ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - The Latest on the New York legislature’s votes on ban on declawing cats (all times local):
4:50 p.m.
New York’s Legislature has passed a bill that would make the state the first in the U.S. to ban cat declawing operations.
The bill would subject veterinarians to $1,000 fines for performing the procedure, which involves amputating a cat’s toes back to the first knuckle.
It now heads to the desk of Gov. Andrew Cuomo. He hasn’t said whether he’ll sign it into law.
Declawing a cat is already illegal in much of Europe as well as in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver.
Supporters of the ban include animal welfare advocates, who argue declawing is cruel and barbaric.
The New York Veterinary Medical Society opposed the bill, arguing that declawing should be allowed as a last resort in some circumstances.
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3:20 p.m.
New York’s state Senate has passed a bill that would make the state the first in the U.S. to ban cat declawing operations.
The proposal is also expected to get a vote in the Assembly later Tuesday.
The bill would subject veterinarians to $1,000 fines for performing the procedure, which involves amputating part of a cat’s toes.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo hasn’t said whether he supports the bill.
Declawing a cat is already illegal in much of Europe as well as in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver.
Supporters of a ban include animal welfare advocates, who say declawing is cruel.
The New York Veterinary Medical Society opposed the bill, arguing that declawing should be allowed as a last resort in some circumstances.
Cuomo and the majority of legislators are Democrats.
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5:40 a.m.
New York would be the first state to ban the declawing of cats under legislation heading to a vote in the state Legislature.
The Senate and Assembly are both expected to take up the bill on Tuesday.
Declawing a cat is already illegal in much of Europe as well as in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver.
Supporters of a ban in New York include animal welfare advocates, cat owners and veterinarians who argue the practice is cruel and barbaric since it involves the amputation of a cat’s toes back to the first knuckle.
The state’s largest veterinary association has opposed the bill. It says the procedure should be allowed as a last resort for felines that won’t stop scratching furniture or humans.
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