Cats: declawing procedures: prohibition.

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, except solely for a therapeutic purpose. This bill would prohibit a person from removing or disabling a cat's claws by performing a declawing procedure, as defined, except when a phalangectomy is performed solely for a therapeutic purpose, as specified. The bill would require a licensed veterinarian who performs a phalangectomy for a therapeutic purpose to file a written statement, which would include the purpose for performing the phalangectomy, with the Veterinary Medical Board, as specified. The bill would impose on a person that removes or disables a cat's claws by performing a declawing procedure a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for the first violation, $1,500 for the second violation, and $2,500 for the third and subsequent violations, as specified. The bill would impose on a licensed veterinarian that fails to file the written statement a civil penalty of not more than $200, and would provide that such conduct or performing a declawing procedure constitutes unprofessional conduct. The bill would authorize the Attorney General, a city attorney, and a county counsel to bring an action to impose these civil penalties. The bill would require a person, upon determining a licensed veterinarian potentially performed a declawing procedure, to notify the board of the potential violation, and would specify that a violation of this requirement is not a crime and is not subject to any civil or criminal penalty.