a.1303/S.5532: Prohibit Declawing in State of New York - Passed!
UPDATE: In July 2019, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the bill into law banning declawing in the state of New York. The ban goes into effect immediately, with exceptions for legitimate medical reasons. Declawing a cat for any other reason could result in a fine of up to $1,000. New Jersey and Massachusetts are both close to reaching a decision on a declaw ban, and Florida, Rhode Island, and West Virginia have all introduced bills prohibiting the practice.
UPDATE: On June 4, 2019 lawmakers passed the bill, which will now head to Governor Andrew Cuomo for consideration. If signed by the governor, New York would become the first U.S. state to ban the procedure.
State elected representatives have the chance to make New York the first state in the country to implement a state-wide ban on declawing (onychectomy). The procedure can lead to lifelong pain, discomfort, and behavioral issues in cats. It involves removing the first joint of the cat’s toe, equivalent to amputating the tip of a person's finger from the first knuckle on. Cats can suffer from symptoms such as chronic foot pain, infection, arthritis and difficulty walking.
Owners may declaw their cats in an attempt to prevent unwanted scratching, but sometimes the declaw procedure will actually cause new problem behaviors to occur. Declawed cats are more likely to urinate outside of the litter box because the litter has become painful to walk on; declawed cats may be more likely to bite because they can no longer use their paws and claws for protection. Further, scratching is a natural cat behavior that helps them exercise and tone their muscles.
Proponents of declawing will claim that the practice keeps cats in homes. However, data from U.S. cities that have banned declawing shows a decline in the number of relinquished cats since the bans were enacted. Declawing can bring about problems, such as litter-box issues and pain-induced aggression, that may actually make an owner more likely to relinquish their cat.
Effective and humane alternatives to the declaw procedure exist. Please show your support for A.1303 and S.5532 by contacting your representatives today!
UPDATE: On June 4, 2019 lawmakers passed the bill, which will now head to Governor Andrew Cuomo for consideration. If signed by the governor, New York would become the first U.S. state to ban the procedure.
State elected representatives have the chance to make New York the first state in the country to implement a state-wide ban on declawing (onychectomy). The procedure can lead to lifelong pain, discomfort, and behavioral issues in cats. It involves removing the first joint of the cat’s toe, equivalent to amputating the tip of a person's finger from the first knuckle on. Cats can suffer from symptoms such as chronic foot pain, infection, arthritis and difficulty walking.
Owners may declaw their cats in an attempt to prevent unwanted scratching, but sometimes the declaw procedure will actually cause new problem behaviors to occur. Declawed cats are more likely to urinate outside of the litter box because the litter has become painful to walk on; declawed cats may be more likely to bite because they can no longer use their paws and claws for protection. Further, scratching is a natural cat behavior that helps them exercise and tone their muscles.
Proponents of declawing will claim that the practice keeps cats in homes. However, data from U.S. cities that have banned declawing shows a decline in the number of relinquished cats since the bans were enacted. Declawing can bring about problems, such as litter-box issues and pain-induced aggression, that may actually make an owner more likely to relinquish their cat.
Effective and humane alternatives to the declaw procedure exist. Please show your support for A.1303 and S.5532 by contacting your representatives today!
**Use this sample letter to tell your elected representatives to support the anti-declaw bill, and add a personal note to increase your impact:
Subject: Ban Declawing, Please Support [A.1303/S.5532]
Dear [Representative],
As a compassionate and concerned citizen, I urge you to pass [A.1303 / S.5532], which would ban the painful procedure of declawing cats in the state of New York. The declaw procedure is actually the amputation of the last joints of a cat’s toes; it creates lifelong damage that cannot be reversed.
A cat’s claws are essential; they’re used as a means of protection and defense and the grip that they provide allows cats to stretch and strengthen muscles. Cats use their paws in many ways, from grooming to leaving their scent, and any pain from declawing can disrupt the expression of these natural behaviors.
Declawing does not address unwanted scratching and in fact can cause additional behavioral problems due to chronic pain and trauma. A cat who experiences paw pain may exhibit litter box avoidance, and cats who lack claws may use their teeth more in nervous situations. While some may argue that declawing can help a particular cat remain in a home, research has shown that many, if not most, cats who are relinquished to shelters for behavioral reasons are declawed. Thankfully, there are numerous alternatives to declawing; scratching posts, nail caps and trims, spray deterrents and positive behavior modification are all ways to minimize problem scratching.
Eight U.S. cities, including Los Angeles and San Francisco, CA, have already banned declawing. The procedure is also banned in Austria, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland. The state of New York should take this opportunity to be a leader for animal rights and welfare by becoming the first U.S. state to explicitly ban the declawing of cats for any non-therapeutic purpose.
Please protect cats’ claws by voting in support of [A.1303 / S.5532].
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your address]
[Your city, state, zip]
[Your email address]