This bill, H.F. No. 1857, introduced in the Minnesota House of Representatives, prohibits the elective declawing of cats and establishes civil penalties for violations. The key provisions of the bill are:

• Definitions:

  • "Declawing" is defined as an onychectomy or any other surgical procedure that removes or modifies a cat’s claws by amputating part of the paw. This does not include trimming claw husks or placing nonpermanent nail caps.
  • A procedure performed "solely for a therapeutic purpose" must be medically necessary due to an existing health condition affecting the cat’s claws, nail bed, or toe bone, and not for aesthetic or convenience reasons.
  • "Tendonectomy" refers to cutting or modifying the tendons that control claw movement, impairing claw function.

• Prohibition:

  • Declawing, surgical claw removal, tendonectomy, or any other alteration that impairs a cat’s normal claw function is strictly prohibited, except when done for a therapeutic purpose.

• Penalties:

  • $500 fine for a first violation.
  • $1,000 fine for a second violation.
  • $2,500 fine for a third and any subsequent violations.
  • These civil penalties can be enforced through a civil action by the county attorney or the state attorney general.

This bill aims to prevent unnecessary and harmful declawing procedures, reinforcing animal cruelty protections in Minnesota.