Across North America, we’re seeing meaningful progress to protect animals from medically unnecessary procedures. This is a great sign that awareness and compassion are driving real change.
More governments moving away from harmful procedures
The Province of Ontario is currently considering a ban on procedures such as declawing, debarking, and ear cropping when they are not medically necessary.
These surgeries, often performed for human convenience rather than animal health, can cause lasting physical and behavioural harm. For instance, debarking removes an important way that dogs communicate, while declawing can cause lasting pain, nerve damage, increased aggression, and difficulties walking normally.
The state of California also recently took action to protect companion animals. A statewide ban on medically unecessary declawing came into effect at the beginning of 2026, reinforcing the growing recognition that removing a cat’s claws—which involves amputating part of each toe—is not a humane solution to scratching.. The state joins others such as New York, Maryland, and Virginia, which have passed similar laws.
Where B.C. stands on medically unecessary procedures for pets
For more than a decade, the College of Veterinarians of B.C. (CVBC) has prohibited cosmetic procedures such as tail docking and ear cropping. In 2023, the CVBC strengthened its protections by also banning declawing and debarking when not medically necessary.
Ontario remains the only province without restrictions on cosmetic procedures for pets; but that could soon change. These developments reflect a broader shift away from practices rooted in convenience and toward policies grounded in the science of animal well-being.