San Francisco Board of Supervisors Consider Action to Ban Declawing Domestic Cats

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| Print | By Jo Singer | August 24, 2009 11:53 AM

I was rather heartened when I read an item from the "San Francisco Examiner" the other day, written by Joshua Sabatini. The story featured how the San Francisco Board of Supervisors is considering legislation which would ban the practice of declawing cats in the city. It was exciting to learn that this proposal is making headlines in local newspapers and also appearing supportive to the cause. The item appeared in the City Hall Politics area, "Under the Dome".

For cat lovers like me, along with the growing majority of felinophiles who consider the unnecessary and routinely performed declaw surgery of cats to be inhumane, it was indeed good news to learn that on Tuesday, August 18, San Francisco Board of Supervisor, Ross Mirkarimi requested the city attorney to draft a legislation that would ban this practice in the "City of Lights". If it passes, San Francisco will join the city of West Hollywood to become the second municipality in the state of California to have passed laws making declawing cats illegal.

According to the Examiner, Mr. Mirkarimi used some wry humor in his opening remarks to introduce the legislation. He started his presentation by asking, "Do I hear a knock, knock or a scratching?" Then using his best cat impression he added, "Meow, Meow. Well I cannot knock. Meow, Meow. Or scratch. Why is that Mr. Kitty? Meow, Meow. Because they took my claws away and I don't have any knuckles".

After his dramatic presentation, Mr. Mirkarimi became deadly serious in his presentation, and said, "Therein lies the problem. Cat declawing is a cruel and painful procedure."

Hopefully the San Francisco Board of Supervisors will get this pending legislation swiftly made into law. If it doesn't pass before January 1, 2010, due to a veto that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger used in legislation which contained a proposed ban, sadly the

San Francisco proposal will come to an untimely demise. Since West Hollywood's ban was passed prior to the 2010 date, it will be upheld and remain the only city in the state to have a law on its books to protect cats from this procedure.

For those who wish to get involved and express support to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors now, please visit: http://www.sfgov.org/site/bdsupvrs_index.asp?id=7271

On their website are easy to access direct email forms to reach all the individual member of the Board. It only takes a few minutes to let your voices be heard.

If this proposed legislation passes, perhaps other states will follow the example of the San Francisco Board, and get involved in protecting the cats of their individual constituencies.

What are your thoughts about the San Francisco Board of Supervisor's proposal? Please leave a comment and share with us.

RELATED TOPICS: Blogs (262) , Cats (116) , Declawing (6) , Law (25)

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jmuhj August 24, 2009 3:25 PM

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Today, West Hollywood. Tomorrow, San Francisco...and beyond! This place will be dragged kicking and screaming into compassionate line with other nations in the world, whether it likes it or not!

Vicki August 24, 2009 5:04 PM

I hope this law passes on to every state, not just certain cities. It should have been done a long time ago.

Ruth from England August 25, 2009 5:36 AM

I and many other English people have written to the board of supervisors.We emphathise with our USA friends who are so desperately wanting this cruel mutilation of cats to be made illegal, as it is in our and 37 other countries so far.A ban in San Francisco would be a great step forward as along with West Hollywood they would surely set a precedent for declawing to be banned in other cities, then states.There is never any justification for declawing,and a supposed to be last resort procedure is being abused by some vets declawing kittens.So many cats are suffering from this barbaric operation because many people really don't know the truth about it and the vets who enjoy making money, don't very often tell them. I can't understand anyone wanting a cat declawed, claws are the very essence of the cat,no one should have the right to adapt an animal for their own convenience.Cats are born with claws firmly embedded in bone, not meant to ever be removed.Anyone having their cat mutilated knowing this does NOT love cats !!!!
I pray each night to God that declawing is soon illegal worldwide !!!

Amy August 25, 2009 4:16 PM

It would be wonderful if this awful practice was banned world wide.

janet jubilee February 14, 2010 9:17 PM

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Don't take your pets to vets that declaw.Also,We need more videos of cats in cages right after the declaw, bloody and in pain. Perhaps this video could be shown to people considering declawing!

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