Bill Text: MI HB4883 | 2023-2024 | 102nd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Animals: cats; certain medical procedures for declawing a cat; prohibit. Creates new act.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2023-06-29 - Bill Electronically Reproduced 06/28/2023 [HB4883 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2023-HB4883-Introduced.html
HOUSE BILL NO. 4883
A bill to prohibit certain medical procedures for declawing a cat; and to prescribe civil sanctions.
the people of the state of michigan enact:
(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 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 a cosmetic or aesthetic reason or reason of convenience in keeping or handling a cat.
Sec. 3. (1) An individual shall not perform by any means an onychectomy, a partial or complete phalangectomy, or tendonectomy procedure, or any other surgical procedure that prevents normal functioning of the claws, toes, or paws, on a cat, unless the procedure is necessary to address a therapeutic purpose.
(2) An individual who violates this section is responsible for a civil fine as follows:
(a) For a first violation, a civil fine of not more than $2,500.00.
(b) For a second or subsequent violation, a civil fine of not more than $5,000.00.
(3) A violation of this section may be prosecuted by the prosecutor of the county in which the violation occurred, or by the attorney general.
