Why not put the paw on both sides to make it more symmetrical?

I did think about that. I also thought about having it raised on one side and relief on the other. But I decided I liked it better on just one side. Looks modest and simple that way IMO

Hi Joel, I don't know how your entry slipped by me but I found you. This is a very strong looking setup I like that, but I think that to make it easier to machine if you were to make the fillets inside the pockets larger the same as the ones you have used on the outside around the two bosses in the front of the tree, it would make this part much easier to make. Also I think that the two clamp bosses on each end should be made as one boss on each end. I believe you have plenty of room with the weight of this model to make these changes and still be way under the limit.