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A1303Assembly2019-2020 SessionSame asS5532

Ban Cat Declawing

Official title

“Relates to the prohibition of the declawing of cats”

Sponsor Linda RosenthalAD-67+25 co-sponsorsAffects Economy
Status
Assembly Floor Calendar
Impact
5/10
Moderate
Outcome
Companion signed

Bill progress

Signed via S5532

What's happening

This bill prohibits the declawing of cats in New York, except for therapeutic reasons, with violators subject to a fine.

Why it matters

  1. Establishes a clear legal standard. By defining "therapeutic purpose" for declawing as only necessary for treating a cat’s physical medical condition, the bill bars veterinarians and pet owners from using declawing for behavioral or convenience reasons, which has been a common but controversial practice.

  2. Promotes animal welfare. Declawing is recognized by many veterinarians and animal welfare organizations as a painful, non-essential surgery with lasting impacts on cats’ health and behavior. This law could lead to improved quality of life for cats by preventing unnecessary procedures.

  3. Creates enforceable consequences. The bill introduces a civil penalty (up to $1,000) for violations, providing a tangible deterrent and a mechanism for accountability among veterinary professionals and anyone else who might perform or solicit the procedure.

  4. May influence broader trends. As New York would become one of the first states to enact such a prohibition, this law could set a precedent and encourage similar legislation in other jurisdictions, potentially shifting norms around pet care and animal rights nationally.

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Who cares

Headline styles

Ban Cat Declawing

Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.

Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Linda Rosenthal

Assembly Member · Assembly District 67

History

  1. Substituted by S5532B
  2. Amended on third reading 1303b
  3. Advanced to third reading cal.476
  4. Reported
  5. Print number 1303a
  6. Amend and recommit to codes
  7. Reported referred to codes
  8. 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.

S5532Senate

Ban Cat Declawing

Signed by Governor · Sponsor Michael Gianaris

Impact 4 · LowSigned into law

Full text

1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗

STATE OF NEW YORK

1303--B Cal. No. 476

2019-2020 Regular Sessions

IN ASSEMBLY

January 14, 2019

Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL, DINOWITZ, MOSLEY, GOTTFRIED, GALEF, RAIA, LUPARDO, QUART, SEAWRIGHT, SANTABARBARA, RIVERA, D'URSO, WILLIAMS, BLAKE, GLICK, CARROLL, BENEDETTO, STIRPE, GUNTHER, NIOU, EPSTEIN, FERNANDEZ, BUTTENSCHON, ORTIZ, PERRY, WEPRIN --… Show all

Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL, DINOWITZ, MOSLEY, GOTTFRIED, GALEF, RAIA, LUPARDO, QUART, SEAWRIGHT, SANTABARBARA, RIVERA, D'URSO, WILLIAMS, BLAKE, GLICK, CARROLL, BENEDETTO, STIRPE, GUNTHER, NIOU, EPSTEIN, FERNANDEZ, BUTTENSCHON, ORTIZ, PERRY, WEPRIN -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK, ENGLEBRIGHT, FITZPATRICK, GARBARINO, LIFTON, McDONOUGH, PHEFFER AMATO, SIMON, SOLAGES, STECK, THIELE -read once and referred to the Committee on Agriculture -- reported and referred to the Committee on Codes -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- reported from committee, advanced to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the order of third reading

AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to prohibiting the declawing of cats

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new section 381 to read as follows:

§ 381. Prohibition of the declawing of cats. 1. No person shall perform an onychectomy (declawing), partial or complete phalangectomy or tendonectomy procedure by any means on a cat within the state of New York, except when necessary for a therapeutic purpose. Therapeutic purpose means the necessity to address the physical medical condition of the cat, such as an existing or recurring illness, infection, disease, injury or abnormal condition in the claw that compromises the cat's health. Therapeutic purpose does not include cosmetic or aesthetic reasons or reasons of convenience in keeping or handling the cat.

2. Any person who performs an onychectomy, partial or complete phalangectomy or tendonectomy procedure on any cat within the state of New York in violation of the provisions of subdivision one of this section shall be punishable by a civil penalty not to exceed one thousand dollars.

§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD06056-05-9

Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.

Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.