The Leeds-Grenville SPCA is supporting a provincial bill that would see a ban put in place for declawing cats.
A bill was introduced last week by MPP for Davenport Marit Stiles that would put an end to the inhumane practice in Ontario.
The bill, also known as ‘Teddy’s Law,’ would update animal welfare legislation to ban declawing cats unless a veterinarian feels it’s a necessary medical procedure.
“Declawing is a mutilating and painful procedure that can never be justified as a treatment in response to a cat’s normal behaviour,” Chief Veterinary Officer with the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society Magdalena Smrdelj said, “Declawing should be limited to situations where a veterinarian deems it medically necessary for the health of the animal.”
Declawing a cat isn’t a quick fix to save furniture – it’s an amputation; removing the last bone on each toe of a cat’s paw, which can cause pain, discomfort and significant behavioural changes in the cat.