HOUSE BILL NO. 5508

February 20, 2020, Introduced by Reps. Shannon, Anthony, Wittenberg, Guerra, Liberati, Coleman, Garza, Brixie, Ellison, Manoogian, Bolden, Hertel, Sowerby, Haadsma, Witwer, Tyrone Carter, Brann, Peterson, Elder, Hope and Rabhi and referred to the Committee on Agriculture.

A bill to prohibit certain medical procedures for declawing a cat; and to prescribe civil sanctions.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 1. As used in this act:

(a) "Cat" means a domestic cat of the species Felis catus or a hybrid of that species. Cat includes, but is not limited to, a savannah cat, serengeti cat, Maine coon, bengal cat, or chausie.

(b) "Therapeutic purpose" means the necessity to address a physical medical condition of a cat, including, but not limited to, an existing or recurring illness, infection, disease, injury, or abnormal condition in the claw of a cat that compromises the cat's health. Therapeutic purpose does not include cosmetic or aesthetic reasons or reasons of convenience in keeping or handling a cat.

Sec. 2. (1) An individual shall not perform by any means an onychectomy, a partial or complete phalangectomy, or a tendonectomy procedure, or any other surgical procedure that prevents normal functioning of the claws, on a cat in this state, unless the procedure is necessary for a therapeutic purpose.

(2) An individual who violates this section is responsible for a civil fine of not more than $1,000.00. A violation of this section may be prosecuted by the prosecutor of the county in which the violation occurred, or by the attorney general.