2018 -- S 2296

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LC004181

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY - CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

     Introduced By: Senators Paolino, Ruggerio, Morgan, Raptakis, and Goodwin

     Date Introduced: February 01, 2018

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 4-1 of the General Laws entitled "Cruelty to Animals" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following section:

     4-1-41.1. Declawing of cats prohibited.

     (a) For purposes of this section:

     (1) "Onychectomy" means the surgical removal in felines of distal phalanges of all digits

of forefeet, less commonly of hind feet. Procedure involves disarticulation of the P2/P3 junction

and subsequent removal of entire P3 bone, at the terminus of which the claw is seated. The

procedure is also known as "declawing".

     (2) "Phalangectomy" means the surgical excision of one or more of the phalanges of the

foot.

     (3) "Tendonectomy" means the surgical resection of part of a tendon.

     (4) "Therapeutic purpose" means the necessity to address the physical medical condition

of the cat, such as an existing or recurring illness, infection, disease, injury, or abnormal condition

in the claw that compromises the cat's health. Therapeutic purpose does not include cosmetic or

aesthetic reasons or reasons of convenience in keeping or handling the cat.

     (b) No person shall perform an onychectomy (declawing), partial or complete

phalangectomy or tendonectomy procedure by any means on a cat within the state except when

necessary for a therapeutic purpose.

     (c) Any person found in violation of this section shall be fined not more than one

thousand dollars ($1,000). In addition to any other penalty provided by law, a person fined under

this section may be barred from owning or possessing any animals, or living on the same property

with someone who owns or possesses animals, for a period of time deemed appropriate by the

court, and be required to take humane education, pet ownership and dog training classes as

ordered by the court.

      SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY - CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

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     This act would prohibit the practice of declawing cats (onychectomy) or any partial or

complete phalangectomy(s) or tendonectomy(s) on cats.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC004181

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