May 26, 2022 –
California Anti-Declaw Bill AB 2606 passed the California Assembly with a floor vote of 60-5. The bill would make non-therapeutic declawing illegal and was co-authored by State Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo and Assemblymember Alex Lee. Co-authors of the bill include Assemblymembers Jesse Gabriel, Mike Gipson, and Miguel Santiago, and Senator Henry Stern. The Paw Project is the primary sponsor of the bill.
The bill now will go to the state Senate for committee hearings. The bill must pass the state Senate and be signed by the governor before becoming law.
“I am so grateful for California Assemblymembers Wendy Carrillo and Alex Lee’s leadership in shepherding this bill on behalf of these precious animals,” said Jennifer Conrad, DVM, a veterinarian and the founder/director of the Paw Project. “Our goal is to make California one of the most humane states in the Union and we hope to pass this bill in as many states as we can.”
“Thank you to Assemblymember Carrillo and the Paw Project for their work on this issue — Declawing is inhumane, painful, dangerous, and can lead to long-term health complications for our feline family members,” said Assemblymember Alex Lee. “California needs to catch up to the states and countries throughout the world in banning this cruel practice.”
“Inhumane procedures still exist in California for our feline friends,” said Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo. “Unlike human nails which grow from skin, cat claws grow from the bone. Declawing a cat is a cruel and painful series of amputations with absolutely no benefit. It leaves a cat defenseless….It’s time to end this practice in California. I’m proud the City of Los Angeles has already banned this practice and I’m hopeful the state can follow suit.” Declawing is analogous to cutting off the first knuckle on the human hand.
The bill is supported by The Paw Project with additional support from many other organizations, including Actors and Others for Animals, Alley Cat Allies, Animal Health Care Center, Animals in Need Rescue Network, Inc., Anivive Lifesciences, California Animal Welfare Association, Cassie’s CATS, Cat Connection, Cat Town, City of Los Angeles Councilmember Paul Koretz, City of West Hollywood, Crooked Tails Senior Rescue, Democrats for the Protection of Animals, Dining4Animals, Feline Minds Cat Behavior Consulting, Feral Cat Caretakers Coalition, FixNation, Humane America Animal Foundation, Humane Society of The United States, Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, In Defense of Animals, Island Cat Resources and Adoption, Jameson Humane, Kindred Spirits Care Farm, Kitt Crusaders, Kitten Rescue, Latino Alliance for Animal Care Coalition, Nine Lives Foundation, North Laurel Animal Hospital, Our Honor, Palo Alto Humane Society, Patricia H. Ladew Foundation, Inc., Paws Up Rehabilitation, Performing Animal Welfare Society, Peter Zippi Memorial Fund Inc., Precious Purrs Feline Rescue, San Diego Humane Society and SPCA, Save a Kitty INC., SNAP CATS, Spay Neuter Project of Los Angeles, Social Compassion in Legislation, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals-Los Angeles, Stevenson Ranch Veterinary Center, Stray Cat Alliance, The Rescue Train, The Volunteers of The Burbank Animal Shelter, VCA Canada, Veterinary Medical Center, and West Radiologic Services. The sole opposition comes from the California Veterinary Medical Association.