ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fifth Legislature Second Regular Session

---

HB 2224: cat declawing; prohibition; exceptions

Sponsor: Representative Shah, LD 24

Committee on Government & Elections

Overview

Allows a licensed veterinarian to perform the declawing, onychectomy or tendonectomy of a cat if the procedure is for a therapeutic purpose.

History

A person within this state is regarded as practicing veterinary medicine, surgery and dentistry if the person, among other duties, advertises the ability to diagnose any animal condition or ability to perform any type of surgical procedure on animals and prescribes or administers any drug or treatment for any animal (A.R.S. § 32-2231).

A veterinarian is defined in statute as a person who has received a doctor's degree in veterinary medicine from a veterinary college (A.R.S. § 32-2201).

Provisions

1. Authorizes a license veterinarian to cause to be performed or to perform the declawing, onychectomy or tendonectomy of a cat only if the procedure is for a therapeutic purpose. (Sec. 2)

2. Requires the veterinarian to keep a record of the declawing, onychectomy or tendonectomy procedure for at least four years after the veterinarian's last contact with the cat. (Sec. 2)

3. Stipulates that the record must include all of the following:

a) The name and address of the owner of the cat;

b) A physical description of the cat;

c) The date of the procedure;

d) The reason for the performance of the procedure; and

e) Any diagnostic opinion and analysis or test result that supports the diagnostic opinion. (Sec. 2)

4. Specifies that a violation is subject to the following:

a) For a first violation, a civil penalty of $1,000;

b) For a second violation, a civil penalty of $1,500; or

c) For a third or subsequent violation, a license suspension or revocation. (Sec. 2)

5. Defines the following terms:

a) Declawing or Onychectomy;

b) Tendonectomy; and

c) Therapeutic purpose. (Sec. 1)

6. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1)

7.

8.

9. ---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------

10.                   HB 2224

11. Initials SJ  Page 0 Government & Elections

12.

13. ---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------