03. Unlawful cat declawing. (a) Offense. A person commits unlawful cat declawing if that person knowingly performs, or causes to be performed, a partial or complete onychectomy, phalangectomy, or tendonectomy procedure ('declawing'), by any means, on a cat, except when necessary for a veterinary purpose. (b) Penalties. A person convicted of unlawful cat declawing shall be fined no more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01 or incarcerated for no more than 90 days, or both. (c) Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the term 'veterinary purpose' means the practice of veterinary medicine, performed by a licensed veterinarian or a certified veterinary, intended 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. The term 'veterinary purpose' does not include cosmetic or aesthetic reasons or reasons of convenience in keeping or handling the animal. (Aug. 23, 1871, Leg. Assem., p. 137, ch. 106, § 11c; as added Apr. 21, 2023, D.C. Law 24-346, § 3(c), 70 DCR 570.)District of Columbia Legal Code