Debarking and Devoicing Cats and Dogs: A Travesty for Pets

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| Print | By Jo Singer | July 14, 2009 5:26 PM

July 14 is a special day for me. It's my birthday! I felt it would be fitting to make one heartfelt wish to celebrate my special event! I fervently wish that all people around the world would take a moment to really appreciate all the amazing animals that grace our planet, and make a vow to never do anything to harm them. I invite everyone to join me in my wish as well.

Today, July 14, 2009, a special hearing will be held in Massachusetts to learn if HB 344, a bill introduced to prohibit the devocalization of dogs and cats will move forward to possibly be added to Massachusetts's existing state animal protection law. While there is a loophole in the proposed bill that permits this surgery to devocalize a dog or cat if there is a medical condition for which this surgery is needed, (and I cannot for the life of me imagine what condition would call for this very inhumane procedure). Breaking the law would put the practitioner at risk of punishment for up to 5 years imprisonment, and/or a fine of $2500.

14-devocalized dog.jpg Needham High School student, Jordan Star, is the "earth angel" that inspired this bill. After meeting a dog that had been devocalized, she was so moved by what she thought was morally wrong, and was motivated strongly to take action to make an impact to protect dogs and cats. Democratic House Majority Whip Lida E. Harkins and Republican Senator Scott P. Brown reached across the aisle in a truly bi-partisan manner, to co-sponsor the bill.

Should the bill pass, it will be named "Logan's Law". Logan, a Belgian Sheepdog was devocalized and then abandoned. Logan was adopted by Tom and Gayle Fitzpatrick. Gayle is the founder of the Friends of the Plymouth Pound, "a shelter that is "a tax-exempt, non-profit group dedicated to the rescue and adoption of abandoned cats and dogs on the South Shore of Massachusetts".

Both the ASPCA and The Humane Society of the United States are supporters of this pending bill. The American Animal Hospital Association, the American Veterinary Association and the ASPCA all feel strongly that devocalization surgery should only be performed as a last resort. My personal feeling is that this procedure should be banned completely. It is not only a risky and dangerous surgery, which can cause infections and may result in hemorrhaging or aspiration pneumonia. This surgery is banned completely in the United Kingdom, as is declawing, and docking tails and cosmetic surgery on ears in dogs.

Dogs and cats must be able to verbally communicate, not only to others of their species, but to all animals and, of course, to their human caretakers. If they have no voice, how will they be able "tell us" how they feel or to warn us of impending dangers? We all have read anecdotal stories about how cats have warned their caretakers, possibly saving their lives and of course we have all experienced a barking dog announcing a stranger on the premises, or even alerting their person to a serious threat.

With compassionate, patient training and understanding about what motivates dogs and cats to "vocalize" excessively, we better understand them.

Will you join me in my birthday wish? Leave a comment and let us know.

RELATED TOPICS: Abuse (19) , Blogs (224) , Cruelty (16)

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Rani July 14, 2009 6:46 PM

The idea of this surgery turns my stomach. Why would anyone do it?? The only thing I can imagine someone would do this for was to stop a dog that barks incessantly, but what vet would ever do it? Doesn't behavior modification or a change in environs sound infinitely more humane?

BTW, I have never liked the idea of lopping dogs' tails or ears, either, but people who breed and show them seem to think nothing of it.

Donna July 14, 2009 6:50 PM

Although a few of my cats are declawed (and I appreciate that you deplore that, but initially it was for the protection of a 6 week old granddaughter) debarking dogs and devoicing cats is DEPLORABLE. I have read all the articles against declawing cats and can honestly say that out of my 5 cats, none of the 3 declawed seem to behave any differently... but WHY devoice a dog or cat? If you need that much silence, leave the pet for someone else to adopt. I love it when Mouse gets on top of me at 5 AM and Mrrrps and pats my cheek and licks my nose to get me up...even if it's on Saturday or Sunday! You can tell so many time what is wrong by the tone of the "voice"...taking this away from an animal leaves them NO way to communicate with us. I'll likely never have another cat declawed (Mousey isn't)...but devoice a dog or cat....NEVER! I sincerely hope this bill passes and it's made illegal to do so.

I love it when my cats "talk" to me....all of them!

Donna (Pirate, Wheezel...who whines a LOT, Missy, Chester and the squeaky Mouse).

jmuhj July 14, 2009 6:54 PM

Declawing is inhumane torture and I work for its being made illegal. Any procedure which a person would not have done on their own child or themself should never, EVER be done on a cat or other living being. Period.

Iniki July 14, 2009 7:19 PM

I agree that this is torture and I would never want to see this done. With that said, I have had terrible thoughts about the 8 Great Danes next door to me that bark day and night. I would never want to see them harmed in this way though. I just pray for a bit of peace and quiet once and a while. It is not their fault that they are a bother, it is the owner who has no control and doesn't want to even bother to take the time to train them.
I honestly believe that all cats and dogs can be taught to be quiet.

Diana July 14, 2009 8:25 PM

I could not sit in the same room as someone who had done this to an animal - although I HAVE considered doing it to my husband on occasion.

Susan July 14, 2009 8:29 PM

Happy Birthday Jo! Thanks for sharing your birthday wish. I too hope both of these convenience surgeries will be BANNED ("last resort" means NO animal safe) in our country so we can catch up with the rest of the progressive world!

Fran July 14, 2009 9:03 PM

I hope you had a happy birthday, Jo!
As for the surgical mutilation of animals as a substitute for care and training-- well, there is no good reason and I hope the bill passes and catches on everywhere. I've always been surprised that how little has been said (until now) against the "cosmetic" alterations, which are likely done with little or no pain control. Where are the humane organizations when little ears and tails are scissored or sliced off? The AKC really needs to rethink all that!

SUSIE Q July 14, 2009 11:57 PM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JO!!
I ALSO HOPE THIS BILL PASSES. IT TURNS MY STOMACH TO THINK THAT SOMEONE WOULD DO THAT TO THEIR PET.

Ruth July 15, 2009 11:31 AM

I long for the day when there is a worldwide ban on all cosmetic surgery and on any surgery at all which is not beneficial to the animal.Devoicing and declawing are 2 paticularly nasty operations only done by selfish owners and unfeeling greedy vets.We've always managed nicely in the UK without doing those things to our pets,we love them too much to abuse them in that way.

Suzi Q July 15, 2009 12:23 PM

OMG! I had no idea devoicing still went on! Oh Happy Belated Birthday. I think devoicing and declawing should both be made illegal. Shame on these people! I get so angry everytime I think about an animal being treated this way. I surely hope every state, I'm in Indiana, adopts this same attitude and does something about it. God bless all the furry 4 leggeds.

Barb July 15, 2009 12:58 PM

I am SO happy that none of my dogs are "problem" barkers but even if they were, there is NO reason for this procedure. As to my cats, I love the fact that they talk to me even though I'm the only one in my house that understands them.

Amy July 16, 2009 4:20 AM

There is no rational reason to subject any animal to this kind of treatment. I have a single barker out of three dogs and as soon as he opens his mouth I am out the door bringing him into the house. Dogs bark as a warning system and to mutilate a dogs is cruel. I hope this bill makes it through the legal system and becomes a law to protect all the animals.

PJ July 20, 2009 8:24 AM

OMG I can't believe that people would do such a cruel thing do their [beloved] pet. What Vet in good concience would even perform such surgeries. I hope the law passes to stop this. By the way HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Chip July 24, 2009 2:40 PM

All of you who live in Mass. or know people there who would be appalled by this hideous surgery--that benefits only the animal owner and his or her vet!--PLEASE call your STATE Senator and Rep (NOT those in DC, like Ted Kennedy) and urge them to support An Act Prohibiting Devocalization, House Bill 344. Deep pockets that profit from devocalization are fighting the bill. If they win, animals lose. Don't let that happen. To identify your State Rep and Senator and their contact info: www.wheredoivotema.com--fill in the form and look for your "Rep and Senate in General Court." BTW, while many individual vets oppose devocalization, the Mass. Veterinary Medical Assn. is among the groups trying to kill the bill that would ban it. So is the vet whose patient, a little Pom, choked to death after she devocalized him. Let compassion trump ca-ching. Call your legislators NOW!

Danielle August 24, 2009 11:20 AM

Absolutely horrific... if you don't like vocal dogs, don't get one! All dogs will at some point or another wake you up or disturb you with their barking... if you can't deal then don't buy an animal. I have a cat that goes into heat constantly, and I'm sure eveyone has experienced the constant meowing that can make you nuts... but I'd never even consider this procedure. On the subject of declawing, however, my cat is not declawed, but I have owned cats previously that were. In the instance of an unplanned pregnancy, it was either that or give up my pet, seeing as how the cat did NOT appreciate this new addition to our family. When faced with either having it's claws removed or giving up the animal only to have it possibly euthanized, I think I made the right decision.

Gail September 6, 2009 6:22 PM

I purchased a 2 year old min pin from a reputable breeder two weeks ago and when picking him up she told me he had been debarked. I still took him but let me tell you this is the cruelest thing to do to a dog. He trieds to bark as I also have another min pin and I feel so bad for him hearing the sound that he makes. He was a "show dog" and that's the only reason I can think of that she debarked him. I live in Florida and I wish there was a law here against debarking, it just isn't right!

Chip September 18, 2009 4:15 PM

Gail--contact CPRPets@aol.com, the group that is trying to stop debarking in Massachusetts.
They'd like to talk to you about your min pins. What you've experienced is not uncommon. It's just uncommonly cruel to animals and distressing for good owners like you.

sarah November 3, 2009 8:40 AM

you obviously have never had to deal with the worlds most annoying cat that i own... meows for the sake of meowing... but not just one short sweet cute meow, but a long drawn out series of meows... neighbours are complaining, he is driving me insane with his noise! But in every other way he is adorbale... he wakes up my baby daughter every night and even though he gets so much attention he still meows for nothing and it is causing problems with my relaitionship! No one will want him if i tell them how noisy he is!! (i am his 3rd owner...) i am contemplating de-meowing but am feeling really sick in the tummy about even thinking about such a thing?! but what is worse euthanasia or de-meowing??? i am having a moral dilema.

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