| Chapter 193 |
| 2025 -- S 0180 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 06/26/2025 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- CRUELTY TO ANIMALS |
Introduced By: Senators Murray, Britto, Tikoian, Sosnowski, DiMario, Bell, Valverde, McKenney, Euer, and Lauria |
| Date Introduced: February 07, 2025 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Chapter 4-1 of the General Laws entitled "Cruelty to Animals" is hereby |
| amended by adding thereto the following section: |
| 4-1-44. Declawing cats prohibited. |
| (a) For purposes of this section: |
| (1) "Declawing" means an onychectomy or any other surgical procedure to amputate or |
| modify a portion of a cat's paw in order to remove the cat's claws. "Declawing" does not include |
| the trimming of nonviable claw husk or placing nonpermanent nail caps. |
| (2) "Tendonectomy" means a procedure in which the tendons to a cat's limbs, paws, or toes |
| are cut or modified in order that the normal functioning of the claws is impaired. |
| (3) "Therapeutic purpose" means a medically necessary procedure to address an existing |
| or recurring illness, infection, disease, injury, or abnormal condition in the claws, nail bed, or toe |
| bone, that compromises the cat's health. "Therapeutic purpose" shall not include a procedure |
| performed for a cosmetic or aesthetic purpose or to make the cat more convenient to keep or handle. |
| (b) It is unlawful for any person to perform surgical claw removal, declawing, or a |
| tendonectomy on any cat or otherwise alter a cat's toes, claws, or paws to prevent or impair the |
| normal function of the cat's toes, claws, or paws. |
| (c) This section does not apply to a procedure performed solely for a therapeutic purpose. |
| (d) The prosecution of and procedure for discipline for violations of this section shall be in |
| accordance with ยงยง 5-25-9 and 5-25-15. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on September 1, 2025. |
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| LC000997/SUB A/2 |
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