Pittsburgh council advances law banning cat declawing surgery

PITTSBURGH — Declawing cats could soon be banned in Pittsburgh.

According to our news partners at Trib Live, under legislation advanced by City Council on Wednesday, the surgery, which many veterinarians say causes behavioral issues and long-term pain for the animals, would be prohibited.

“I think veterinarians know better and want this to stop,” said Jennifer Conrad, a veterinarian who runs The Paw Project, a nonprofit dedicated to ending the practice of declawing cats.

She was one of several experts who spoke in support of the legislation, which was sponsored by Councilmembers Bobby Wilson, Bruce Kraus and Anthony Coghill.

To remove a cat’s claws, veterinarians have to amputate the bone in the cat’s paws. The procedure typically involves amputating up to 18 bones, Conrad said.

You can read more on TribLive.com.

Downtown Pittsburgh hotel’s sub-basement floods with 6-8 feet of water