NY State Senate Bill 2015-S4707

Archive: Last Bill Status - Stricken

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Apr 28, 2015	recommit, enacting clause stricken
Apr 10, 2015	referred to agriculture

2015-S4707 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A1297
Law Section:: Agriculture and Markets Law
Laws Affected:: Add §380, Ag & Mkts
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2017-2018: A595
2019-2020: A1303

2015-S4707 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to the prohibition of the declawing of cats or other animals.

2015-S4707 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                BILL NUMBER:S4707

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in
relation to the declawing of cats or other animals

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To prohibit the performance of declawing procedures on cats and other
animals.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one amends the agriculture and markets law by adding a new
section 380.

Section two sets forth the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:

Cats' claws play an important role in various aspects of their lives.
Cats use their claws to assist in climbing and maintaining balance, to
help them fully stretch, to relieve stress through kneading and to
escape danger. When a person has its animal declawed, usually in an
attempt to protect furniture, they do fundamental damage to that
animal both physically and in behavioral ways. There are harmless ways
to manage undesirable behavior through simple training and other

established methods.

Declawing, also known as onychectomy, involves the removal of all or
most of the last bone of each of the toes of the front feet, and
tendons, nerves and ligaments that allow for normal function of the
paw are severed, resulting in intense and chronic pain and other
serious medical issues. Flexor tendonectomy, in which cats' toes are
cut so that claws cannot be extended also imperils their health and
safety. Abscesses often develop as the area comes into contact with
dirt or litter, and sometimes regrowth can occur spontaneously
resulting in sharp pain or infection. After the claws are removed, the
animal tends to shift its gait and where it places most of its weight,
causing strain on its leg joints and spine, which can lead to early
onset arthritis and prolonged back and joint pain. Declawed cats often
develop behavioral problems that lead to their being surrendered to
animal shelters where they are, for the most part, not adoptable.

Declawing is currently banned in nearly 10 cities in California and in
many countries around the world, including Switzerland, Israel and the
U.K. This bill seeks to ban such practice in New York State.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

Undetermined.

EFFECTIVE DATE:


This act shall take effect immediately.

2015-S4707 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  4707

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                             April 10, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  AVELLA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture

AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets  law,  in  relation  to  the
  declawing of cats or other animals

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a  new
section 380 to read as follows:
  S  380.  PROHIBITION  OF THE DECLAWING OF CATS OR OTHER ANIMALS. 1. NO
PERSON, LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL OR  OTHERWISE,  SHALL  PERFORM  OR
CAUSE  TO BE PERFORMED AN ONYCHECTOMY (DECLAWING) OR FLEXOR TENDONECTOMY
PROCEDURE BY ANY MEANS ON A CAT OR ON ANY OTHER ANIMAL WITHIN THE  STATE
OF NEW YORK, EXCEPT WHEN NECESSARY FOR A THERAPEUTIC PURPOSE.  THERAPEU-
TIC  PURPOSE MEANS THE NECESSITY TO ADDRESS THE MEDICAL CONDITION OF THE
ANIMAL, SUCH AS AN EXISTING OR RECURRING  ILLNESS,  INFECTION,  DISEASE,
INJURY  OR  ABNORMAL CONDITION IN THE CLAW THAT COMPROMISES THE ANIMAL'S
HEALTH. THERAPEUTIC PURPOSE  DOES  NOT  INCLUDE  COSMETIC  OR  AESTHETIC
REASONS OR REASONS OF CONVENIENCE IN KEEPING OR HANDLING THE ANIMAL.
  2.  IN  THE EVENT THAT AN ONYCHECTOMY OR FLEXOR TENDONECTOMY PROCEDURE
IS PERFORMED ON ANY ANIMAL WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN VIOLATION  OF
THIS  SECTION,  EACH  OF  THE  FOLLOWING  PERSONS  SHALL  BE GUILTY OF A
VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION: (A) THE  PERSON  OR  PERSONS  PERFORMING  THE
PROCEDURE,  (B) ALL PERSONS ASSISTING IN THE PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE OF THE
PROCEDURE AND (C) ALL PERSONS OR ENTITIES THAT PROCURED  THE  PROCEDURE,
INCLUDING  BUT  NOT  LIMITED  TO  THE  OWNER OR PERSON HAVING CUSTODY OR
CONTROL OVER THE ANIMAL OR ANY OTHER  PERSON  OR  ENTITY  THAT  ORDERED,
REQUESTED OR PAID FOR THE PROCEDURE.
  3.  ANY  PERSON  WHO KNOWINGLY VIOLATES THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION
SHALL BE GUILTY OF A VIOLATION PUNISHABLE PURSUANT TO THE PENAL LAW.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD04179-01-5

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Senate Bill S4707

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Archive: Last Bill Status - Stricken

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2015-S4707 (ACTIVE) - Details

2015-S4707 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2015-S4707 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2015-S4707 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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Sponsored By

Tony Avella

Archive: Last Bill Status - Stricken

Actions

2015-S4707 (ACTIVE) - Details

2015-S4707 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2015-S4707 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2015-S4707 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments