Marshfield City Administrator Discusses Failed Cat Declawing Ordinance

Monday, September 25th, 2023 -- 1:00 PM

(Mike Leischner, WSAU) City leaders in Marshfield did not move forward with a ban on declawing cats as previously discussed.

City Administrator Steve Barg says too many Alders felt it was an example of a solution in search of a problem. "There were some people on the Council that said, 'you know what, I don't necessarily like the cat declawing thing from the way I understand it, but I don't want to be telling people that they can't do this"

He says in the process of researching the proposal they also discovered that none of the city's three Vets currently offer de-clawing services. "I guess that procedure is out of favor in part because there are indications that the effect on cats can be long term."

He says some felt the ordinance was needed even though none of the vets in town currently offer declawing services- saying it would prevent it from happening altogether. "One of the current veterinarians changes their mind and decides they are going to perform them, it would tell everybody here in town that that's not going to happen in the City.

The measure failed on a 6-4 vote. Had it passed, Marshfield would have joined Madison- which has also banned the practice. It's also been outlawed in New York and Maryland.

Barg says the Marshfield municipal code does allow for it to be brought back after one year, though it's not clear if that will happen.

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