SB 67

Animal Welfare - Declawing Cats - Prohibited Acts

Sponsor: Cheryl C. Kagan (District 17)Committee: Education, Health, and Environmental AffairsSubject: AgricultureStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 179 (as of Nov 15, 2022)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Prohibiting a veterinary practitioner from performing certain declawing procedures on a cat unless the procedure is necessary for a therapeutic purpose; authorizing the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners to impose certain disciplinary actions on a veterinary practitioner for willful violations of the prohibition; providing that a violation of the Act is a civil offense; and providing that a person who violates the Act is subject to a fine of up to $1,000.

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Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (17)

MGA witness list

FAV 12FavorableUNF 5Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Robinson, Becky	Alley Cat Allies	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hodges, Barbara	Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bevan-Dangel, Jenniferlobbyist	Humane Society of the United States	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Kagan, Sen. Cheryl	Maryland State Senate	Written (PDF)
FAV	Radov, Lisa	Maryland Votes for Animals, Inc.	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Conrad, DVM, Jennifer	Paw Project	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Cassiday, Laura	Pawsitive Vibes Cat Behavior and Training LLC	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Shah, Amish	Self-employed	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Bays, Danielle	The Humane Society of the United States	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Dodman, BVMA, DACVB, DACVAA, Dr. Nicholas	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Oliver, Carol	Individual	Oral
FAV	Senator Kagan, Senator Kaganlegislator	Individual	Oral
UNF	Howe, Joshlobbyist	Compass Gov't. Relations obo MD Association for Justice (MAJ)	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Cyphers, Moiralobbyist	Compass Government Relations	Oral
UNF	Brunt, Dr. Jane	MD Veterinary Medical Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Weeman, Dr. Matthew	MD Veterinary Medical Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Francis, Marisa	Maryland Veterinary Medical Association	Oral + Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Alley Cat AlliesFAV 1

Compass Gov't. Relations obo MD Association for Justice (MAJ)UNF 1

Compass Government RelationsUNF 1

Humane Society of the United StatesFAV 1

Humane Society Veterinary Medical AssociationFAV 1

Maryland State SenateFAV 1

Maryland Veterinary Medical AssociationUNF 1

Maryland Votes for Animals, Inc.FAV 1

MD Veterinary Medical AssociationUNF 2

Paw ProjectFAV 1

Pawsitive Vibes Cat Behavior and Training LLCFAV 1

Self-employedFAV 1

The Humane Society of the United StatesFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVBevan-Dangel, JenniferHumane Society of the United StatesRegistered for: Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition DBA Economic Action Maryland; Humane Society of the United States; Chesapeake Bay Foundation; Humane World for Animals

UNFHowe, JoshCompass Gov't. Relations obo MD Association for Justice (MAJ)Registered for: Maryland Association for Justice, LLC.; American Massage Therapy Association - MD Chapter; National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Maryland (NAMI MD); NexAmp, Inc.; JJF Management Services, Inc.; Maryland State Perfusion Society, Inc.

UNFCyphers, MoiraCompass Government RelationsRegistered for: American Clean Power; American Clean Power Association (ACP)