Lawmakers vote to make N.J. first state to ban cat declawing

The state Assembly Monday voted to make New Jersey the first state in the nation to penalize veterinarians who declaw cats. Under the proposal, onychetomy -- the medical term for declawing -- would be added to the list of criminal animal cruelty offenses. The Assembly approved the measure by a vote of 43-10 with 12 abstentions. There was no floor debate on the bill.  Some veterinarians have objected to the ban, saying the procedure has evolved in recent years to be less invasive. They also argue the ban may discourage adoptions.  "We are not pro-declaw, we are anti-euthanasia. People who adopt feral cats may choose not to - that is our primary concern," said Richard Alampi, executive director of the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association. Alampi said the surgical procedure and pain management strategies have vastly improved in the last 20 years, when extreme pain and behavior issues were associated with declawing. "Laser surgery is now common and pain management has advanced dramatically. The reports are kittens are running around playing the next day," Alampi said. The Assembly also approved another animal welfare bill -- one that creates a registry of convicted animal abusers and posts it on the state Department of Health website.