Read the full stored bill text
As Introduced
136th
General Assembly
Regular
Session
S. B. No. 252
2025-2026
Senators Cutrona, Craig
Cosponsor: Senator Weinstein
To
enact section 959.22 of the Revised Code
to
prohibit a person from declawing a cat.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section
1.
That
section 959.22 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec.
959.22.
(A)
As used in this section:
(1)
"Licensed veterinarian" has the same meaning as in section
4741.01 of the Revised Code.
(2)
"Onychectomy" means a procedure in which a portion of the
paw of a cat is amputated or the claw of a cat is disabled, including
a procedure that is commonly referred to as declawing.
(3)
"Partial digital amputation" means a procedure for the
excision of some or all of one or more of the phalanges of the paw of
a cat.
(4)
"Phalangectomy" means a procedure for the excision of one
or more of the phalanges of the paw of a cat.
(5)
"Tendonectomy" means a procedure in which the tendons to
the limbs, paws, or toes of a cat are cut or modified so that the
cat's claws cannot function normally.
(6)
"Therapeutic purpose" means a purpose necessary to address
a physical medical condition of a cat, such as an existing or
recurring physical illness, infection, disease, injury, or abnormal
condition in a claw that compromises the cat's health. "Therapeutic
purpose" does not mean cosmetic or aesthetic purposes or
purposes of convenience in the keeping, harboring, or handling of a
cat.
(B)(1)
No person, by any means, shall knowingly perform an onychectomy, a
partial digit amputation, a phalangectomy, a tendonectomy, or any
other procedure to alter a cat's toes, claws, or paws to prevent the
normal functioning of the cat's toes, claws, or paws.
(2)
Division (B)(1) does not apply to either of the following:
(a)
A procedure that is determined to be necessary for a therapeutic
purpose by a licensed veterinarian;
(b)
A procedure that solely involves the trimming of a nonviable claw
husk or placing a nonpermanent nail cap on a cat.
(C)
If a licensed veterinarian determines that a procedure is necessary
for a therapeutic purpose under division (B)(2)(a) of this section,
the licensed veterinarian, within ten business days after performing
the procedure, shall file a written statement with the state
veterinary medical licensing board that includes all of the
following:
(1)
The purpose of the procedure, including a laboratory pathology report
confirming the pathology;
(2)
Identifying information of the cat, including its microchip number,
if applicable, age, gender, markings, and a photo of the cat's face;
(3)
Identifying information of the cat's owner or keeper, including the
owner's current address and telephone number.
The
licensed veterinarian shall provide a copy of the written statement
to the owner or keeper of the cat.
(D)
The director of agriculture shall impose a civil penalty against a
person who violates division (B)(1) of this section in an amount as
follows:
(1)
One thousand dollars on a first offense;
(2)
One thousand five hundred dollars on a second offense;
(3)
Two thousand five hundred dollars on a third and any subsequent
offense.
The
director shall afford the person an opportunity for an adjudication
hearing under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to challenge the
director's determination that the person committed such violation.