(a) No person, licensed medical professional or otherwise, shall perform or cause to be performed an onychectomy (declawing) or tendonectomy procedure by any means on any cat within the City and County of San Francisco, except when necessary for a therapeutic purpose. "Therapeutic purpose" means necessary to address the medical condition of the animal, such as an existing or recurring illness, infection, disease, injury or abnormal condition in the claw that compromises the animal's health. "Therapeutic purpose" does not include cosmetic or aesthetic reasons or reasons of convenience in keeping or handling the animal.
(b) If an onychectomy (declawing) or tendonectomy procedure is performed on any cat within the City and County of San Francisco in violation of this Section, each of the following persons shall be guilty of a violation of this Section: (1) the person or persons performing the procedure; (2) all persons assisting in the physical performance of the procedure; and (3) the animal guardian that ordered or approved the procedure.
(c) A violation of the provisions of this Section shall be a misdemeanor. A person found guilty of such violation shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months, or by fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), or both.
(Added by Ord. 237-09, File No. 091039, App. 11/20/2009)