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Virginia Residents: Ban the Cruel Practice of Cat Declawing

Virginia Residents: Ban the Cruel Practice of Cat Declawing

This alert is no longer active because this bill was killed, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.

Imagine waking up from surgery to find the tips of all your fingers removed and then being forced to walk on your hands. That is what declawing, officially called onychectomy, is like for cats.

House Bill 1382 would make the outdated procedure of cat declawing illegal in the state of Virginia. We need your help to ensure this bill becomes law. Urge your state representative to support HB 1382 to make cat declawing illegal in Virginia!

Declawing cats is extremely painful and can lead to other long-term health issues like back pain, arthritis, nerve damage, and necrosis (tissue death). Cats are also put through this cruel surgical procedure for human convenience to protect furniture and other household items. Scratching is a natural and healthy behavior for cats, who do so to exercise and stretch, express certain emotions, and mark areas with their scent.

Ironically, declawing cats often leads to more concerning behavioral issues like increased aggression. Since cats no longer have claws for defense, they often resort to biting. Declawed cats may also avoid the litter box, often eliminating their bladders on the same furniture their humans sought to protect. Unfortunately, these issues can result in cats being abandoned or given up to animal shelters.

HB 1382 would create a civil penalty for declawing cats, meaning that officials could issue a fine of up to $500 for a first offense, and animal control officers and state and local law enforcement could bring a civil action against violators. Tell your legislators it's time to protect Virginia's cats from painful and unnecessary surgeries.

 

What YOU Can Do — TODAY:

 

 

This alert is no longer active because this bill was killed, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.

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