Existing law makes it a misdemeanor for any person to perform surgical claw removal, declawing, onychectomy, tendonectomy, or similar procedures on a cat that is a member of an exotic or native wild cat species, except solely for a therapeutic purpose.
Existing law, the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act, establishes the California Veterinary Medical Board to regulate the practice of veterinary medicine, which includes performing a surgical operation upon an animal. A violation of the act is a crime.
This bill would prohibit a person from performing a declawing or similar procedures on any cat or other animal unless the person is licensed as a veterinarian pursuant to the act and the veterinarian is performing the declawing for a therapeutic purpose, as defined. The bill would require a veterinarian, if they determine declawing is necessary for a therapeutic purpose, to file a written statement with the board that includes, among other information, the purpose for performing the procedure, and would require the veterinarian to also provide a copy of the statement to the owner of the animal. Because a violation of these provisions would be a crime under the act, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would also make a veterinarian's violation of the bill's provisions subject to discipline by the board.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.