New York Could Be The First State To Ban Cat Declawing
To join most of Europe and Los Angeles, New York State is moving towards banning cat declawing.
NBC News reports that the New York State Legislature passed a bill on Tuesday, June 4, 2019, to make the declawing of cats illegal in the state. Declawing a cat is when a cat's toes are amputated back to the first knuckle. Cat's claws are attached to bone, unline human nails. A veterinarian must slice through tendon and nerves to remove the last segment of bone in a cat's toes.
Governor Andrew Cuomo said he will review the bill before deciding if he will sign it, according to NBC News. Under the bill, veterinarians would be subjected to a $1,000 fine for performing a cat declawing operation. Those who support the bill are animal welfare advocates, cat owners, and veterinarians, who all argue that cat declawing is cruel and barbaric.
However, the New York State Veterinary Medical Society has opposed the bill. They say declawing should be a last resort for cats that won't stop scratching furniture or humans, or when their owner has a weakened immune system that would put them at a greater risk of infection from scratches. According to NBC News, veterinarians could still perform the procedure for medical reasons, like infection or injury.
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