New York on Monday became the first state in the country to ban cat declawing, a practice that animal advocates consider cruel and unnecessary. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed the bill into law after state legislators passed the ban last month.
“By banning this archaic practice, we will ensure that animals are no longer subjected to these inhumane and unnecessary procedures,” Governor Cuomo, a Democrat, said in a statement.
The law goes into effect immediately and makes exceptions for medical purposes. Performing the procedure on a cat for any other reason could lead to a fine of up to $1,000.
Assemblywoman Linda B. Rosenthal, a Democrat, first introduced the bill in January 2015. “As a cat lover and someone who has cats, I said this is cruel, barbaric and inhumane,” Ms. Rosenthal said on Monday.
Legobrick100 on July 23rd, 2019 at 04:14 UTC »
I've never really had a problem with cat claws. My cats only end up hurting me when I hold them and they squirm to try and get out of my hands; they've never once intentionally clawed at me.
They haven't been too bad on the furniture either, but of course it helps to have furniture that isn't, say, leather or another easily-torn and damaged material.
ArtVandleay on July 23rd, 2019 at 02:56 UTC »
Claws can be clipped. And scratch posts give them something to claw on
IlikePez on July 23rd, 2019 at 02:41 UTC »
This should be a federal law. So many many uninformed people think the operation is just removing the claws. Because of cats biology and how their cute little wolverine claws actually work, it's a full on amputation of the first knuckle. Look at your fingers and toes, and then amputate just below the first knuckle. Live a happy and productive life after that.
If you have scratching problems buy a scratching post or get kitty a friend so they are not lonely and manically destructive. If you have smallish kids, teach them to respect animals and pet them gently. Or just don't have a cat if you think declawing is the optimal solution. Shit is horrifyingly barbaric.