2025 -- S 0180
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LC000997
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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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
Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 4-1 of the General Laws entitled "Cruelty to Animals" is hereby 1
amended by adding thereto the following section: 2
4-1-44. Declawing cats prohibited. 3
(a) For purposes of this section: 4
(1) "Declawing" means an onychectomy or any other surgical procedure to amputate or 5
modify a portion of a cat's paw in order to remove the cat's claws. "Declawing" does not include 6
the trimming of nonviable claw husk or placing nonpermanent nail caps. 7
(2) "Tendonectomy" means a procedure in which the tendons to a cat's limbs, paws, or toes 8
are cut or modified in order that the normal functioning of the claws is impaired. 9
(3) "Therapeutic purpose" means a medically necessary procedure to address an existing 10
or recurring illness, infection, disease, injury, or abnormal condition in the claws, nail bed, or toe 11
bone, that compromises the cat's health. "Therapeutic purpose" shall not include a procedure 12
performed for a cosmetic or aesthetic purpose or to make the cat more convenient to keep or handle. 13
(b) It is unlawful for any person to perform surgical claw removal, declawing, or a 14
tendonectomy on any cat or otherwise alter a cat's toes, claws, or paws to prevent or impair the 15
normal function of the cat's toes, claws, or paws. 16
(c) This section does not apply to a procedure performed solely for a therapeutic purpose. 17
(d) Any person found guilty of violating this section shall be fined not more than one 18
thousand dollars ($1,000). 19
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(e) The prosecution of violations of this section shall be in accordance with ยง 4-1-20. 1
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 2
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LC000997
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LC000997 - Page 3 of 3
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
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This act would prohibit the declawing of cats by any surgical procedure to amputate or 1
modify a portion of a cat's paw in order to remove the cat's claws. This section would not apply to 2
any procedure performed for a therapeutic purpose. 3
This act would take effect upon passage. 4
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LC000997
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