DR. COLLERAN,

BUT SHE WRITES THIS ARTICLE

THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE
A BALANCED DISCUSSION,

AND IT'S SIMPLY
A PRO-DECLAWING ARTICLE.

AND SHE SAYS,

"WITH THE PROPER GUIDANCE
AND EDUCATION,

SOME CLIENTS MIGHT WISH
TO HAVE THEIR CATS DECLAWED."

MY QUESTION IS,
"WHAT'S THE EDUCATION?

"WHAT ARE YOU TELLING PEOPLE?

"THAT IT HURTS AND IT DOESN'T DO
THEM ANY GOOD,

BUT WE'RE GONNA EDUCATION YOU
ON HOW TO GET THIS DONE?"

[ MEOWING ]

Dr. Conrad: SINCE THE AVMA

OR ANY OF THE OTHER
BIG VETERINARIAN GROUPS

AREN'T DOING ANYTHING
TO STOP THIS,

THE ONLY WAY THAT I CAN SEE TO
STOP IT IS TO MAKE IT ILLEGAL.

AND THAT MADE ME REMEMBER
THE QUOTE

FROM THE GREAT
MARTIN LUTHER KING THAT SAYS...

AND THAT'S WHEN I DECIDED
IT HAS TO BE ILLEGAL.

THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THESE
ANIMALS FROM BEING DECLAWED

IS TO MAKE IT ILLEGAL.

Duran:
IT WAS DR. JENNIFER CONRAD,

A VETERINARIAN IN SANTA MONICA,

WHO FIRST CAME TO TALK
TO MY DEPUTY,

HERNAN MOLINA,
AT WEST HOLLYWOOD CITY HALL.

AND I REALLY HADN'T THOUGHT MUCH
ABOUT THE IDEA AT ALL,

AND WHEN HERNAN
FIRST APPROACHED ME,

I THOUGHT, "OKAY, WELL,

"WE COULD PROBABLY JUST DO THAT
ON CONSENT.

I DON'T THINK
IT'LL BE CONTROVERSIAL."

HE HEARD ABOUT IT,
AND HE UNDERSTOOD.

HE HIMSELF HAD DECLAWED
AT ONE TIME AN ANIMAL

WITHOUT REALLY KNOWING
WHAT DECLAWING WAS ABOUT.

HE WAS REALLY MORTIFIED
THAT HE HAD DONE THAT.

Duran: I'M ASKING
MY COLLEAGUES TONIGHT

TO JOIN ME IN BECOMING THE FIRST
CITY IN THE UNITED STATES

TO ADOPT A PROPOSED BAN
ON ANIMAL DECLAWING,

NAMELY CATS.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

WE HAD VERY FEW E-MAILS
IN OPPOSITION.

MOST PEOPLE WERE SUPPORTIVE.

ANIMALS CANNOT SPEAK
FOR THEMSELVES.

THEY ARE DEFENSELESS.

AND IT REALLY REQUIRES
HUMAN BEINGS

TO SORT OF STEP UP TO THE PLATE
AND PROTECT THEM FROM US.

I'M THE FIRST ONE TO CONFESS
THAT OVER THE YEARS

THE CATS THAT I HAVE OWNED
I'VE ALWAYS HAD DECLAWED.

AND THE REASON
I HAD THEM DECLAWED IS,

I DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER.

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND
THE PROCEDURE,

AND WITH THAT, I MIGHT ASK THAT
WE OPEN THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY.

LET'S START WITH OUR CITY

AND SET A WONDERFUL PRECEDENT
FOR ANTI-CRUELTY.

Dr. Jensvold: IMAGINE A FUTURE
WHERE THE RIGHTS AND NEEDS

OF OUR COMPANION ANIMALS
ARE RESPECTED

LIKE THE RIGHTS AND NEEDS
OF OUR HUMAN RESIDENTS.

Woman: THERE ARE MANY OTHER WAYS
TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR FURNITURE

WITHOUT DECLAWING THE CAT.

SO LET'S SEE THAT THIS GOES
THROUGH, GENTLEMEN.

WE WILL BE THE FORERUNNERS
OF THIS.

I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT DR. CONRAD,
JENNIFER CONRAD,

IF SHE CAN COME UP.

"ABOVE ALL, DO NO HARM."

THAT IS THE OATH THAT I TAKE
AS A VETERINARIAN.

AND AS A VETERINARIAN,

IT IS MY DUTY TO PROTECT ANIMALS

AND TO KEEP THEM
HEALTHY AND HAPPY.

DECLAWING IS
AN UNNECESSARY MUTILATION.

IT'S AN AMPUTATION.

IT DOES NO GOOD FOR THE ANIMAL,

SO THANK YOU
FOR CONSIDERING THIS BAN.

IT'S ONE SMALL STEP FOR A CITY,

AND IT'S ONE BIG STEP
FOR ANIMALKIND.

Duran:
TO OPPOSE THE ITEM,

YOU MAY MAKE COMMENTS
DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS.

GOOD EVENING,
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS DR. PETER WEINSTEIN.

I'M FROM THE CITY OF IRVINE.

Dr. Conrad:
MY STOMACH DROPPED

TO SEE THE HEAD OF
THE CALIFORNIA VETERINARY

MEDICAL ASSOCIATION SHOW UP.

I AM THE PRESIDENT-ELECT

OF THE CALIFORNIA VETERINARY
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

THE CVMA REPRESENTS
OVER 4,800 VETERINARIANS

IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

AND IS STRONGLY OPPOSED
TO THIS ORDINANCE

BEFORE YOUR COUNCIL
TO BAN CAT DECLAWING.

OUR MEMBERS HERE
IN WEST HOLLYWOOD

NEED TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE
TO CONSULT WITH THEIR CLIENTS

AND EXPLORE ALL OF
THE POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES.

IF DECLAWING IS THE ONLY
AVAILABLE OPTION

AND PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR A FAMILY

TO KEEP THEIR CAT IN THEIR HOME,

THEN THE PROCEDURE
SHOULD BE KEPT LEGAL

AND PERFORMED IN THE BEST
INTEREST OF THE CAT.

IT IS HARD FOR ME TO SIT BACK
AND WATCH THE CAT-OWNING PUBLIC

BE STRIPPED OF THEIR CHOICES,

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES
TO PROVIDING

THE BEST MEDICAL CARE POSSIBLE
FOR THEIR HOUSEHOLD COMPANIONS.

Duran:
I BELIEVE MR. BAXTER,

WHO'S THE ATTORNEY REPRESENTING
THE VETERINARIANS,

HAS COME DOWN FROM SACRAMENTO.

THE CORRECTNESS OR INCORRECTNESS
OF THESE PROCEDURES IS, IN FACT,

IRRELEVANT TO THIS ISSUE
FROM MY POINT OF VIEW.

THAT MIGHT NOT BE
A POPULAR VIEW,

BUT THAT'S THE WAY IT IS.

IT WAS JUST AN INTERESTING THING
THAT THIS ORGANIZATION

WHICH IN MY OPINION,

TURNED OUT TO BE
MORE OF A TRADE ORGANIZATION

THAN REALLY
A MEDICAL ASSOCIATION,

WHICH IS WHAT I THOUGHT
THEY WERE INITIALLY --

YOU KNOW, THEY WERE REALLY
MORE ABOUT THE BOTTOM LINE

FOR THESE VETERINARY CLINICS.

Man: WE'RE NOT TALKING

ABOUT SHIFTING
NATIONAL POLICY HERE,

BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
BEGINNING A NATIONAL DEBATE,

A NATIONAL DISCUSSION

ABOUT SOMETHING
THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, AYE.

NO ONE SAID NO.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

IT'S GREAT TO BE
THE FIRST CITY IN THE COUNTRY

TO PASS AN ORDINANCE LIKE THIS.

HOPEFULLY, THE NOTION
WILL SPREAD TO OTHER CITIES

AND CATS ARE NO LONGER TREATED
AS PROPERTY OR CHATTEL,

BUT AS PART OF THE FAMILY,

AND THAT WE ATTEMPT TO DO THINGS
WHICH ARE NOT GONNA BE CRUEL

TO ANY OF OUR PETS.

CONGRATULATIONS, DR. CONRAD.

[ APPLAUSE ]

WEST HOLLYWOOD IS NOW
THE FIRST CITY IN THE STATE

TO OUTLAW THE DECLAW OF CATS.

THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED
THE BAN LAST NIGHT.

IT WILL IMPACT THREE
VETERINARIAN CLINICS

IN THE SMALL TOWN.

THE DECLAWING BAN TAKES EFFECT

IN 30 DAYS,
MUCH TO THE CHAGRIN OF...

Man: SO WHAT? THERE'LL BE A RUSH
OF PEOPLE TO DECLAW THEIR CATS

BEFORE THE 30 DAYS?

Man #2:
THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING.

THAT'S
THE UNFORTUNATE THING.

EVERYBODY'S GONNA BE
GOING IN THERE.

DON'T DO IT.
LOOK AT HER,
EATING HER LITTLE KIBBLE.

YEAH, IT'S VERY CRUEL
TO THE ANIMALS.

YOU SHOULDN'T
DECLAW ANIMALS.

Dr. Conrad: WHEN WE WON
IN WEST HOLLYWOOD,

WE GOT TREMENDOUS
MEDIA ATTENTION --

THE BBC, NEW YORK TIMES.

AND I GOT CALLS FOR INTERVIEWS
FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

Dr. Jensvold:
THIS MADE THE WIRE SERVICES,

THIS MADE PRINT MEDIA,
THIS MADE TELEVISION, RADIO.

IT WAS IN -- YOU KNOW,
WE TRANSLATED ARTICLES

FROM ITALY, GERMANY, AUSTRIA

THAT CARRIED THIS NEWS STORY.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE
WERE EDUCATED ON IT.

Molina: THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
ATTENTION THAT THIS GOT --

IT'S SOMETHING
THAT I HAD NOT SEEN

IN ANY OTHER TOPIC
THAT WE HAVE ENGAGED ON.

AND I GUESS IT MAKES SENSE

BECAUSE SO MANY
INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS

HAVE BANNED THESE PROCEDURES

AND OTHER
NON-THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES.

AND HERE IN THE UNITED STATES,

WE ARE STILL SO FAR BEHIND
ON THAT.

Dr. Doneley:
AUSTRALIANS HAVE NEVER BEEN
INTO DECLAWING OF CATS.

MOST AMERICAN VETS WOULD AGREE

THAT IT HAS A POTENTIAL TO BE
AN EXTREMELY PAINFUL PROCEDURE.

IT'S DONE SOLELY FOR THE BENEFIT
OF THE PERSON.

I CANNOT IMAGINE, IF IT COME
TO ME, I CANNOT DO IT.

THERE ARE MANY ALTERNATIVES
THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY HUMANE.

ONE IS, YOU CAN TRIM
THE CAT'S NAILS.

YOU TAKE THEIR PAW,

AND YOU PRESS DOWN
ON THEIR LITTLE PADS

SO THAT THE NAIL APPEARS.

AND THEN YOU JUST TAKE
YOUR CLIPPERS, HOLD.

YOU CAN PUT SOFT PAWS
ON THE CAT,

WHICH ARE THESE VINYL SHEATHS
THAT FIT OVER THE NAIL.

YOU JUST PUT THESE NAIL TIPS
ON THE CATS.

THEY'RE VERY EASY TO PUT ON.

IF YOU CAN'T DO IT, YOU CAN HAVE
A GROOMER DO IT OR YOUR VET.

AND FOR THE NEXT SIX WEEKS,

YOUR CAT IS NOT GONNA BE ABLE
TO DO DAMAGE AT ALL.

IN DENMARK,
IT'S ILLEGAL TO DECLAW CATS

BECAUSE IT WILL AFFECT
BOTH THEIR LIFESTYLE,

AND IT'S NOT THE PROPER WAY
TO HAVE AN ANIMAL.

WELCOME TO MY SCRATCH
PLAYLAND HERE.

THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT YOU
NEED TO HAVE IN THE HOUSE.

I'M NOT SAYING TO CHOOSE ONE.

I'M SAYING TO LET
YOUR CAT CHOOSE ONE.

I'VE WORKED WITH THOUSANDS
AND THOUSANDS OF CATS,

ONE ON ONE,
OVER THE COURSE OF MANY YEARS.

WHEN I MEET A CAT -- WHEN I GO
INTO YOUR HOME AND I MEET A CAT

AND THAT CAT'S DECLAWED,
I KNOW IMMEDIATELY.

THERE'S AN EMOTIONAL DEFICIENCY.

THERE'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT
ABOUT THEM.

THEY'RE NOT AS APT TO PLAY.

THEY'RE JUST NOT AS MUCH A CAT.

DECLAWING WAS
A VERY COMMON PRACTICE.

WE DID IT IN ALL THE HOSPITALS
I WORKED FOR,

AND SURE ENOUGH,
YOU SAW THE PAIN EFFECT,

YOU SAW THE BANDAGING
FOR TWO DAYS,

YOU SAW THE PETS FRANTICALLY
SHAKING THEIR PAWS,

HOBBLING AROUND.

IN GERMANY,
IT'S NOT ALLOWED TO DO THIS,

AND I'M QUITE PROUD
OF THESE ANIMAL LAWS,

DESPITE THE HUNDREDS OF WARS
WE HAD IN HISTORY.

AND SOMETIMES SOME PEOPLE NEED
A BIT MORE TIME TO LEARN.

Dr. Conrad: THE CITY OF WEST
HOLLYWOOD PASSED AN ORDINANCE

PREVENTING CATS
FROM BEING DECLAWED,

AND THIS WAS THE FIRST
IN ALL OF NORTH AMERICA.

THIS WAS GREAT NEWS
FOR THE CATS,

BUT WHAT WAS BAD NEWS
FOR THE CATS IS THE CVMA,

THE CALIFORNIA VETERINARY
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION,

DECIDED TO SUE THE CITY
OVER THIS ORDINANCE.

WE ARE ASKING THE LOS ANGELES
COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT

TO FIND THE WEST HOLLYWOOD
CITY COUNCIL'S BAN

INVALID AND UNENFORCEABLE.

I HAVE FILED A LAWSUIT

IN THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY
SUPERIOR COURT,

SANTA MONICA DIVISION,

AGAINST THE CITY
OF WEST HOLLYWOOD.

IT SEEKS DECLARATORY RELIEF
AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF

WITH RESPECT TO THE CURRENTLY
EXISTING ANTI-DECLAW ORDINANCE.

Dr. Klingborg: WE HAVE BEEN
FORCED TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION

BECAUSE THE WEST HOLLYWOOD
CITY COUNCIL

DOES NOT WANT VETERINARIANS
OR ANIMAL OWNERS

TO HAVE THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE
THE TREATMENTS

THAT ARE IN THE BEST INTERESTS
OF THEIR PETS.

WE ARE ASKING THE LOS ANGELES
COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT

TO FIND THE WEST HOLLYWOOD CITY
COUNCIL'S BAN

INVALID AND UNENFORCEABLE.

THE CITY WILL TRY
TO FRAME THIS ISSUE

AS BEING ABOUT ANIMAL RIGHTS
OR ABOUT --

OR THIS LAWSUIT IS BEING ABOUT

SOMEHOW SANCTIFYING
ANIMAL CRUELTY.

Degani:
IT'S OUR POSITION IN THE LAWSUIT

THAT IN FACT
THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DO THAT

BECAUSE THE VETERINARY MEDICINE
PRACTICE ACT

SPECIFICALLY SAYS
THAT A VETERINARIAN

IS ACTING OUTSIDE THE SCOPE
OF A VETERINARY LICENSE

IF HE OR SHE PERFORMS
AN INHUMANE PROCEDURE.

AT THE TRIAL COURT LEVEL,
WE DID LOSE,

BUT THANK GOODNESS FOR MY
COLLEAGUES ON THE CITY COUNCIL,

WE DECIDED TO GO UP
THE NEXT STEP,

WENT UP TO THE APPELLATE COURT

WHERE THEN THE DECISION
WAS REVERSED AND WE PREVAILED.

AND THEN THAT GOT APPEALED TO
THE CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT.

Dr. Conrad:
THE SUPREME COURT DECIDED

THAT, YES, WEST HOLLYWOOD
COULD BAN DECLAWING

AND CALL IT ANIMAL CRUELTY.

...MAKING OUR ORDINANCE
THE FIRST OF ITS KIND

HERE IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

AND A MODEL FOR OTHER CITIES

AROUND SOUTHERN
AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

TO FOLLOW
IN BANNING ANIMAL CRUELTY.

Dr. Dell:
THE AVMA AND THE BIG GROUPS

WILL GET MORE CAUGHT UP
IN WHAT'S BEST FINANCIALLY

FOR THE VETERINARIANS
THAN WHAT'S BEST ETHICALLY.

Dr. Conrad:
THE CVMA WAS UNHAPPY

WITH THE SUPREME COURT DECISION,

SO THEY WENT
TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE

WHERE THEY HAVE
MUCH MORE INFLUENCE,

AND THEY PROPOSED A LAW,
SENATE BILL SB 762,

THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BAN CITIES
FROM BANNING DECLAWING.

Dillon: WE THINK THE DEPARTMENT
OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS

IN THEIR AMICUS BRIEF
PROBABLY SAID IT BEST,

THAT THE ORDINANCE
THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT

WOULD BECOME PRECEDENT FOR A
MULTITUDE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

SO THE CVMA IS TRYING TO MAKE
A LAW AT THE STATE LEVEL

THAT WOULD MAKE IT
SO THAT NO OTHER CITY,

EXCEPT FOR WEST HOLLYWOOD,
COULD BAN DECLAWING.

SB 762 PASSED,

BUT THERE'S A HUGE LOOPHOLE
THAT THEY DIDN'T REALIZE.

ANY CITY THAT BANNED
A MEDICAL PROCEDURE PRIOR

BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2010,
GETS TO KEEP THAT BAN.

IT MAKES ME WONDER
IF I CAN'T GET OTHER CITIES

TO BAN DECLAWING
BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

WEST HOLLYWOOD'S ORDINANCE

HAS ALREADY BEEN TRIED
IN THE COURTS,

SO IT'S PRETTY MUCH BULLETPROOF.

SO IF OTHER CITIES STICK TO IT,
THEY CAN'T GET SUED.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
COME ON! MOVE!

Dr. Conrad:
I KNOW I CAN'T DO THIS ALONE,

SO I HAVE TO CALL ON
AS MANY TROOPS AS POSSIBLE.

AND I HAVE TO HAVE THEM CALL IN
ALL OF THEIR FRIENDS.

Degani: HOW ARE YOU GONNA BEAT
THE CVMA?

YES, THEY'RE HUGE, AND THEY HAVE
A LOT OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES,

BUT WE HAVE A LOT
OF VERY DEDICATED PEOPLE

WILLING TO WORK
WITHOUT BEING PAID,

JUST TO SEE
THE RIGHT THING BE DONE.

Dr. Jensvold:
LEGISLATION IS EDUCATION.

EVEN IF WE GET SHOT DOWN,
IT'LL BE IN THE NEWS.

YOU JUST TRY AGAIN.
ULTIMATELY, YOU'LL PREVAIL.

THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE ON FRIDAY.

A LOT OF THE PEOPLE

REALLY DON'T KNOW
WHAT DECLAWING IS,

AND THIS IS A LOOK-TWICE POSTER.

YOU LOOK AT IT ONCE
AND GO, "UH-HUH."

AND THEN YOU SEE THE HAND,
AND THEN YOU GO, "[GASPS]"

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE REALLY
DON'T KNOW IT'S MUTILATION.

THIS WHOLE THING IS A CHANCE

TO EDUCATE PEOPLE
ABOUT ANIMAL CRUELTY.

Dr. Conrad:
THE MEETING IS TONIGHT.

THERE'S NO REST FOR THE WICKED.

Dr. Hofve: I HAVEN'T BEEN HOME
MORE THAN A COUPLE DAYS

IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS.

I'M DOING WHATEVER IT TAKES
TO SAVE THE KITTIES.

Dr. Conrad: THERE ARE SOME
CITIES THAT ARE RESPONDING,

AND THEY'RE BIG CITIES,
LIKE LOS ANGELES...

THIS NEEDS TO MOVE
BEYOND INHUMANE PRACTICES

AND PROTECT OUR PATIENTS.

...AND SAN FRANCISCO...

MADAM CLERK,
COULD YOU CALL ITEM 18?

Woman: ITEM 18 IS THE ORDINANCE
AMENDING THE HEALTH CODE

TO PROHIBIT THE DECLAWING
OF CATS.

Dr. Conrad:
...AND BERKELEY...

HERE WE ARE IN BERKELEY. THAT'S
WHERE I WENT TO UNDER GRAD.

...AND SANTA MONICA,
AND EVEN BEVERLY HILLS.

THESE CITIES ARE PUTTING IT ON
THEIR AGENDAS,

AND THEY'RE WILLING
TO DISCUSS IT.

I JUST ASSUMED THAT DECLAWING
WAS TRIMMING THE NAILS OF A CAT.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WAS
SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

Mirkarimi: WHAT EFFORTS,

SINCE YOU ARE THE LIAISON
TO THIS AREA THROUGH THE CVMA,

WERE CONDUCTED TO CONSULT
WITH OUR CITY GOVERNMENT

ON SB 762?

WE HAD NO EFFORT
THAT I AM AWARE OF.

THE THING ABOUT IS,
IS THAT 762 IS A STATE BILL,

AND SO WE SPONSORED THAT
AS A STATE BILL.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT
EACH INDIVIDUAL CITY

IS GONNA WANT TO DO.

YOU DID KNOW OUR MOTIVATION,

OR ELSE YOU WOULDN'T HAVE
THEN PURSUED 762.

WHAT WAS THE CVMA's ROLE
IN SENATE BILL 762?

WE WERE A SPONSOR
OF THAT BILL.

DID YOU EMPLOY A LOBBYIST

IN SACRAMENTO
TO ACCOMPLISH THAT?

NO. WE DID NOT EMPLOY A LOBBYIST
TO PASS THIS PARTICULAR BILL.

SO WHAT DID YOU SPEND
TO GET THIS BILL PASSED?

OUR ASSOCIATION,

AS WITH MANY
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS,

DOES HAVE A PAC,

A POLITICAL ACTION
COMMITTEE,

THAT MEMBERS
VOLUNTARILY CONTRIBUTE TO.

BUT YOU DIDN'T HAVE A LOBBYIST.
SO DOES YOUR PAC MAKE,

SUGGEST, OR BUNDLE DONATIONS
TO CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS?

OUR -- OUR -- OUR
POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE

IS SPENT ON FUND-RAISERS,
YOU KNOW.

DIFFERENT STATE OFFICIALS

WILL HAVE ALL
THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.

WE IN SANTA MONICA HAVE HAD
TO BECOME USED

TO DEALING WITH EMERGENCIES

THAT ARE IMPOSED UPON US
BY PEOPLE IN SACRAMENTO,

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS.

SACRAMENTO PASSED A LAW

THAT WILL PROHIBIT CITIES...

...FROM BEING ABLE TO PASS BANS.

SO STARING JANUARY 1st,

CITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA,

UNLESS THEY'VE ALREADY
PREVIOUSLY PASSED A BAN,

CANNOT PASS A BAN.

Man:
SO NOW THERE'S A GREAT SCRAMBLE

OF CITIES THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA
WHO ARE RESPONDING TO THE FACT

THAT THEY BELIEVE THAT THERE
SHOULD BE A DECLAW BAN.

YOU'RE TRYING TO PROTECT
AS MANY ANIMALS AS POSSIBLE

FROM BEING SUBJECTED
TO THIS PROCESS.

I ASK THAT ALL MY COLLEAGUES
JOIN ME

IN ENDING THIS CRUEL PRACTICE
AND BAN DECLAWING.

HI, MY NAME IS JENNIFER CONRAD.
I'M A VETERINARIAN...

NOW THAT THE CVMA
HAS FIGURED OUT

THAT THEIR LAW HAS TOTALLY
BACKFIRED ON THEM,

THEY'RE FIGHTING LIKE CRAZY.

Dr. Nunez: MY NAME IS
MARK NUNEZ. I'M A VETERINARIAN.

I AM ALSO THE PRESIDENT

OF THE CALIFORNIA VETERINARY
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION,

AND WE ARE OPPOSED TO A BAN.

OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
THAT ARE ALSO OPPOSED --

THE AMERICAN VETERINARY
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION,

THE CANADIAN VMA,

THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION
OF FELINE PRACTITIONERS.

76% OF CATS ARE DECLAWED
BEFORE THEY'RE 8 MONTHS OLD.

THAT IS A KITTEN.

THAT WOULD BE THE EQUIVALENT
OF REMOVING THE TEETH ON A PUPPY

BECAUSE HE'S CHEWING SLIPPERS.

THE NUMBER ONE REASON PEOPLE
ASK FOR CATS TO BE DECLAWED

IS DESTRUCTION
OF HOUSEHOLD PROPERTY.

THE REASON THAT MOST OF
THESE DECLAWS WERE DONE --

82% WERE FOR
HOUSEHOLD DESTRUCTION.

Davis:
AND WHAT THAT TELLS ME

IS THAT PEOPLE ARE ELEVATING
THE RIGHTS OF THEIR SOFAS

AND THEIR CHAIRS ABOVE
THE RIGHTS OF THEIR ANIMALS.

AND WHEN I HEAR STATISTICS
LIKE THAT

IT BECOMES APPARENT TO ME THAT
WE DO HAVE TO LEGISLATE THIS.

OUR VETERINARIANS
DO NOT TAKE DECLAWING --

WE DO NOT TAKE --
WE TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY.

I'M A CAT BEHAVIORIST.

MY JOB IS TO DEAL
WITH THE FALLOUT

OF THIS SURGERY.

HE WOULD LASH OUT AT ME,

HISS, AND BITE ME.

SHE LIMPS,

AND SHE SOMETIMES REFUSES
TO USE THE LITTER BOX.

AND I THINK IT'S PROBABLY
BECAUSE HER FEET HURT SO MUCH.

HIS PADS ON HIS FRONT FEET,
WHICH WERE DECLAWED,

ARE COMPLETELY SHRIVELED
AND DRIED AND SORE.

HE CAN'T BE TOUCHED THERE.

HE'S VERY IRRITABLE
ABOUT HIS FEET.

THERE ARE VERY SIMPLE SOLUTIONS

TO PREVENT SOMETHING
THIS DAMAGING.

I'VE JUST SEEN WAY TOO MANY
PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

Man: HOW MUCH DO YOU CHARGE
IN YOUR PRACTICE PER DECLAW?

I AM NOT CURRENTLY
IN PRACTICE.

IT'S BEEN ABOUT NINE YEARS
SINCE I WAS IN PRACTICE.

ONE OF THE THINGS
WE'RE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT

TALKING ABOUT
IN VETERINARIAN MEDICINE

IS ACTUAL FEES
BETWEEN VETERINARIANS.

THERE'S A FEE FOR THE DECLAW,

THERE'S A FEE
FOR PAIN MANAGEMENT,

THERE'S A FEE FOR ANESTHESIA.

BUT THE ALL-IN PRICE.
WHAT WOULD THE ALL-IN PRICE --

I DOUBT IT EXCEEDS $500.

$450 BY THE TIME
ALL IS SAID AND DONE.

BECAUSE IT'S WORK.

IT TAKES ABOUT HALF AN HOUR
TO 45 MINUTES TO DECLAW A CAT,

AND THAT'S JUST THE FRONT FEE.

THE STRONGEST ARGUMENTS
AGAINST THE ORDINANCE

IS THAT IT WILL LEAD
TO INCREASED RELINQUISHMENT.

TAKING AWAY THIS OPTION
VERY LIKELY DOOMS THE CAT

TO ABANDONMENT
OR BEING TAKEN TO A SHELTER

WHERE DEATH
IS THE LIKELY OUTCOME.

BY AN ABSOLUTE BAN,

I THINK I'D BE CONDEMNING
ANIMALS TO DEATH,

AND THEREFORE, I CAN'T DO IT.

IT'S NOT A MATTER
OF DECLAW OR DEATH.

IT'S A MATTER OF DECLAW
OR ALTERNATIVES TO DECLAWING.

WHAT IF SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW,
HAS A BABY, A TODDLER, WHATEVER,

AND YOU HAVE A SCRATCHING CAT?

IT BECOMES,
"MY BABY OR MY CAT?"

PEDIATRICIANS AND
EMERGENCY MEDICINE DOCTORS

SAY "DO NOT DECLAW THE CAT

BECAUSE A DECLAWED CAT
IS MORE LIKELY TO BITE."

SO YOU ARE CREATING
A PROBLEM.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YOU DIDN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION.

IN MY OPINION,
FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN,

DECLAWED CATS ARE MORE LIKELY
TO LOSE THEIR HOMES.

I'VE SEEN THEM IN THE SHELTERS.
I'VE RESCUED THEM.

AND THEY'RE LOSING THEIR HOMES

BECAUSE OF THE BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
FROM BEING DECLAWED.

AS ONE OF THE NATION'S
MOST HUMANE CITIES,

I HOPE TO SEE SAN FRANCISCO
PASS THIS ORDINANCE.

I WANT MY CITY TO BE FAIR,
COMPASSIONATE, AND HUMANE.

IT IS A HUMANE MOVEMENT,

AND BURBANK IS CERTAINLY
A HUMANE CITY.

WE ALSO KNOW
THAT THAT'S A TECHNIQUE

THAT'S BEEN USED TO TORTURE
HUMAN BEINGS FOR A LONG TIME,

AND YET WE'VE ACCEPTED THAT
FOR OUR ANIMAL FRIENDS.

A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION
WE HAVE BEFORE US TONIGHT,

AND THIS REQUIRES
A 4/5 VOTE TO PASS.

Woman: THANK YOU.
MRS. REINKE?
YES.

MR. TALAMANTES?
YES.

MR. GOLONSKI?
YES.

DR. GORDON?
YES.

MR. BRIC?
NO.

THE MOTION PASSES 4 TO 1.

AND THANK YOU.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

YES.

YES.

NO.

Man: NO.

Man #2: NO.

MALIBU'S CITY COUNCIL
IS JUST SO STUBBORN.

THEY DON'T WANT TO LISTEN
TO THE DATA.

AND SHE WANTS TO DO
HER OWN RESEARCH,

WHICH LAST TIME HER OWN RESEARCH
WAS THE AOL POLL,

AS IF THE POLL ON AOL
[SCOFFS] WAS WORTHY DATA.

SUPERVISOR CAMPOS?
AYE.

PRESIDENT CHIU?
AYE.

SUPERVISOR AVALOS?
AYE.

SUPERVISOR DALY?
AYE.

SUPERVISOR DUFTY?
AYE.

SUPERVISOR MIRKARIMI?
AYE.

SUPERVISOR ELSBERND?
NO.

THERE ARE 9 AYES AND TWO NOS.

Man: THE ORDINANCE IS PASSED
IN THE FIRST READING.

9 TO 2.
9 TO 2.

I JUST BELIEVE,
HAVING INVESTIGATED,

THAT CATS HAVE CLAWS

AND IT'S A CRUEL
AND UNNECESSARY PROCEDURE

TO REMOVE THEM.

MOTION BY MALSON
SECONDED BY O'LEARY.

PLEASE VOTE.

Woman: 5 AYES.

THANK YOU.

[ APPLAUSE ]

COUNCIL MEMBER MIRISCH?
YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER BRIEN?
YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER BRUCKER?
YES.

VICE MAYOR DELSHAD?
YES.

MAYOR KRASNE?
YES.

PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

Woman: COUNCIL MEMBER MAIO?
YES.

MOORE?
YES.

ANDERSON?
YES.

ARREGUíN?
YES.

CAPITELLI?
YES.

WENGRAF?
YES.

WORTHINGTON?
YES.

WOZNIAK?
YES.

MAYOR BATES?
YES.

SO PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

COUNCIL MEMBER McKEOWN?
YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS?
YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER HOLBROOK?
YES.

MAYOR O'CONNOR.
YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER BLOOM?
NO.

Man: YES.
THAT PASSED 6 TO 1.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

CLAWS STAY ON THE PAWS.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS,

YOU TAKE THE CLAWS OUT OF A CAT,
YOU TAKE AWAY THE CAT!

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS,

THEY'RE ACTUALLY CUTTING
INTO FLESH AND THE BONE.

IT REALLY FITS EVERYTHING ELSE

WE'VE TRIED TO DO
ON THIS CITY COUNCIL

TO COMBAT ANIMAL CRUELTY.

Man: THE ORDINANCE IS NOW
BEFORE THE COUNCIL.

WE OPEN THE ROLL...

CLOSE THE ROLL...

TABULATE THE VOTE.

Woman: 11 AYES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

ALL THESE CATS ARE PROTECTED
IN ALL THESE CITIES,

AND THAT'S AN AMAZING THING.

IT'S HUGE!

WINNING L.A.,
WINNING SANTA MONICA,

WINNING BEVERLY HILLS,

WINNING SAN FRANCISCO,
WINNING BERKELEY,

AND WINNING L.A. --
THAT'S JUST CRAZY TALK.

I WOULD NEVER HAVE THOUGHT

THAT WE WOULD HAVE WON L.A.
LIKE WE DID.

BUT WE DID.
I'M REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

Hahn:
I HOPE, BY US DOING THIS,

WE WILL REALLY BEGIN
TO SET A TREND.

MAYBE IT BECOMES
A STATEWIDE INITIATIVE.

Dr. Goldman: I SEE THIS
HAPPENING IN BOSTON.

I SEE THIS HAPPENING
IN NEW YORK,

CONNECTICUT, FLORIDA.

IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

IT IS NOW CODIFIED.

IT IS IN THE LAW
THAT IT IS ANIMAL CRUELTY.

THAT, TO ME, IS A GREAT
STEPPING STONE FOR THE STATE

AND FOR OTHER STATES

AND FOR EVENTUALLY THE ENTIRE
NATION AND THEN CANADA.

Galaxy: IF IT SHOWS UP IN
COLORADO, I'LL BE IN COLORADO.

IF IT SHOWS UP IN IOWA,
I'LL BE IN IOWA.

Degani: IT WILL BE SOMETHING
THAT IS NO LONGER PERFORMED

ANYWHERE IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE'RE A FAR AWAY OFF,
BUT THAT DAY WILL COME

BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING
TO GIVE UP.

Dr. Conrad:
THIS IS A BIG STATEMENT.

THIS IS A STATEMENT
OF POLICY CHANGE,

AND THAT IS A GREAT FEELING.

IT'S PROTECTING KITTENS
THAT AREN'T BORN YET.

IT'S PROTECTING CATS
THAT ARE JUST ADOPTED TODAY,

AND THAT'S REALLY COOL.

IT'S WAY MORE CATS THAN
I COULD EVER HAVE PROTECTED

BY JUST WORKING
IN A VETERINARIAN HOSPITAL.