Here’s a short YouTube video showing you how this bill was killed. How the NH Anti-declawing bill was killed
UPDATE. May 18, 2023.
On May 16, 2023, three Republican Senators in the Energy and Nat. Resources committee voted to inexpedient to legislate (kill) HB 231, the New Hampshire anti-declawing bill. The two Democratic Senators in this committee voted to move this bill forward.
On May 18th, Republican Senator Howard Pearl stood up and explained why he and his colleagues, Regina Birdsell and Kevin Avard voted to kill the bill.
Republican Senator Sharon Carson stood up and motioned to kill this bill.
Republican Senator Jeb Bradley who is President of the Senate, listened to the voice vote for this bill and decided that the majority was the side that wanted to kill the bill. Our data shows otherwise.
Email: Jeb.Bradley@leg.state.nh.us Phone: 603-271-3479
Here’s the video of the hearing that starts at the 1.17 minute mark and you can decide for yourself. The vote is at the 1.21 minute mark. Senate hearing on HB 231
Here are the three Republican Senators who voted in the committee to kill the bill.
Email- Regina.Birdsell@leg.state.nh.us Phone: 603-271-3479 Voted no on the bill in the committee.
Email- Kevin.Avard@leg.state.nh.us Phone: 603-271-3077 Voted no on the bill in the committee.
Email- Howard.Pearl@leg.state.nh.us Phone: 603-271-4151 Voted no on the bill in the committee.
Email: Sharon.Carson@leg.state.nh.us Phone: 603-271-3266 Stood up in the hearing and said she motioned to move the bill to the table which means kill the bill.
Email- Carrie.Gendreau@leg.state.nh.us Phone: 603-271-8631 She told the Pres. of Citythekitty.org the morning of this hearing that she believes declawing is animal cruelty and she knows that it harms cats but said it should be between a veterinarian and cat owner.
March 28, 2023. HB 231 went to the Energy and Natural Resources committee. Here’s the video. The testimony starts at 1.40 min. mark. Senate Committee hearing on HB 231
At the 1.04 minute mark the NHVMA/AVMA representative/veterinarian testified in opposition to the bill. She said that their 400 member vets are divided on this and it’s a very heated and controversial topic. She said that it’s about a 50/50 split on banning declawing. Why would the NHVMA side with their member vets who want this animal cruelty to continue.
Dr Jane Barlow said that they have concerns about taking away the decision to make on medical care for their patients. She said it will disrupt their relationship with their clients.
Senator Watters asked Dr Barlow if declawing is more invasive than other procedures and she said no.
Dr Barlow was asked by Sen. Watters if the cat has made a decision that he wants cosmetic surgery and she said, “Just as much as somebody has a decision to make whether they was a nose job. It’s the same type of cosmetic surgery.”
Senator Watters talked about a recent study that showed how declawing is bad for cats and asked her if it would make sense if someone classified declawing as cruelty.
Dr Barlow said, “It does not rise to the level of animal cruelty.”
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UPDATE. March 17, 2023. The New Hampshire anti-declawing bill passed in the House 225-147. Story- https://www.sentinelsource.com/news/local/statehouse/nh-house-passes-bill-to-ban-declawing-of-cats/article_28c13291-182a-5356-a260-06b63fa08e9d.html
Story published on March 5, 2023
The anti-declawing bill in New Hampshire, HB 231, was introduced in January 2023.
The Feb. 7, 2023 hearing for the anti-declaw bill, HB 231, starts at the 3.05 mark. Hearing for the 2023 Anti-declawing bill in New Hampshire
UPDATE. On March 16, 2023, this bill passed in the House 225- 147.
Here’s the testimony for the bill on March 28, 2023 in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. It starts at the 42.10 minute mark. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDSZqbWkH08
Dr Jane Barlow once again represented the NHVMA/AVMA and testified against this important bill that would protect cats from this animal cruelty at the 1.04 minute mark. She said that the NHVMA polled their member vets and it was around 50/50 for or against this bill.
At the 1.06 mark she said the NHVMA and AVMA have “concerns that legislative and regulatory actions will remove our ability to make judgments on medical care of our pets.”
Dr Barlow said the AVMA did a “study” and it showed that their vets did one declaw procedure a month from vets all over the country.
At the 1.18.47 mark she about how all surgeries have risks and said there is no difference between a cosmetic procedure and one due to a medical condition. She compared declawing to a nose job.
At the 1.20 mark a legislator asked Dr Barlow about a recent study that showed all the issues that declawing causes and if this is animal cruelty and she said that declawing “does not rise to the level of animal cruelty.”
Here’s the explanation of this bill that Ferrari and Holmes testified against in 2020. Bill Title: Defining “serious harm” to an animal as a result of animal cruelty and relative to the criminal penalties for certain negligent actions which cause serious harm to or the death of an animal.
We conducted a random survey on how vet clinics in New Hampshire address declawing.
Our researchers made a short phone call to ask for the cost of a declaw, if they do them regularly, and if declawing is ok long term for a cat.
We have withheld the names of employees for fear that they might suffer a backlash for their honest answers.
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New Hampshire Vet Clinics that offer declawing, according to their employees.
(We found in all our surveys that some states like NH have less declawing clinics than states like Illinois, Texas, Michigan, Ohio, and others but what happens is the ones who are still declawing cats tend to get more business for declaws since the others have stopped.” Here’s our March 2023 story about Illinois that shows declawing is a big money making procedure in that state. The ISVMA Lies About Declawing.
Here’s our Jan. 2023 story about how many AZ clinics are not declawing anymore but AZpetVet’s clinics are getting more business for declawing. AzPetVet is the go-to declawing company in AZ
1) Cilley Veterinary Clinic.
(This is the vet clinic where Dr Jane Barlow, the representative of the NHVMA/AVMA’s works.)
THERE’S CONFLICTING INFORMATION COMING FROM DIFFERENT EMPLOYEES AT THIS CLINIC AS TO IF THEY PERFORM DECLAWING. WE TRIED TO GET A CONFIRMATION FROM THEIR OWNER, DR HECK, BUT NEVER GOT A REPLY.
One employee said that they do declaws but it’s up to their veterinarian’s discretion. The employee said they aren’t taking any new clients. On a different day, this same employee said that the do not declaw cats.
Another employee said they don’t declaw and don’t know of anyone who does declaws anymore. They said that they do not do declaws. They said that it’s almost coming to the point to where it is considered unethical. Researcher asked if it’s bad for a cat and the employee said yes and a declaw is taking the first digit/knuckle of each of your fingers and cutting them off there. They said that their owner won’t even do a declaw if someone offered him 2 million dollars. They said that they don’t think anyone in New Hampshire will do a declaw. The employee said they aren’t taking any new clients.
When our President reached out to this vet clinic to check if Dr Heck received the questions for this story and asked if they declaw cats, the employee said no.
2) Weare Animal Hospital, Weare, NH.
AAHA Accredited Animal Hospital. Cat Friendly Gold Practice. According to their website all their vets are Fear Free Professionals. AAFP banned declawing in their Cat Friendly Practices in 2021 and Fear Free does not allow their veterinarians to perform declawing. AAHA still allows declawing in their hospitals.
Researcher asked for the cost of a neuter for a cat and the employee said it was $141. Researcher asked for the cost of a microchip and declaw with the neuter. The employee said they needed to put you in the system and will email an estimate. Researcher asked for just a rough estimate and didn’t want to create a profile in their system and asked if they do microchips and declaws, and the employee said, “We do, but that’s extra.”
Researcher started to ask another question and the line was disconnected. Researcher called back to make sure they weren’t disconnected and the same employee hung up again.
(The veterinarian who represented the NHVMA and AVMA and testified against the NH anti-declawing bill, Dr Jane Barlow, worked at this clinic from 2006 – 2018.)
3) Northern Lakes Veterinary Hospital.
The employee said they don’t do declaws on the back paws but can do the front paws. They said you need a consult about the procedure and since it’s a pretty painful procedure and said they like to have you try the alternatives first. Researcher asked if they have a vet they recommend for the declaws and if he does them regularly. The employee said Dr Donald Lester has done many declaws but they don’t do them on a regular basis because they suggest other options before a declaw. Researcher asked if the cats are ok long term after a declaw and the employee said, “Yep, usually they are pretty good.”
4) Goffstown Animal Hospital. This is a VetCor clinic.
The employee said that a neuter/declaw/microchip is $740. The researcher asked which vet they recommend for the declaw and the employee said that their doctors typically will do them but it doesn’t happen often and said all their doctors are good with the declaws. Researcher asked if the cats are ok long term after the declaws and the employee said, “Yea, but if they go outside they have no way to defend themselves.” Researcher asked if otherwise are they ok and the employee said yes.
5) Blackwater Veterinary Services.
The employee said that they do declaws but aren’t taking in new clients.
(We’ve found from our extensive research on declawing in the last 9 years that the vet clinics that are still declawing cats get a lot more business when other clinics take a stand and stop performing declawing.) Here’s a recent story with an example of this and where the owner of this veterinary group company even admits that they get clients wanting a declaw procedure from other no-declaw clinics. AzPetVet is the go-to declawing company in AZ
No Declaw Vet Clinics in New Hampshire.
6) Allenstown Animal Hospital. NHVMA Secretary. Dr Christine O’Connell
The employee said they do not declaw cats. Researcher asked why they don’t and the employee said because it’s considered cruel and not good for a cat.
7) Northwood Veterinary Hospital. NHVMA Past President, Dr April Treat.
The employee said they do not declaw cats. Researcher asked why they don’t and the employee said because it takes off their knuckle and it’s very painful for walking. They only do it if it’s medically necessary and not if the cat owner has bleeding issues.
8) Stratham Newfields Veterinary Hospital. NHVMA Treasurer Dr Nicole Young.
Here’s a 2018 post from their facebook page. 
9) Bedford Animal Hospital.
The employee said they do not declaw cats. Researcher asked why they don’t and the employee said that it’s inhumane, very bad for a cat, causes a lot of pain, and it’s essentially chopping the bone off.
10) Old Town Animal Hospital. Seabrook, NH.
The employee said they do not declaw cats. Researcher asked why they don’t and the employee said their doctors aren’t comfortable doing them. Researcher asked if it’s bad for a cat and the employee said it can cause issues when they are older when you take away their only means of defense. Their doctors don’t recommend it.
11) Merrimack Veterinary Hospital.
The employee said they do not declaw cats. Researcher asked why they don’t and the employee said it’s cutting off the cat’s first digit of their toes so they don’t do them anymore. Researcher asked if it’s bad for a cat and the employee said yes, that it’s essentially taking away their fight response which leads a lot of behavioral issues like inappropriate urination and when you take away their claws their next resource to defend themselves is their teeth and cat bites can really get infected.
12) Hollis Veterinary Hospital.
The employee said they do not declaw cats anymore. Researcher asked why they don’t and the employee said it’s actually a law and they can’t do them. Researcher asked if it’s bad for a cat and the employee said yes, you have to remove the first digit of their toes and they aren’t doing them.
13) Raymond Animal Hospital.
The employee said their hospital policy is they do not declaw cats. Researcher asked if it’s bad for a cat and they said yes.
14) Best Friend Animal Hospital. Manchester, NH
The employee said they do not declaw cats. Researcher asked why they don’t and the employee said no one there does them anymore for the health of the kitty and said been several years since anyone in New Hampshire, that they are aware of, is still performing declaws.
15) Hooksett Veterinary Clinic. Hooksett, NH
The employee said they do not declaw cats. Researcher asked why they don’t and the employee said because it’s unethical. Researcher asked if it’s bad for a cat. The employee said, “If you went online and watched how they declaw a cat, I guarantee you would change your mind. They are taking the nail off the bone.” They said that the cat is defenseless and said that there are vets who will still do it for a medical reason but they don’t promote it so they don’t even bring it up.
16) Lafayette Animal Hospital. Portsmouth, NH.
The employee said they do not declaw cats anymore. Researcher asked why they don’t and the employee said because they have to take off the entire knuckle, it’s painful, it’s not the easiest for the cats, and they don’t know of any vet in the area that does them.
17) Wendelle Veterinary Clinic.
The employee said they do not declaw cats and most places won’t do them. Researcher asked why they don’t and the employee said because it’s not nice because they have to cut their toes off and it’s not good for a cat.
18) Derry Animal Hospital.
They don’t declaw cats.
19) Great Bay Animal Hospital.
They do not declaw cats. They said they also don’t do tail clipping, dewclaws, or ear clippings.
Veterinary organizations and companies that have banned declawing in their clinics.
UPDATE May 17, 2023.
The NH bill to ban declawing passed overwhelmingly in the House last month but yesterday, 3 Republican Senators voted Inexpedient to Legislate which means they believe the bill should not be heard or move forward.
2 Democrat Senators voted for the bill to be heard.
The bill is going to the Senate tomorrow for a full vote on their recommendation and usually the legislators follow their party line. That means we need some of these Republican Senators to vote to move this bill forward tomorrow!!!!!!!
There are 14 Republican and 10 Democrat Senators.
The bill’s main sponsor is in the House, Representative Mike Bordes who is a Republican. The co-sponsor is Democrat Rep. Ellen Read.
Please send a polite note or call the Republican Senators below and ask them to vote to move this bill forward so that this animal cruelty (declawing) is banned in NH.
Our President reached out to all of them and the only one who called back was Rep. Senator Ruth Ward. She was going to follow the recommendation of her colleagues but our President educated her about how inhumane declawing is and she said she’s going to stand up and oppose the committee’s recommendation to not hear this bill and will try to help move this bill forward!!!
Email- Regina.Birdsell@leg.state.nh.us Phone: 603-271-3479 Voted no on the bill in the committee.
Email- Kevin.Avard@leg.state.nh.us Phone: 603-271-3077 Voted no on the bill in the committee.
Email- Howard.Pearl@leg.state.nh.us Phone: 603-271-4151 Voted no on the bill in the committee.
Email- Carrie.Gendreau@leg.state.nh.us Phone: 603-271-8631
Email: Timothy.Lang@leg.state.nh.us Phone: 603-271-8631
Email: Jeb.Bradley@leg.state.nh.us Phone: 603-271-3479
Email: James.Gray@leg.state.nh.us Phone: 603-271-4980 (Office)
603-332-7144 (Home)
Email: Daniel.Innis@leg.state.nh.us Phone: 603-285-1150
Email: Denise.Ricciardi@leg.state.nh.us Phone: 603-271-1403
Email: Sharon.Carson@leg.state.nh.us Phone: 603-271-3266
Email: Keith.Murphy@leg.state.nh.us Phone: 603-271-4063
Email: William.Gannon@leg.state.nh.us Phone: 603-271-3077