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Berkeley joins other California cities in banning cat de-clawing
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Berkeley is the latest California city to ban cat de-clawing. On Tuesday, the Berkeley City Council voted unanimously to ban the practice within city limits, the Contra Costa Times reports. Violation of the ban is punishable by a $1,000 fine or six months in jail.
Berkeley joins San Francisco in passing an ordinance against de-clawing. On Tuesday in a second and final reading, the 11-member San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 8 to 2 to ban the practice. One supervisor was absent for the vote.
Los Angeles and Beverly Hills City Councils voted unanimously last week to ban the practice with a second reading on the vote in those cities scheduled for November 17. Santa Monica also has voted to ban the practice with a final vote to be taken before the end of the year.
The momentum behind this latest round of California city bans against cat de-clawing – West Hollywood was the first US city to ban the practice in 2003 -- is in response to California Senate Bill 762, which takes effect January 1. SB 762 signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will not allow cities and counties to pass ordinances banning medical procedures, including cat de-clawing.
Supporters of the ban point out that de-clawing is an extremely painful procedure in which you take off the whole last bone of each of the front toes of a cat or in essence de-knuckle them.
Many veterinarians feel that de-clawed cats tend to bite whether from a feeling of being defenseless or because of chronic pain. Also cats experiencing pain from de-clawing potentially develop litter box issues.
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