16 JULY 25, 2019 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
First-in-the-nation declawing ban enacted
BY BILL PARRY
BPARRY@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@RIDGEWOODTIMES
New York became the first state in
the nation to outlaw cat declawing.
State Senator Michael Gianaris
sponsored the legislation that was
signed into law by Governor Andrew
Cuomo imposing a $1,000 fine for
medically unnecessary declawing
practices.
“Declawing is a cruel and painful
procedure that can create physical
and behavioral problems for helpless
animals and today it stops,” Cuomo
said. “By banning this archaic
practice, we will ensure that
animals are no longer subjected to
these inhumane and unnecessary
procedures.”
Declawing, also known as
onychectomy, involves the removal
of all or most of the last bone of each
of the toes of the front feet, and
tendons, nerves and ligaments that
allow for normal function of the paws
are severed, resulting in intense
and chronic pain and other serious
medical or behavioral issues. After
the claws are removed, cats often
shift their gait and where it places
most of its weight, causing strain
on its leg joints and spine, which
can lead to early onset arthritis and
prolonged back and joint pain.
Cats’ claws play an important role
in various aspects of their lives,
including to assist in climbing and
maintaining balance and to escape
danger.
Photo via Getty Images
“Cat declawing is a brutal procedure
similar to severing a human finger
at the first knuckle and has lifelong
ramifications for cats,” Gianaris
said. “I am proud of the new Senate
majority’s emphasis on animal
welfare and am glad the governor
enacted this legislation.”
Nine cities across the country,
including Denver, Los Angeles,
San Francisco, Santa Monica, West
Hollywood and Berkley have
enacted anti-declawing laws. State
legislatures in California, New
Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island
and West Virginia are considering
similar measures.
From S.I. to Niagra: cycling for cancer
More than 180 cyclists will don
spandex and hit the saddle
for a daunting seven-day
cycling journey from Staten Island
to Niagara Falls on July 28, in a
race to fi ght an even more grueling
challenge — cancer.
The 540-mile annual Empire
State Ride was conceived in 2014 by
Terry Bourgeois to raise funds for
cancer research — and has grown
exponentially since his inaugural
ride, he said.
“Every year, this ride brings its
participants an experience that will
stay with them the rest of their lives,”
says Bourgeois. “We keep saying it’s
a ride cyclists must try once in their
lives, but the impact — on you and on
cancer — increases exponentially the
more you do it.”
This year, organizers hope to raise
more than $1 million from riders and
sponsors — which will go to supporting
cutting-edge cancer research at
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer
Center in Buff alo, according to the
organization.
Riders push themselves to the
physical limits during the exhausting
cross-state ride, but fi nd inspiration
to keep pedaling from those who have
conquered cancer, according to one
rider who will make his second voyage
this year.
“The idea of what they’ve gone
through — this ride is nothing
compared to hours of chemotherapy,”
said Brooklynite Phil Zodda. “I’m not
a cancer survivor, but when you’re
riding side-by-side with someone who
has gone through that, you can’t feel
bad for yourself — those mountains
fl atten out.”
Aft er exhaustive days of non-stop
riding, cyclists will make six overnight
stops along the meticulously planned
route at camp grounds in the Hudson
Valley, Albany, Utica, Syracuse
and Rochester until they reach the
waterfall wonder of the world on Aug.
3. “It’s really more of an adventure as
opposed to a race,” said Zodda. “It’s
long and diffi cult, but I found it to be
extremely rewarding.”
Each night features a cancersurviving
guest speaker who inspires
their fellow riders with their stories
and speaks of the importance of raising
funds to combat the disease — which
claims the lives of around 600,000
Americans each year, according to
government statistics.
“Cancer can hit closer to home then
we like,” said second-year rider Scott
Cohen from Fresh Meadows. “I’ve
battled several health issues for many
years, including a bout of skin cancer...
I’ve lost several family members, and
have friends that have and are fi ghting
cancer.”
Phil Zodda (left) with other cyclists at the halfway mark of the 2018 Empire State Ride.
Jackie Slope
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