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Ontario is preparing to introduce an important change to its animal welfare laws. Starting January 1, 2027, three surgical procedures commonly performed on cats and dogs for cosmetic or convenience reasons will be prohibited: cat declawing, dog ear cropping and dog devocalization, also known as debarking.
The new regulation, Ontario Regulation 152/26, was made under the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act, 2019. It marks a significant step towards protecting companion animals from surgeries that offer no medical benefit and can cause unnecessary pain and long-term complications.
There is one important exception: veterinarians can still perform these procedures when they determine that they are medically necessary to treat an injury or disease. The medical reason must also be documented in the animal’s records.
What procedures will be banned?
The new regulation covers 3 specific procedures.
1. Cat declawing
Declawing, medically known as onychectomy, involves surgically removing a cat’s claws by amputating the last bone of each affected toe. It is not simply a matter of removing the nails.
Some owners have traditionally chosen declawing to prevent furniture damage or scratching. However, cats rely on their claws for much more than protecting household furniture. Scratching is a natural behavior that helps them stretch, mark territory and maintain their claws.
Removing the claws also changes how cats use their paws and can expose them to pain and post-surgical complications. The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) identifies unnecessary pain, possible chronic pain and other negative welfare outcomes as concerns associated with cosmetic surgical procedures.
Rather than removing a cat’s ability to scratch, owners can use alternatives such as scratching posts, regular nail trimming and appropriate environmental enrichment.
2. Cosmetic ear cropping in dogs
Ear cropping involves surgically removing part of a dog’s ear flap to create a particular appearance. It is often associated with certain breeds and traditional breed aesthetics.
However, changing a dog’s natural ear shape for appearance alone offers no health benefit. Surgery can cause pain, bleeding, infection and other complications.
There is also a communication aspect to consider. Dogs use their ears, tails and body posture to communicate with other animals and people. The CVMA notes that cosmetic alterations to ears and tails can interfere with a dog’s ability to communicate emotions such as fear, excitement and aggression.
Allowing dogs to keep their natural ears means they can maintain an important part of their body language without undergoing unnecessary surgery.
3. Surgical procedures to reduce barking
The third procedure is devocalization, commonly called debarking. It involves surgically altering or removing part of a dog’s vocal cords to reduce the volume of its barking.
Barking is a natural way for dogs to communicate. They use it to alert others, express excitement, respond to unfamiliar situations and communicate their needs.
Reducing a dog’s ability to bark does not address the reason behind the behavior. If excessive barking is becoming a problem, owners can work with a qualified trainer or veterinary professional to identify its cause and use appropriate behavior-management techniques.
The new regulation recognizes that convenience for an owner is not, by itself, a medical reason to surgically alter an animal.
Why is this such good news for animals?
The most important part of this decision is that it puts animal welfare ahead of appearance and convenience. Cats and dogs cannot choose to undergo these procedures or understand why they are being performed. They depend on people to make decisions that protect their health and quality of life.
When a surgery is medically necessary, it can be an important part of treatment. But when the purpose is simply to change an animal’s appearance or make life more convenient for its owner, the potential risks become difficult to justify.
The CVMA has long opposed non-therapeutic cosmetic procedures, pointing to the risk of acute and chronic pain, infection, bleeding, nerve damage and other complications.
This change also sends a useful message to future pet owners and breeders: an animal’s natural appearance should not be treated as something that needs surgical correction to meet a particular aesthetic preference.
Ontario’s decision follows years of advocacy from veterinary professionals, including the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA), which welcomed the regulation after more than a decade of efforts to restrict medically unnecessary surgeries.
What happens if someone breaks the new law?
The ban is more than a recommendation for veterinarians. Under section 22 of Ontario’s Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act, no person may cause an animal to undergo a prescribed procedure.
That means the restriction is not limited to the veterinarian performing the surgery. People who arrange or cause an animal to undergo one of the prohibited procedures can also fall within the law.
Under section 49, violating section 22 is classified as a minor offense under the Act. However, the potential penalties are substantial.
For an individual convicted of a first offense, the maximum penalty is a fine of $75,000, up to six months in prison, or both. For a second or subsequent offense, the maximum rises to $100,000, up to one year in prison, or both. Corporations can face fines of up to $100,000 for a first offense and $250,000 for subsequent offenses.
These are maximum penalties, not automatic fines for every violation. The actual penalty depends on the circumstances and the court’s decision.
What about the rest of Canada?
Ontario is not the first Canadian province to take action against medically unnecessary cosmetic procedures. Veterinary associations and provincial regulators in several other parts of the country have already introduced restrictions.
For example, Quebec has regulations restricting cosmetic ear cropping and tail docking, with exceptions for therapeutic medical reasons. British Columbia also restricts veterinarians from performing cosmetic ear cropping and tail alterations, except when medically justified.
Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador have also introduced restrictions through provincial veterinary rules or animal welfare regulations. Alberta and Saskatchewan have their own veterinary restrictions as well.
However, it is important to understand that these rules are not identical. Some are provincial laws that apply more broadly, while others are professional rules governing what licensed veterinarians can perform. The procedures covered and the medical exceptions also differ.
The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association has been encouraging consistent national standards, and Ontario’s new regulation is another step towards that goal.
There is also one notable limitation in Ontario’s decision: cosmetic tail docking and dewclaw removal were not included in the three-procedure ban. The OVMA has expressed disappointment about these exclusions and says its advocacy work will continue.
