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History
- Recommit, enacting clause stricken
- Referred to agriculture
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Relates to the prohibition of the declawing of cats
In Assembly Committee · Agriculture · Sponsor Linda Rosenthal
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S4707
Title of bill
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to the declawing of cats or other animals
Purpose or general idea of bill
To prohibit the performance of declawing procedures on cats and other animals.
Summary of provisions
Section one amends the agriculture and markets law by adding a new section 380.
Section two sets forth the effective date.
Justification
Cats' claws play an important role in various aspects of their lives. Cats use their claws to assist in climbing and maintaining balance, to help them fully stretch, to relieve stress through kneading and to escape danger. When a person has its animal declawed, usually in an attempt to protect furniture, they do fundamental damage to that animal both physically and in behavioral ways. There are harmless ways to manage undesirable behavior through simple training and other established methods.
Declawing, also known as onychectomy, involves the removal of all or most of the last bone of each of the toes of the front feet, and tendons, nerves and ligaments that allow for normal function of the paw are severed, resulting in intense and chronic pain and other serious medical issues. Flexor tendonectomy, in which cats' toes are cut so that claws cannot be extended also imperils their health and safety. Abscesses often develop as the area comes into contact with dirt or litter, and sometimes regrowth can occur spontaneously resulting in sharp pain or infection. After the claws are removed, the animal tends to shift its gait and where it places most of its weight, causing strain on its leg joints and spine, which can lead to early onset arthritis and prolonged back and joint pain. Declawed cats often develop behavioral problems that lead to their being surrendered to animal shelters where they are, for the most part, not adoptable.
Declawing is currently banned in nearly 10 cities in California and in many countries around the world, including Switzerland, Israel and the U.K. This bill seeks to ban such practice in New York State.
Prior legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
Undetermined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.