On Tuesday, April 1, Assembly Bill 867, a bill that restricts licensed veterinarians from only performing declawing procedures “for therapeutic purposes”, is scheduled for a hearing in the Assembly Businesses and Professions Committee.
In advance of the April 1 hearing, the bill has been amended to address the AKC’s concerns that the original text would have essentially prevented veterinarians from removing a dog’s dewclaws. AB 867 now only applies to cats. The AKC thanks the bill’s author, Assemblymember Alex Lee, for his attention to AKC’s concerns and to the welfare of dogs.
No action is needed at this time. AKC Government Relations continues to monitor bills in California impacting dog owners and will provide updates. For questions or more information, contact AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org.