We Advocate & Educate to end Normalized Pet Cruelty
The NPAWS Pet Positive Movement encourages all Americans to appreciate their natural pets and not subject them to elective invasive procedures, like ear cropping, tail docking, declawing, and more.
To provide veterinary facilities with a platform to express their Pet Positive views and help expand awareness, we are now offering Pet Positive certification to veterinary facilities that do not perform such procedures.

Meet Carlos
The Curios &
Capable Tabby
Hi, there. Carlos here!
Sometimes I sneak out to visit my adoring public. Because my family lets me keep my fingers instead of “declawing” me, I can defend myself and escape predators while I’m out and about. My pet parents are always happy when I get home safe.
Declawing chops off toes at the first knuckle. Ew! The pain and fear cause some cats to avoid litter boxes, bite, or do other icky things. Some even have chronic back pain from not being able to walk or stretch properly.
Many of my feline friends have been declawed then left at shelters because the resulting behavior problems. Around 70% of cats relinquished to shelters for behavior problems are euthanized.
More than a million cats are declawed...each year.

What is Normalized Pet Cruelty?
Our Goal
NPAWS is ending normalized pet cruelty by saving companion animals' ears, tails, toes, and more from non-therapeutic invasive procedures, such as ear cropping, tail docking, and declawing in the United States. As we do this, we create a more humane nation. A nation that will be better respected, alongside Europe and the many countries around the world that already ban such antiquated practices.
What We do
NPAWS educates and advocates to end normalized pet cruelty in the United States. The NPAWS Pet Positive Movement encourages all Americans to appreciate their natural pets and not subject them to elective invasive procedures, such as ear cropping, tail docking, declawing, and more. The NPAWS Pet Positive Veterinary Facility certification recognizes veterinary clinics and hospitals that do not perform such procedures.

I’m Betty, a natural Boxer
When I was a pup, my family decided to let me keep my natural ears and tail and requested it from their breeder. They felt I was made perfect and, naturally, I agree. Some say tail docking helps prevent injury. But facts say that only 1 in 500 pups ever injures it's tail. And many heal.
So, I ask, would you go ahead and chop off your finger if you only had 1 in a 500 chance of ever injuring it?
Don’t get me started on ear cropping. It does not prevent ear infections. In fact, it can cause them, both from the original surgery and from the nasty stuff that can get inside more easily afterward.
Only 1 in 500 dogs (0.23%) ever injures its tail.
Meet Betty
The Born This Way Boxer
