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D.C. to Pass Bill to Ban Declawing, Dog Fighting Equipment and More in an Effort to Prevent Animal Cruelty

D.C. could soon pass a bill that would ban cat declawing and dog fighting equipment to prevent animal cruelty.

The Animal Care and Control Omnibus Amendment Act passed the first vote unanimously in a marathon legislative session recently and will soon make a final vote.

The bill includes seven provisions, including a ban on cat declawing which is a surgery that is performed by veterinarians across the world, despite the growing awareness of how inhumane the practice is. Declawing isn’t just simply removing a cat’s fingernails (but imagine having all of your fingernails yanked out, that’s awful enough.) Declawing is ten separate amputations of the last bone and nail in each of their toes. For humans, it would be like cutting off each finger at the last knuckle.

The bill also prohibits the ownership of equipment used for dogfighting and formally criminalizes bestiality, finally closing a loophole in the law.

“It’s been a bill that I’ve been keen to see pass before I leave the council at the end of December,” Mary Cheh, who introduced the bill last year, said during a committee meeting.

Cheh is known for advocating for animals and working with groups like the Humane Society and D.C. Voters for Animals.

The bill would also allow animal control vehicles to use emergency lights and sirens when responding to calls and would provide financial Support for the Humane Rescue Alliance when it cares for animals during criminal proceedings. In addition, pet stores will be required to sell only animals from rescue facilities to help prevent puppy mills and backyard breeders. The bill also will protect the rights of pets involved in divorce proceedings.

“Currently, pets are treated in divorce proceedings like an inanimate asset, such as a bank account or a house,” Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen said during a council session last month. “Many of us have pets or have had pets, and we know they are more akin to family members than a piece of furniture.”

This bill could help so many animals, and we hope that other states will take notice and follow their lead!

While we cannot change the horrific treatment that many animals have already endured in the past, we can give animals a voice and hold perpetrators accountable for crimes in the present and the future. Many animal abusers are not held accountable by the law, which feeds into this horrific cycle of abuse. You can sign this petition to demand all states make all animal abuse a felony.

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