HI SB8

Prohibits pet animal owners and their employees from performing surgical procedures (including ear cropping, tail docking, dewclaw removal, surgical birth, and debarking) unless licensed as a veterinarian under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 471

Establishes that unlicensed performance of surgical procedures on pet animals constitutes practicing veterinary medicine without a license, classified as a class C felony

Allows unlicensed persons in counties with populations under 500,000 to perform tail docking and dewclaw removal on pet animals within five days of birth

Specifies that licensed veterinarians performing accepted veterinary practices such as ear cropping or tail docking shall not be considered guilty of animal cruelty in the first degree

Sets effective date for July 1, 2112 to encourage further discussion of the measure