Think cat declawing is cruel? State assemblyman does

Think cat declawing is cruel? State assemblyman does

New legislation would outlaw

the procedure

State Assemblyman Paul Koretz (D-West Hollywood) has introduced legislation that will prohibit veterinarians from declawing cats. The legislation, Assembly Bill- 395, inserts a ban into the state’s veterinary medical practice act that will prohibit the declawing surgical procedures known as onychectomy and flexor tendonectomy.

"The term ‘declawing’ is a misnomer," said veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Conrad. "It is actually an amputation of the last bone of the toe." Conrad, founder of the Paw Project, an organization dedicated to abolishment of declaw surgery, has seen many domestic and exotic cats crippled by this procedure.

"Declawing is a painful and risky surgery performed primarily to protect sofas and drapes. It does not benefit the cat in any way," said Conrad. "Declawing is rarely done in other parts of the world and is illegal in many countries. It’s time for Californians to recognize and protect the interests and needs of their animals."

AB-395 also bans the declawing procedure for large and exotic cat species such as lions, tigers, cougars and bobcats. The effects of declawing are particularly debilitating for big cats.

The bill will likely be heard in the Assembly Business and Professions Committee in late March or early April.

Koretz has also introduced legislation that will institute a statewide prohibition of pound seizure, the practice of releasing or selling unclaimed cats and dogs from animal shelters for use in biomedical research, product development and safety testing and educational demonstrations.

AB-588 would prohibit any public animal shelter or humane society shelter from selling, giving, or furnishing any live dog, cat or other animal to any animal research facility for the purposes of experimentation, research, testing or demonstration. A violation of the prohibition would be an infraction punishable by a fine not to exceed $250.

Pound seizure is prohibited in 14 other states.

AB-588 is sponsored by Last Chance for Animals and the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights and will likely be heard in policy committee in late March or early April.