Bill Would Outlaw Debarking and Declawing of Pets

Senator Dominick J. Ruggerio, a Democrat from Providence,  has introduced legislation that will prohibit landlords from requiring pet owners to declaw and devocalize their cats and dogs. 

Both procedures require invasive surgery, and, in the case of devocalization, are potentially life-threatening, according to the Coalition to Protect and Rescue of Pets.

If passed, property owners would still retain the right to bar pets from their buildings.

Similar legislation was passed in California last year.

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