California bill prohibiting mandatory declaw, devocalization moves forward

California Senate Bill 1229 (SB 1229), which passed California State Senate by a unanimous vote of 37 to 0 a few months ago, has been amended and passed by the Assembly and now moves forward to Gov. Edmund Brown’s desk. Once the bill is signed into law, landlords will be prohibited from refusing occupancy to a potential tenant with pets that are not declawed or devocalized.

The bill, which was introduced by California Senator Fran Pavley and co-sponsored by the Paw Project and the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, makes it illegal for landlords to advertise properties in such a way that discourages potential tenants from applying if their animals are not declawed or devocalized. Additionally, it prohibits landlords from refusing occupancy to a potential tenant with pets that are not declawed or devocalized. Once passed, the bill holds that a city or district attorney can impose a civil penalty of $1,000 for any person found in violation of its provisions.