As a New England animal volunteer myself, I know some of the volunteers working on this devocalization bill. They are part of NO coordinated national campaign -- I'm sure they wish they had that level of resources to help them.
I have NEVER heard these folks express a wish to prevent people from having pets. In fact, most of them volunteer with local rescues and shelter and have many adopted pets themselves. Many are not even vegetarians, but simply oppose needless cruelty to animals.
Like declawing and ear-cropping except in cases of true medical need, devocalization is EXACTLY what it sounds like and the bill is straightforward. Having been in communication with the folks who seek to protect companion animals from a cruel and dangerous procedure, I am confident that they are working with the facts -- of course there are emotions, as it would take a Vulcan to suppress ALL feelings about animals being treated this way.
I suggest that folks check facts before casting aspersions on caring folks doing work they believe in.
Wow! How could anyone condone this awful procedure. When people agree to accept ownership for a pet, they should know about the breed and behavioral characteristics - including if they bark or meow a lot. A natural, bodily function should not be surgically removed especially if the owners feel that the 'noise' is too much or frustrating. Comparing this procedure to a tonsillectomy is not right - tonsils are removed if there is a medical condition that impacts the person. Barking and Meowing is not a medical condition which needs repair!!! It is grotesque and reflects the selfishness of people to not only request this to be done, but also for the Vets who actually agree to this procedure.
Imagine that friend who talks incessantly - would you suggest they go have their voices altered??? Furthermore, comparing this mean procedure to neutering is like comparing apples to oranges - spaying and neutering is a responsible act to support proper care to animals - where devocalization is not a responsible act - it's a repulsive act.
Posted
February 06, 2009, 2:25AM
by
holly1
The debarking bill is not what it seems. It looks like a straightforward, be-kind-to-animals law, but it is actually part of a coordinated national campaign by animal rights organizations, which do not believe people should own pets at all. Laws should be based on knowledge and fact, but this proposal relies on emotion and lack of knowledge to influence people, because the surgery is so rare that most people and even most vets are not informed about it.
Facts: Debarking saves lives. A more accurate name is bark softening. It is a last resort that should be available for dog owners when training methods fail. Many dogs cannot be trained to stop barking, not so much when they are bored or lonely but much more when they are having fun. This proposal would kill many pets, which would have to be euthanized or taken to shelters because of neighbor complaints and Animal Control citations. Devocalization is never done on cats at all. As for dogs, no one makes the decision lightly, but it is not cruel. It is very minor surgery done under anesthesia, through the mouth (like tonsillectomy), only takes a minute, and does not remove the vocal chords, merely making a nick in them. It is much less invasive than spaying or neutering. The dogs are not silent, just much quieter. They resume their normal activities the same day and do not seem to realize they are debarked. They bark just as much, but now they are happier because they are not constantly punished for it.
It is not drug dealers who are debarking dogs, it is pet owners with breeds that bark a lot, especially shelties, collies, terriers, small dogs. The protection breeds do not bark as much and are more easily trained to be quiet, and the myth that they are debarked so that they will attack silently is untrue. And, by the way, military dogs are routinely bark softened, what about them? They could not get special permits because this bill would mean that there would be no veterinarians who know how to do the surgery any more. This bill makes it abundantly clear how important it is to understand subjects before voting on them.