05/30/2026
IN THE NEWS......
Ontario has taken a significant step forward for animal welfare. New regulations will ban cat declawing, dog ear cropping, and dog devocalization (debarking) unless the procedure is medically necessary to treat an injury or illness. The changes are expected (hopefully π) to take effect on January 1, 2027.
Sadly, these procedures are often performed for cosmetic or convenience reasons rather than for the health and well being of the pet. Many vets and animal welfare groups have advocated for these changes for years & it is about time Ontario jumped on board.
One notable exception is tail docking π. Although animal welfare groups advocated to include it, tail docking is not part of the new regulation and remains legal in Ontario at this time. Hopefully it will also be banned over time, but there is a lot of push back from breeders regarding this.
I look forward to these positive changes and for the doggy world will be happy to see more floppy ears and wagging tails!
Yay Ontario!