Pennsylvania HB 1716: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, providing for the prohibition on declawing cats.

Bill Text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 2112 PRINTER'S NO. 2519
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1716
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY HANBIDGE, MALAGARI, FIEDLER, HOHENSTEIN, HILL-
EVANS, McNEILL, CERRATO, SANCHEZ, GIRAL, KHAN, SCHLOSSBERG,
DALEY, BENHAM, STEELE, GUENST, SHUSTERMAN, BRENNAN, GILLEN,
CIRESI, GREEN, HOGAN AND CONKLIN, JULY 10, 2025
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, OCTOBER 27, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and
related offenses, further providing for the offense of animal
mutilation and related offenses.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 5542 of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subsection to read:
§ 5542. Animal mutilation and related offenses.
* * *
(e.1) Declawing of cats.--
(1) A person commits an offense under section 5533 if
the person performs an onychectomy, a declawing, partial
digital amputation, phalangectomy or tendonectomy procedure
by any means unless the procedure is deemed necessary for a
therapeutic purpose by a licensed doctor of veterinary
medicine. The offense under this subsection shall include any
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procedure to alter a cat's toes, claws or paws to prevent the
normal functioning of the cat's toes, claws or paws, but
shall not include the trimming of a nonviable claw husk or
placing a nonpermanent nail cap on a cat.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), if
a licensed veterinarian determines that a phalangectomy
procedure is necessary for a therapeutic purpose, the
licensed veterinarian, on or before 10 business days after
performing the procedure, shall file a written statement with
the animal control agency with jurisdiction over the area in
which the procedure was performed stating the purpose for the
phalangectomy, onychectomy, partial digital amputation or
tendonectomy procedure, including a laboratory pathology
report confirming the pathology, identifying information of
the cat, including its microchip number if applicable, age,
gender, markings and a photo of the face and current address
and telephone number of the owner or keeper of the cat. The
licensed veterinarian shall provide a copy of the written
statement to the owner or keeper of the cat.
(3) As used in this subsection, the following words and
phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
paragraph unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Onychectomy." A procedure in which a portion of the paw
of a cat is amputated or removed or disables a claw,
including procedures commonly referred to as declawing.
"Partial digital amputation." A procedure for the
excision of some or all of one or more of the phalanges of
the paw of a cat.
"Phalangectomy." A procedure for the excision of one or
more of the phalanges of the paw of a cat.
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"Tendonectomy." A procedure in which the tendons to the
limbs, paws or toes of a cat are cut or modified so that the
cat's claws cannot function normally.
"Therapeutic purpose." A purpose necessary to address
the physical medical condition of the cat, such as an
existing or recurring physical illness, infection, disease,
injury or abnormal condition in a claw that compromises the
cat's health. The term does not mean cosmetic or aesthetic
reasons or reasons of convenience in keeping or handling the
cat.
* * *
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
AMENDING TITLE 18 (CRIMES AND OFFENSES) OF THE PENNSYLVANIA
CONSOLIDATED STATUTES, IN RIOT, DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND
RELATED OFFENSES, PROVIDING FOR THE PROHIBITION ON DECLAWING
CATS.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
HEREBY ENACTS AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. TITLE 18 OF THE PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED
STATUTES IS AMENDED BY ADDING A SECTION TO READ:
§ 5533.1. DECLAWING OF CATS PROHIBITED.
(A) OFFENSE DEFINED.--IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON TO
PERFORM SURGICAL CLAW REMOVAL, INCLUDING AN ONYCHECTOMY,
DECLAWING, PARTIAL DIGITAL AMPUTATION, PHALANGECTOMY OR
TENDONECTOMY PROCEDURE, ON ANY CAT OR OTHERWISE ALTER A CAT'S
TOES, CLAWS OR PAWS TO PREVENT OR IMPAIR THE NORMAL FUNCTION OF
THE CAT'S TOES, CLAWS OR PAWS, UNLESS THE PROCEDURE IS DEEMED
NECESSARY FOR A THERAPEUTIC PURPOSE BY A LICENSED DOCTOR OF
VETERINARY MEDICINE.
(B) LIMITATION.--THIS OFFENSE SHALL NOT INCLUDE THE TRIMMING
OF A NONVIABLE CLAW HUSK OR PLACING OF A NONPERMANENT NAIL CAP
ON A CAT.
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(C) PROSECUTION AND PROCEDURE.--THE PROSECUTION OF AND
PROCEDURE FOR DISCIPLINE FOR VIOLATIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ACT OF DECEMBER 27, 1974 (P.L.995,
NO.326), KNOWN AS THE VETERINARY MEDICINE PRACTICE ACT.
(D) DEFINITIONS