College of Veterinarians of British Columbia bans onychectomyJune 14, 2018The College of Veterinarians of British Columbia (CVBC) has banned the practice of partial digital amputation, also known as onychectomy or declawing, of domestic cats, effective immediately. The province is the second in Canada to ban declawing, following the procedure's condemnation from the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA). "Elective and nontherapeutic declawing is ethically problematic and not an appropriate means of dealing with feline behavior issues," reads CVBC's statement. The college acknowledges there are medical conditions that may necessitate partial or full digital amputation as an appropriate medical therapy, such as biopsy for diagnosis, severe trauma, or medical conditions affecting the health of the nail (i.e. onychodystrophy, paronychia, neoplasia of the nail bed/phalanges), but adds there is no medical condition or environmental circumstance of the cat's owner that would justify declawing. Declawing has already been banned in the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and several cities in California. Earlier this year, Nova Scotia became the first Canadian province to ban the procedure, with the Nova Scotia Veterinary Medical Association amending its code of ethics to declare the practice, when performed electively, "ethically unacceptable." While CVMA does not regulate veterinarians in Canada and cannot enforce a nationwide ban, the association announced …
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CVMA Kennel Code updates regulations for breeders, operatorsApril 26, 2018 The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) released its newest edition of A Code of Practice for Canadian Kennel Operations (also known as the Kennel Code), which outlines best humane practices in regards to dog boarding and breeding. Last published in 2007, the updated document reflects changing societal views in regard to the human-animal bond and incorporates new scientific evidence in many aspects of dog breeding and kennel management, including social needs, housing, medicine, and nutrition. Designed as an educational tool for breeders and kennel operators, the information detailed in the Kennel Code applies to various environments where dogs are housed, both indoors and outdoors, for short- and long-term periods, including facilities that offer private breeding, boarding, daycare, animal rescue, and training. The document also serves as a resource for veterinarians with such clients, providing an understanding of the role veterinarians play in establishing and maintaining an effective veterinarian-client-patient-relationship with facility owners/operators and the animals within them. Additionally, similar to the National Farm Animal Care Council's codes of practice for farmed animals, the Kennel Code serves as a resource for legislative bodies, allowing the judicial system to more easily determine if the acceptable standards of care …
