SF anti-DeClaw ordinance needs calls or emails

[Guest guest]

(From Lindsay at LDP)(I can email ordinance if you need).

 

Please support San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi's proposed ordinance to

limit the cruel and painful procedure of cat declawing in San Francisco.

 

" Ordinance amending the San Francisco Health Code by adding Section 45 to

prohibit onychectomy (declawing) and tendonectomy procedures on cats except

when necessary for a therapeutic purpose. "

 

http://www.sfbos.org/ (San Francisco Board of Supervisors with contact

information)

 

http://www.sfmayor.org/contact-the-mayor/ (San Francisco Mayor contact

information)

 

 

 

IMPORTANT BACKGROUND INFORMATION

 

The hearing (on the anti-declaw ordinance) in the City Operations and

Neighborhood Services (CONS) committee will be on Monday October 26th at 10:30

a.m. It will either be in the Board of Supervisors chambers or in the committee

room across the hall.

 

We currently have the support of five members of the Board: Mar, Mirkarimi,

Daly, Campos, and Avalos. The six who haven't taken a position are Alioto-Pier,

David Chiu, Carmen Chu, Elsbernd, Dufty, and Maxwell. Elsbernd and Dufty are

particularly important because they are on the CONS committee with Supervisor

Daly. We're also asking people to contact the Mayor's office as well.

 

This will likely be that last local California law passed, related to

anti-declawing or any other humane laws limiting vet procedures, passed by

localities. This is due to the fact that, the California legislature recently

passed SB 762, which takes away the rights of local governments to limit what

procedures Vets can do.

 

The California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), American Veterinary

Medical Association (AVMA) helped pass this law, which limits local governments

from enacting humane laws -- these groups tend to oppose anything that might

limit vets and their fees, no matter how cruel the procedure is.

 

The law takes effect on January 1, 2010, but any local passed before that will

not be changed by SB762.

 

 

EXTRA BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

http://www.animallawcoalition.com/animals-and-politics/article/1054

The new law will mean cities and counties cannot stop veterinarians from

performing recognized procedures such as declawing or devocalization, for

example. After January 1 only a state law can stop such acts.

 

The law would not affect local ordinances already in effect prior to January 1,

2010. The law will also not apply to zoning, local licensing or health and

safety requirements or limit the city or county's authority to levy and collect

taxes. That means West Hollywood's ban on declawing, for example, will remain in

effect. The ordinance was passed in 2003 and though challenged in court by the

California Veterinary Medical Association, was upheld by the appeals court.

 

http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_0751-0800/sb_762_cfa_20090617_16574\

8_asm_floor.html

(California Senate bill sb 762 - internal legislature analysis)