At least two members of Black Sabbath, considered by many the world’s greatest metal band, want to see an end to the cruel practice of cat declawing.
Geezer Butler, the legendary bassist from Black Sabbath, is a self-proclaimed “crazy cat person” and a dog lover.
Image via Twitter
On social media, he frequently posts pictures of his multiple pets. For years, the musician has been outspoken against declawing cats, joining the Humane Society to urge New York lawmakers to ban the “dreadfully inhumane” practice.
Geezer Butler, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi: Image via Facebook
As Black Sabbath was preparing to play their final tour in New York, called “The End,” the Humane Society released this statement:
“Many know me as one of the founding members of Black Sabbath, but fewer likely know that I am what you might call a ‘crazy cat person,'” he said. “My wife and I have rescued many cats, and we have never dreamed of putting them through an elective, convenience surgery such as declawing.”
Below, Butler shared images of his cats, Biz, Wiz, and Tink (lower picture) taking over his directors chair.
Images via Twitter
Put Declawing in the Trash Bin of History
Then, the bassist urged lawmakers to trash the cruel practice, a painful amputation of the third toe bone and nail of a cat’s paw.
“Can you imagine having your fingers chopped off at the last bone?” he concluded. “That is what the equivalent is for cats who are declawed. It is dreadfully inhumane! A surge of veterinarians throughout New York support legislation to put declawing in the trash bin of history. I urge lawmakers to remain steadfast in those characteristics I admire most about New Yorkers and support the bill to ban the declawing of cats.”
Biz and Wiz via Instagram
Three years later, New York became the first state to ban declawing cats. Thus, Butler’s efforts to raise awareness paid off. The following year, Ozzy Osbourne took part in a public campaign against cat declawing.
Vintage photo of Ozzy Osbourne via Instagram
Black Sabbath’s Ozzy Osbourne Campaigns Against Cat Declawing
Warning: image might be disturbing to some viewers.
More recently, outrageous Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne also came out against declawing cats. Last year, Osbourne was the face of a gory graphic campaign calling for an end to declawing.
Image via Instagram
In the ad for PETA, Osbourne appears in a black and white photo. However, red blood drips from his amputated fingers. An accompanying slogan reads:
“Never declaw a cat. It’s an amputation, not a manicure.”
In a statement, the singer further condemned declawing:
“Amputating a cat’s toes is twisted and wrong. If your couch is more important to you than your cat’s health and happiness, you don’t deserve to have an animal! Get cats a scratching post—don’t mutilate them for life.”
View this post on Instagram
In the past, the heavy metal singer was known for his cruelty to animals. Famously, he bit the head off a dead bat, requiring rabies shots after a concert in Iowa.
He even admitted to shooting 17 cats in a drug-induced frenzy in the early 80s. However, today he and his wife Sharon Osbourne and daughter Kelly campaign for animal rights.
Today, Ozzy is an unlikely but effective spokesman against the cruelty of cat declawing. Likewise, Geezer Butler shows that being kind to animals is cool as one of the people who shaped the heavy metal music genre.
Image via Instagram
As more people become aware of the risks of declawing cats, more US states will no doubt ban the practice. As we’ve shared many times, declawing cats can cause chronic pain, nerve trauma, bone spurs, necrosis, lameness, and many behavioral issues.
Recently, the huge Canadian province of Saskatchewan banned declawing cats, joining a list of other provinces. As more people are informed and made aware, it’s only a matter of time before declawing is finally put in the trash bin of history.
