Update—July 21, 2022
Unfortunately, the Delaware legislature adjourned before this bill could be approved and sent to the governor. The bill has now failed for this session.
Thank you for taking action to back this lifesaving measure to protect cats in Delaware. We will keep pushing to end cruel declawing procedures. Stay tuned in the next legislative session for another opportunity to support an end to declawing in the state.
Original Message—June 27, 2022:
Delaware could become the next state in the nation to ban the harmful, traumatic, cruel, and crippling practice of cat declawing. Alley Cat Allies is rallying residents of Delaware to contact their state senators and urge them to vote YES on HB 333, a bill to outlaw cat declawing statewide.
If you live in Delaware, take action by clicking here.
The Delaware Senate Health & Social Services Committee is considering HB 333 now. The bill was already approved by the Delaware House of Representatives. We need this bill to pass in the Senate committee and the full Senate so it can go to the governor’s desk for a signature. Then, it will be the lifesaving law of the land!
Our goal is to let Delaware’s senators know that declaw surgery is not a nail trim, but a surgical amputation of the last joints of a cat’s toes that has lifelong negative consequences for the cat. Declaw surgery can lead to chronic pain, arthritis, balance issues, and back problems, which do permanent physical and mental harm to a cat. And without their claws, an important part of their anatomy, cats can’t perform the behaviors that come naturally to them.
A declawed cat is more likely to exhibit increased aggression and biting to compensate for losing his protective claws, which are his first line of defense. Pain and discomfort in their paws can also lead to litter box avoidance. These disruptive behaviors are a leading cause of cats being relinquished to shelters.
The states of New York and Maryland (as of this year), and 13 major cities in the United States have already banned declawing to protect the wellbeing of cats. This is our chance to ensure Delaware joins them!