Veterinary medicine: declawing animals.

Existing law prohibits a person from performing, or otherwise procuring or arranging for the performance of, surgical claw removal, declawing, onychectomy, or tendonectomy on any cat that is a member of an exotic or native wild cat species and prohibits a person from otherwise altering such a cat's toes, claws, or paws to prevent the normal function of the cat's toes, claws, or paws. Existing law, the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of veterinary medicine by the Veterinary Medical Board in the Department of Consumer Affairs. A violation of the act is a crime. This bill would prohibit a person from performing a declawing on a cat or other animal unless the person is licensed as a veterinarian and the veterinarian is performing the declawing for a therapeutic purpose. The bill would require a veterinarian to record the therapeutic purpose in the animal's medical record if the veterinarian determines that a declawing is necessary for a therapeutic purpose. The bill would make a veterinarian subject to a determination by the board to revoke the veterinarian's license if the veterinarian does not comply with the bill's provisions. Because a violation of these provisions by a person who is not a veterinarian would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.