File No. 031591
RESOLUTION NO. 645-03
[Opposing the Declawing of Cats]
Resolution urging pet guardians and veterinarians to discontinue the practice of declawing cats in the City and County of San Francisco.
WHEREAS, an onychectomy is often a non-therapeutic amputation, or declawing of the third phalanx (or tip) of a cat’s paw; and,
WHEREAS, this surgical claw removal severs the attached muscles, tendons, and nerves in the front paws and can lead to bone fragments, arthritis, abscesses, biting, litter box avoidance, and degenerative claw regrowth; and,
WHEREAS, more sensible and humane alternatives exist for guarding human safety against cat scratching; and,
WHEREAS, the San Francisco Commission of Animal Control and Welfare, as well as the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights represent a growing statewide and domestic public that oppose the non-therapeutic declawing of cats; and,
WHEREAS, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, and the United Kingdom have enacted laws expressly prohibiting the non-therapeutic declawing of cats; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco hereby strongly urge cat owners and veterinarians to discontinue the practice of declawing native and exotic cat species.
September 23, 2003 Board of Supervisors – ADOPTED
Ayes: 11 – Ammiano, Daly, Dufty, Gonzalez, Hall, Ma, Maxwell, McGoldrick, Newsom, Peskin, Sandoval
Date: October 3, 2003
I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution, not being signed by the Mayor within the time limit as set forth in Section 3.103 of the Charter, became effective without his approval in accordance with the provision of said Section 3.103 of the Charter.
Clerk of the Board