Cat General > Cat welfare Issues and News

declaw - legislation???

(1/3) > >>

Susanne (urbantigers):
Agree - I think the Animal Welfare act makes it illegal.  It isn't listed as an exemption and it meets the definition of mutilation ("interference with the sensitive tissues or bone structure of the animal, otherwise than for the purpose of its medical treatment") so in my book that means it would be an offence to declaw a cat for non medical reasons.

blackcat:
Thanks for that clarification and yes, if it is not listed as an exempt mutilation (which I assume includes things like tail docking sheep etc) then it is, by definition, not exempted from the law. I guess they didn't list all the possible illegal mutilations a) because I would use up too many pieces of paper, and b) because it might give ideas to people who are into that sort of thing ...

sixfurballs:
I've looked through the Animal Welfare Act 2006 ( http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2006/ukpga_20060045_en_1.htm ) which prohibits mutilation and declawing fits that description. It covers England and Wales. Then there was an SI making certain procedures exempt and declawing is not on the list. The SI is The Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) Regulations 2007 ( http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2007/uksi_20071100_en_1 ). Scotland has its own separate act and next on my list is to check the Northern Ireland Assembly.

I read the saveourbreeds link with the EU convention yesterday (by which time my head was spinning (and I am a solicitor so used to reading law) it actually says that the States ratified this convention but declawing is legal in most US states if not all and the UK has not ratified that Convention.

I think if it is illegal it is so by virtue of its omission from exemption under the above Act and SI? If that is the case I think its quite disconcerting that the laws are not more specific on this procedure throughout all areas of the UK. I'm glad now I volunteered to look further into this as one of the sites I am doing this for is based in Northern Ireland. We are a site trying to promote adoption of rescued animals and trying to bring together resources in one easily searchable site. We do have a member involved in and a section on improving of animal welfare laws and will be highlighting this on there if can't find legislation covering it better.

koscha (Ruth M):
Found this site which mention EU law....
http://web.freepint.com/forum/bar/read.php?i=32443&PHPSESSID=5e1475a15dd049d150dbd08a1ede24ab
does this help?

Millys Mum:
http://www.stellahasnofeet.com/whois.html  :(

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page