2024 -- S 2007 | |
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LC003497 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- CRUELTY TO ANIMALS | |
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Introduced By: Senators Murray, Valverde, Lauria, Tikoian, Euer, Miller, DiMario, | |
Date Introduced: January 10, 2024 | |
Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Chapter 4-1 of the General Laws entitled "Cruelty to Animals" is hereby |
2 | amended by adding thereto the following section: |
3 | 4-1-44. Declawing cats prohibited. |
4 | (a) For purposes of this section: |
5 | (1) "Declawing" means an onychectomy or any other surgical procedure to amputate or |
6 | modify a portion of a cat's paw in order to remove the cat's claws. "Declawing" does not include |
7 | the trimming of nonviable claw husk or placing nonpermanent nail caps. |
8 | (2) "Tendonectomy" means a procedure in which the tendons to a cat's limbs, paws, or toes |
9 | are cut or modified in order that the normal functioning of the claws is impaired. |
10 | (3) "Therapeutic purpose" means a medically necessary procedure to address an existing |
11 | or recurring illness, infection, disease, injury, or abnormal condition in the claws, nail bed, or toe |
12 | bone, that compromises the cat's health. "Therapeutic purpose" shall not include a procedure |
13 | performed for a cosmetic or aesthetic purpose or to make the cat more convenient to keep or handle. |
14 | (b) It is unlawful for any person to perform surgical claw removal, declawing, or a |
15 | tendonectomy on any cat or otherwise alter a cat's toes, claws, or paws to prevent or impair the |
16 | normal function of the cat's toes, claws, or paws. |
17 | (c) This section does not apply to a procedure performed solely for a therapeutic purpose. |
18 | (d) Any person found guilty of violating this section shall be fined not more than one |
19 | thousand dollars ($1,000). |
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1 | (e) The prosecution of violations of this section shall be in accordance with ยง 4-1-20. |
2 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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LC003497 | |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- CRUELTY TO ANIMALS | |
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1 | This act would prohibit the declawing of cats by any surgical procedure to amputate or |
2 | modify a portion of a cat's paw in order to remove the cat's claws. This section would not apply to |
3 | any procedure performed for a therapeutic purpose. |
4 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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LC003497 | |
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