Sometimes you have to wonder what they do up in Concord. This bill was passed by the New Hampshire House today by a 225 to 147. If passed by the Senate and signed into law declawing a cat will carry a fine of $500 for the first offense.
HB231-FN An Act prohibiting the removal of claws from cats.
1 New Section; Removal of Claws from cats. Amend RSA 644 by inserting after section 8-g the following new section:
644:8-h Removal of Claws from cats Prohibited.
I. No person shall remove the claws of a cat by performing an onychectomy, partial or complete phalangectomy, or a tendonectomy, by any means, on a cat except when necessary in order to address the physical medical condition of the cat, such as an existing or recurring illness, infection, disease, injury, or abnormal condition in the claw that compromises the cat‘s health. No person shall remove the claws of a cat for cosmetic or aesthetic reasons or for reasons of convenience in keeping or handling the cat.
II. Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a violation and subject to a civil penalty of $500 for the first violation, $1,000 for the second violation, and $2,500 for any subsequent violation.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2024.