Latest news with #AB867
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cat declawing bill passes California State Assembly
(KRON) — California's Democratic and Republican lawmakers are clashing over several bills in Sacramento this week. One issue, however, received bipartisan support Monday: protecting cat paws. AB 867, authored by Assemblymember Alex Lee, aims to outlaw cat declawing statewide. The bill passed the California State Assembly floor with a unanimous 72-0 vote. Removing a cat's claws involves amputating the toe bones or severing the tendon controlling its paws, according to Lee's office. 'Cat declawing is a cruel and barbaric surgical procedure that causes lifelong disfigurement and pain,' Lee said. 'Mutilating healthy cats merely for convenience is inhumane and unethical. It's the equivalent of removing a person's fingers at the top knuckle.' Lee said he wrote the bill with inspiration from his own beloved cats, named Udon and Soba. Lee represents the 24th Assembly District, which includes the cities of Fremont, Newark, Milpitas, and San Jose. AB 867 would prohibit the declawing of a cat unless a veterinarian performs the procedure for a medically necessary purpose that benefits the cat's health. 'Scratching is a natural cat behavior, and non-surgical alternatives are available to address inappropriate behaviors such as nail trimming, soft claw caps, and behavioral training,' Lee's office wrote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
29-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
California one step closer to banning cat declawing after bill passes Assembly
The California Assembly has unanimously passed a bill to ban cat declawing in the state. The bill will now go to the state senate. Assembly Bill 867 was authored by Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-Milpitas) and is co-sponsored by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco). The bill would only allow declawing if a veterinarian deems it medically necessary. "Cat declawing is a cruel and barbaric surgical procedure that causes lifelong disfigurement and pain," said Lee. "This is a common sense bill reinforcing that cat declawing goes against ethical treatment standards for animals." According to the ASPCA, "Declawing of cats, or onychectomy, is the amputation of the last digital bone, including the nail bed and claw, on each front toe. If the surgery is performed correctly and the entire nail bed is removed, the claw cannot regrow. " The California Veterinary Medical Association is opposed to the bill. They submitted a letter to the chairman of the Assembly Business and Professions Committee saying "The CVMA is deeply concerned that the veterinary profession is being singled out among our fellow healing arts professionals with legislation proposing to ban specific medical and surgical procedures in statute, which is a dangerous precedent. Accordingly, the CVMA respectfully must "oppose" AB 867." According to Lee, cat declawing has been outlawed in New York state, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C.
