LA council committee urges ban on cat declawing
A Los Angeles City Council committee is calling for an ordinance that would ban the declawing of cats in the city.
The Public Safety Committee on Monday directed the city attorney's office to draft an ordinance for the full council to consider before the end of the year.
Councilman Paul Koretz says declawing is a form of"mutilation."
The city's Animal Services Department says a properly performed declawing procedure does not constitute animal cruelty, but should be the last resort before a pet is given up for adoption or euthanized.
The city of West Hollywood, where Koretz used to be mayor, banned declawing in 2003. Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, San Francisco, and Berkeley are all considering similar ordinances.
