Representative Amish Shah, MD, is sponsoring a bill which would ban declawing of cats in Arizona. Your voice is needed to get this important legislation passed and signed into law!
Declawing is one of the most painful, routinely performed procedures in veterinary medicine, where each toe of the cat is amputated at the first joint. Declawing a cat is equivalent in humans to amputating the entire first knuckle of every finger. Published veterinary research indicates that declawing cats increases the risk of unwanted behaviors and may increase risk for developing back pain. As a result of declawing, many cats suffer permanent or intermittent lameness and other surgical complications.
There is no scientific evidence that shows declawing cats protects them from relinquishment, abandonment, or euthanasia. Declawed cats are often found in shelters and rescues, or even outdoor colonies. Also, declawing cats does not protect human health. Scientific studies have found declawed cats bite more often and harder than their intact counterparts. Major health authorities including the CDC, NIH, US Public Health Services, and Infectious Diseases Society of America all agree that declawing cats to protect humans is “not advised.”
Watch Jackson Galaxy’s video about declawing and get more information at the Paw Project.
BILL INFORMATION
HB2224 cat declawing; prohibition; exceptions (Shah: Kavanagh, Longdon, Nguyen), would make non-therapeutic declawing illegal in Arizona. HB2224 passed the House Government & Election Committee 10-3. Rep. Amish Shah, MD, Steve Hansen, DVM (Arizona Humane Society), Jennifer Conrad, DVM (Paw Project), and Nellie Goetz, DVM (Altered Tails) testified in support of the bill. You can watch the video of the committee hearing here. HB2224 starts at around the 22:00 mark.
Media Reports on Cat Declaw Bill:
AZ Family TV 3/CBS 5: Bill that would make it illegal to declaw cats moving through Arizona House
KNAU News Talk – Arizona Public Radio: New House bill would prohibit cat declawing in Arizona
Tucson.com: ‘Gruesome’ declawing of cats would be banned under proposed Ariz. law
WHAT YOU CAN DO
HVA will provide updates as the bill progresses and how you can help.