Original subtitles

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.