Cities moving to outlaw cat declawing
San Francisco has become the first major city in the nation to outlaw the declawing of cats, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Some pet owners declaw their felines to protect themselves, or their furniture, from scratches. But pet advocates condemn the practice as animal cruelty.
“It is well-documented and well-understood from a medical prospective that [declawing] is torture. It is a form of animal cruelty,” said Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, who introduced the legislation.
Other California cities are considering adopting similar bans. The Los Angeles City Council is expected to vote on whether to enact a ban by the end of the year.
West Hollywood banned declawing in 2003. Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and Berkeley are considering similar ordinances. Declawing is illegal in 20 countries, including most of Europe, Brazil, Japan and Israel.
This little kitten has even more claws than usual with seven toes on each paw. (AP Photo/Coeur d'Alene Press, Jerome A. Pollos)
