West Hollywood's cat fight

APRIL 2003

Seeking to become the nation's first governing body to ban non-therapeutic feline onychectomies, west hollywood mayor john duran authors the ordinance that passes unanimously and criminalizes the procedure. the california veterinary medical association (cvma) denounces the ordinance and responds by seeking government opinions on its legitimacy.

JANUARY 2005

The California Department of Consumer Affairs issues an opinion deeming West Hollywood's declaw ban unconstitutional based on the city's inability to supersede state laws that allow such procedures.

MARCH 2005

CVMA sues West Hollywood to stop the ordinance.

NOVEMBER 2005

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James A. Bascue deems the ordinance unlawful, invalid and unenforceable. The verdict sides with CVMA. West Hollywood attorneys appeal.

JUNE 2007

In a 2-1 decision, the Court of Appeals, Second Division, District Seven, sides with West Hollywood and overturns Bascue's ruling based on legal technicalities that do not preclude a local regulation of the manner in which a profession is performed. CVMA mulls petitioning the state's Supreme Court.