🐱 State Senate Unanimously Votes to Ban Cat Declawing in Massachusetts

Today the state senate passed (39 to 0) Bill S.2552 entitled An Act Prohibiting Inhumane Feline Declawing.

The key language of the bill states

No person shall perform, or cause to be performed, a declawing procedure of an animal unless:

(i) the declawing procedure is being performed by a veterinarian licensed under section [Massachusetts law] for a therapeutic purpose or

(ii) the person who causes a declawing procedure to be performed is relying written opinion of a veterinarian licensed under [Massachusetts law] that such declawing procedure is required for a therapeutic purpose. 

The proposed law would also require veterinarians to keep detailed records for every cat that is declawed and to report the procedure to the board of veterinarians.

The bill would punish violators with fines of increasing severity:

• Up to $1,000 for the first offense;

• Up to $1,500 for the second offense;

• up to $2,500 for third and subsequent offenses.

Additionally, vets who violate the law could face disciplinary action by the state’s licensing board.

To read the full text of the bill, click the document below.