Maryland Anti-Declaw Bill

On April 21st, 2022 Governor Larry Hogan signed the Maryland Anti-Declaw Bill (SB67) into law. This law prohibits veterinarians in the State of Maryland from performing any declaw procedure that is not necessary for a therapeutic purpose. This bill is effective on October 1st, 2022.

Under this new law, a “therapeutic purpose” only includes treatments to address a physical or medical condition that compromises the health or well-being of an animal. This does not include cosmetic or aesthetic reasons, or reasons of convenience in the keeping or handling of the animal.
Declaw procedures include onychectomy; dactylectomy; phalangectomy; tendonectomy; and any procedure that cuts, removes, or modifies a portion of the paw, digit, or tendons to remove or prohibit the extension of a claw, or prohibits the normal functioning of one or more claws of an animal.

If a person willfully violates the cat declawing prohibition, the Board may refuse, suspend, or revoke any application or license, and censure or place on probation any licensee. The Board may also impose penalties in lieu of or in addition to the suspension and revocation of the license of up to $5,000 for a first offense and $10,000 for a second and subsequent offenses.

In addition, any person who unlawfully performs a declaw on a cat may be charged with a civil offense under Section 10-625.1 of the Criminal Law Article, Maryland Annotated Code, and assessed a fine of up to $1,000. Actions to enforce this new provision of the Criminal Law Article may be initiated by any state or local law enforcement officer or the local animal control authority in the jurisdiction where the violation occurred.

For the bills full text please visit the following link: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2022RS/bills/sb/sb0067T.pdf - PDF