A bill that would add protections for pets and help prevent animal cruelty in the District is on its way to becoming a law. The Animal Care and Control Omnibus Amendment Act passed a first vote unanimously in a marathon legislative session last week in the D.C. Council, which is scheduled to make a final vote on Dec. 20.

The bill includes seven provisions, including a ban on cat declawing — a veterinary procedure that has been likened to amputation and has drawn increased scrutiny in recent years. (Last spring, Maryland became the second state to ban the practice.)

It also prohibits the ownership of equipment used for dogfighting and formally criminalizes bestiality, closing a loophole in the law. D.C. is among just a few jurisdictions nationwide that haven’t specifically outlawed sexual contact with animals, and any related images or videos.

Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh introduced the bill a year ago along with Ward 1’s Brianne Nadeau, Ward 6’s Charles Allen, Ward 4’s Janeese Lewis George, and Ward 2’s Brooke Pinto. Cheh sees it as a major victory as she approaches the end of her fourth and final term.

“It’s been a bill that I’ve been keen to see pass before I leave the council at the end of December,” Cheh said during a November committee meeting. Cheh has advocated for animal rights throughout her time on the council, working with groups like the Humane Society and D.C. Voters for Animals.

The legislation also authorizes animal control vehicles to use emergency lights and sirens when responding to calls, and provides financial support for the Humane Rescue Alliance when it cares for animals during criminal proceedings. Pet stores will be required to exclusively sell animals from rescue facilities to help prevent the use of puppy farms and other cruel breeding practices.

Lastly, the bill seeks to protect the rights of pets involved in divorce proceedings, allowing judges to consider the best interests of a pet and award joint custody.

“Currently, pets are treated in divorce proceedings like an inanimate asset, such as a bank account or a house,” Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen said during a council session last month. “Many of us have pets or have had pets, and we know they are more akin to family members than a piece of furniture.”

Only a handful of states have considered or passed such protections for pets in divorce cases. Animal advocates and legal experts have called the bill “historic” and “groundbreaking,” according to The Washington Post.

If passed, the penalties for these offenses could result in fines or anywhere from 10 days to two years in prison, depending on the crime. If the council passes the bill after a final reading next Tuesday, it will then require Mayor Muriel Bowser’s signature before moving on to congressional review.

“Being one of the most prosperous and progressive communities in the country, the District of Columbia should embrace any and every opportunity to adopt a compassion-based approach to animal management and care, and I’m eager to see this legislation passed,” Cheh said in a statement.