06/02/2026
Great news for animal lovers! 🐾
Ontario is taking a major step forward for animal welfare. Starting January 1, 2027, new regulations under the Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) Act will ban three cosmetic procedures on pets:
🐱 Declawing in cats
🐶 Devocalization (“debarking”) in dogs
🐶 Ear cropping in dogs
This is a meaningful win for pets across the province, protecting them from painful, unnecessary surgeries that have no benefit to their wellbeing. While there’s still more work to be done, this regulation signals a growing commitment to treating animals with the respect, dignity, and compassion they deserve.
Want to support continued advocacy for animals in Ontario? Visit changeforanimals.ca and be a voice for the animals who can’t speak for themselves. 🐾
Pawsitive news for animals in Ontario!
New regulations under the Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) Act will prohibit certain cosmetic procedures on cats and dogs, effective January 1, 2027.
The regulation prohibits:
- Declawing in cats
- Devocalization (“debarking”) in dogs
- Ear cropping in dogs
These procedures will only be permitted when a veterinarian determines they are medically necessary for the health of the animal. This marks a meaningful step forward in strengthening protections for animals across the province and reducing unnecessary procedures that impact their wellbeing.
There is still lots more to do but today we will celebrate this win for the animals. We look forward to continued efforts to expand protections and ensure all animals are treated with the respect, dignity, and compassion they deserve.
Together, we can continue building a brighter future for animals in Ontario. Be a voice for animals and help us continue advocating for them to be treated with respect and kindness. Visit changeforanimals.ca