Proposal could ban declawing cats and debarking dogs across the province

The province is considering new regulations that could ban some procedures on cats and dogs.

The Ministry of the Solicitor General has proposed a new regulation to the province that would ban medically unnecessary procedures (MUPs) performed on cats and dogs.

Procedures like debarking, declawing and ear cropping all fall under the proposal and if the proposal gets approved, these procedures would become illegal under the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act, 2019 (PAWS Act).

Woodley says a MUP is a procedure performed for something other than medical reasons, like a cat getting declawed because it was scratching the furniture. If the proposal is approved, the opposite – medically necessary procedures would still be allowed. For example, if a veterinarian determined there was a tumor and part of that toe bone had to be removed for that reason.

According to the proposal on the Government of Ontario website, posted on Dec. 22, 2025, debarking involves cutting out various amounts of the vocal folds or cords in a dog.

“Some people like certain breeds of dogs to have a particular look that is sort of developed over time,” the Director of Government Relations OSPCA and Humane Society Drew Woodley tells CTV News anchor Sarah Freemark in an interview. “Instead of it being a natural part of the dog’s appearance, the ears cropped to give it that aesthetic quality people are looking for.”

The proposal states declawing is the surgical amputation of a cat’s phalanx or toe bone and the attached claws. It says ear cropping is cutting and shaping the pinna or floppy part of a dog’s ear to make it stand up.

Tail docking, where a dog’s tail is amputated for cosmetic or appearance purposes, is one procedure that was originally on the proposal, but according to the OSPCA, it was “quietly removed” before the document went circulating for consultation.

The proposal states that prohibiting the procedures would promote animal welfare by ensuring these surgeries that alter natural anatomy are only performed when medically necessary. It also highlights aligning Ontario’s standards with other provinces and territories, setting clear standards for veterinarians and pet owners, and authorizing animal welfare inspectors to enforce the ban.

Woodley says Ontario is behind when it comes to these procedures.

“Every other province has some type of ban or restriction in place,” he says. “It varies by province as to which procedures are covered and whether the restriction comes from the government or veterinary community, but Ontario is the only province without some kind of restriction or ban, which is why the OSPCA is really pushing the government to take action on this issue.”

For those who wish to share their opinion, they can on the animal advocacy page of the OSPCA website, where people can contribute to the consultation and contact the premiere.

The public can also share their thoughts on the proposal through the Ministry of the Solicitor General website.