~ by Snowden Bishop ~

California is always ahead of the curve when it comes to environmental protection and animal rights.  They have an opportunity next week to set another example for the country.  California Senate Bill 1229 (SB-1229), The Paw Project-sponsored bill that prohibits landlords from requiring declawing and devocalization of tenants’ animals, will be heard in the CA Assembly Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, June 19…less than a week from now.

“Declawing is a misnomer,” said Jennifer Conrad, DVM, Founder of The Paw Project, who has lead the movement toward declaw bans throughout the state of California.  “The procedure is actually an amputation of the last bone in each digit of the paw, which also severs connected tendons and ligaments on a feline’s paw causing lifelong deleterious effects such as chronic arthritis, infections and related pain.”

While some veterinarians maintain that declawing may prevent cat owners from relinquishing animals to shelters due to furniture scratching, statistics reveal that other negative effects of declawing, such as increased tendency for biting and litter box avoidance, are key reasons declawed cats are relinquished to shelters.  The United States is one of only a few first world nations that still allow the procedure.  Declawing is classified as “mutilation” by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the British counterpart of the AVMA.

Animal advocates say the procedure is cruel and unnecessary. City council members of nine California cities agree, and made their opinions law when declawing was banned in their cities in 2010.  West Hollywood was the first to ban the practice in 2002.  Shortly thereafter, California Senate voted to ban declawing of exotic animals such as tigers and lions used as animal actors in the entertainment industries.  Since then, declawing exotic species cats has been banned nationwide.

If you are a CA resident, you may phone the Committee members below and ask for an AYE vote when SB-1229 comes to their committee.

Mike Feuer – Chair
Capitol Office
P.O. Box 942849
Room 2013
Sacramento, CA 94249-0042
(916) 319-2042

Donald P. Wagner – Vice Chair
Capitol Office
State Capitol
Room 4153
Sacramento, CA 94248-0001
(916) 319-2070

Toni Atkins
Capitol Office
P.O. Box 942849
Room 4146
Sacramento, CA 94249-0076
(916) 319-2076

Roger Dickinson
Capitol Office
P.O. Box 942849
Room 3126
Sacramento, CA 94249-0009
(916) 319-2009

Jeff Gorell
Capitol Office
P.O. Box 942849
Room 4208, Sacramento
CA 94249-0037
(916) 319-2037

Alyson Huber
Capitol Office
P.O. Box 942849
Room 2117
Sacramento, CA 94249-0010
(916) 319-2010

Brian W. Jones
Capitol Office
P.O. Box 942849
Room 3147
Sacramento, CA 94249-0077
(916) 319-2077

William W. Monning
Capitol Office
P.O. Box 942849
Room 6005
Sacramento, CA 94249-0027
(916) 319-2027

Bob Wieckowski
Capitol Office
State Capitol
Room 4162
Sacramento, CA 94248-0001
(916) 319-2020