European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals Reflects an Agreement to Not Declaw

It is interesting to note that the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals, created in 1987 and effective in 1992 is an agreement between 23 European countries to not declaw cats. The UK is not a signatory to the convention (an international agreement) but UK law (Animal Welfare Act 2006) bans declawing unless for specific medical reasons for the cat’s benefit.

Here is a screenshot of the relevant section of the convention:

Agreement to not declaw cats under the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals (1987)
Agreement to not declaw cats under the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals (1987) Effective 1992. Twenty-three countries are signed up to it.

The European countries signed up to the convention and which have ratified it are listed below (courtesy Wikipedia – thanks):

Member countries of the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals
CountrySignedRatifiedEntry into force
AustriaOctober 2, 1997August 10, 1999March 1, 2000
AzerbaijanOctober 22, 2003October 19, 2007May 1, 2008
BelgiumNovember 13, 1987December 20, 1991July 1, 1992
BulgariaMay 21, 2003July 20, 2004February 1, 2005
CyprusDecember 9, 1993December 9, 1993July 1, 1994
Czech RepublicJune 24, 1998September 23, 1998March 24, 1999
DenmarkNovember 13, 1987October 20, 1992May 1, 1993
FinlandDecember 2, 1991December 2, 1991July 1, 1992
FranceDecember 18, 1996October 3, 2003May 1, 2004
GermanyJune 21, 1988May 27, 1991May 1, 1992
GreeceNovember 13, 1987April 29, 1992November 1, 1992
ItalyNovember 13, 1987April 19, 2011November 1, 2011
LatviaMarch 1, 2010October 22, 2010May 1, 2011
LithuaniaSeptember 11, 2003May 19, 2004December 1, 2004
LuxembourgNovember 13, 1987October 25, 1991May 1, 1992
NetherlandsNovember 13, 1987
NorwayNovember 13, 1987February 3, 1988May 1, 1992
PortugalNovember 13, 1987June 28, 1993January 1, 1994
RomaniaJune 23, 2003August 6, 2004March 1, 2005
SerbiaDecember 2, 2010December 2, 2010July 1, 2011
SpainOctober 9, 2015
SwedenMarch 14, 1989March 14, 1989May 1, 1992
SwitzerlandNovember 13, 1990November 3, 1993June 1, 1994
TurkeyNovember 18, 1999November 28, 2003June 1, 2004
UkraineJuly 5, 2011January 9, 2014August 1, 2014
Countries in italics do allow tail docking.

It is nice to see that the governments of these countries openly declaring that declawing must not take place. It is a statement of common sense. No doubt that each of these countries have their own animal welfare laws which makes it illegal to declaw. In effect this convention is a belt and braces piece of ‘legislation’ which binds the countries concerned by agreement.








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