The Maryland House voted on Thursday to prohibit the act of declawing cats, unless deemed necessary for therapeutic purposes.
An identical bill recently passed the Maryland Senate and would next be sent to Governor Larry Hogan to be signed into law.
According to the Humane Society, declawing involves the amputation of the last bone of each toe. If performed on a human being, it would be like cutting off each finger at the last knuckle.
“It is an unnecessary surgery that provides no medical benefit to the cat. Educated pet parents can easily train their cats to use their claws in a manner that allows everyone in the household to live together happily.”
Veterinarians would face a fine of up to $5,000 for their first offense and $10,000 for a second offense.
Maryland would become the second state in the county to ban the act declawing of cats. It was banned in New York in 2019.
“When people wrap their head around it, the idea that we would mutilate to protect a furniture item is abhorrent to people,” Maryland State Del. Lorig Chakoudin, the House sponsor, told the Washington Post.