S.22.2-7: Paws Need Claws Act (PASSED)

[fhtagn]

PAWS NEED CLAWS ACT

1. No person, licensed professional or otherwise, shall perform a partial or complete onychectomy (declawing), phalangectomy, or tendonectomy procedure by any means on a cat in the Southern Region, except when necessary for a therapeutic purpose.

2. For the purposes of this act, the term "therapeutic purpose" means the necessity to address the medical condition of the animal, such as an existing or recurring illness, infection, disease, injury, or abnormal condition in the claw that compromises the animal's health. The term “therapeutic purpose” does not include cosmetic or aesthetic reasons or reasons of convenience in keeping or handling the animal.

3. This act shall take effect thirty (30) days after passage.

Sponsor: fhtagn

[fhtagn]

As someone who is a longtime lover of animals (cats included), I had a conversation with Mr. Reactionary a while back inquiring about if the South had ever banned cat declawing, and it turns out, we haven't.

According to the Humane Society, here are the negative effects of these procedures:

Medical drawbacks to declawing include pain in the paw, infection, tissue necrosis (tissue death), lameness, and back pain. Removing claws changes the way a cat's foot meets the ground and can cause pain similar to wearing an uncomfortable pair of shoes. There can also be a regrowth of improperly removed claws, nerve damage, and bone spurs.

For several days after surgery, shredded newspaper is typically used in the litter box to prevent litter from irritating declawed feet. This unfamiliar litter substitute, accompanied by pain when scratching in the box, may lead cats to stop using the litter box. Some cats may become biters because they no longer have their claws for defense.

Unlike what most people believe, cat declawing isn't like having a nail trim. In order to remove the claws, the procedure involves amputating the cat's paws, similar to if we had the tips of our fingers removed.

Cat declawing isn't a matter of making things easier for the cat owners. In fact it's such a serious issue that the American Association of Feline Practitioners has it's own position statement on this issue, urging veterinarians to counsel cat owners on alternatives to declawing.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Save the kitties!

[Senator-elect Spark]

Declawing is rather cruel and unusual, which leads me to support this bill.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Not adverse to this legislation.

[fhtagn]

If no one has anything to add, motioning for a final vote. 24 hours for objections.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

I applaud this act.

[fhtagn]

A final vote on this bill is now open for 72 hours, or until 24 hours after this has enough votes to pass or fail, or until everybody votes, whichever occurs soonest.

[Senator-elect Spark]

Aye

[UlmerFudd]

Aye

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Aye

[reagente]

aye

[fhtagn]

Aye

[fhtagn]

Since everyone has voted, the bill now passes and awaits gubernatorial action.

Aye: 5
Nay:0
Present: 0
Not voting: 0

PAWS NEED CLAWS ACT

1. No person, licensed professional or otherwise, shall perform a partial or complete onychectomy (declawing), phalangectomy, or tendonectomy procedure by any means on a cat in the Southern Region, except when necessary for a therapeutic purpose.

2. For the purposes of this act, the term "therapeutic purpose" means the necessity to address the medical condition of the animal, such as an existing or recurring illness, infection, disease, injury, or abnormal condition in the claw that compromises the animal's health. The term “therapeutic purpose” does not include cosmetic or aesthetic reasons or reasons of convenience in keeping or handling the animal.

3. This act shall take effect thirty (30) days after passage.