Comments on: Dozens of States Still Allow Cruel Devocalization of Pets. Is Yours One of Them?

By: tanya becker

tanya becker — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 14:20:00 +0000

We have had a dog for 2 years now. She doesn’t stop barking from the time she wakes up until the time she sleeps. She is not barking to communicate. She is barking out of response. Response to the ducks, the geese, the squirrels – all the other critters that live on our residential property. She is lovely and sweet natured, and is a rescue dog. Our neighbor has filed two complaints with out town. We have tried every anti-barking device, training, aversive training. Nothing has made a dent in this dogs barking behavior. So I ask you. What is better – softening the bark and allowing the dog to continue to do what is natural for her, or training her NOT to do something that IS natural for her to do? Or – relinquish her to someone else who might beat the shit out of her every time she barks. We’re at the end of our rope. It will become a legal matter out of our control.

By: Jonas

Jonas — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:52:00 +0000

Walt- calling this procedure is ‘bark softening’ is like calling police brutality ‘suggestive cooperative techniques’. If training isn’t helping a dog to cut back on barking, then the wrong training is being applied. And as for the AVMA, their stance seems to suggest that only vets should perform the procedure, not that it’s a reasonable thing to do.

By: Maggie Marton

Maggie Marton — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:54:28 +0000

Thanks for weighing in, Walt. I have to disagree, though! “Bark softening” is an unnecessary surgery with several associated risks – and it’s performed only for the convenience of the owner. A few major problems: It alters a dog’s ability to communicate, which is crucial to the happiness of a social animal. Scar tissue can create breathing problems, and oftentimes dogs who have been debarked can choke on food and water, and are unable to play or run for periods of time without losing their breath. And suggesting that it’s ok since it’s not as invasive as spaying and neutering confuses the issue because the two have nothing to do with each other.

By: Walt Christensen

Walt Christensen — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:31:30 +0000

Bark softening is a MUCH less invasive surgery than spaying or neutering. The dog goes in to the vet, is put under light anesthesia, a clip is made in the vocal cords. The dog wakes up, goes home and is barking (only softer), playing and eating that day. It is a bloodless procedure.

Contrast this with spaying where the female is put under heavy sedation. the skin, muscles and ligaments of the stomach are cut open. There is much blood… The uterus is pulled out of the stomach cavity and then cut out. If the severed blood vessels aren’t clamped properly during surgery and the many layers of muscles, ligaments, skin, and those same blood vessels aren’t properly sutured, the female will bleed to death. The recovery time is 1 to 2 weeks of quiet lest these stitches pop and additional surgery is needed. Neutering the male is nearly as invasive and potentially deadly.

So, why is it okay to mandate such a severe surgery as spaying and neutering but not let a minor surgery as bark softening be done?

The AVMA’s official position on bark softening is:

(Approved by the AVMA Executive Board June 2002; reaffirmed April 2008; oversight: Animal Welfare Committee)
Canine devocalization should only be performed by qualified, licensed veterinarians as a final alternative after behavioral modification efforts to correct excessive vocalization have failed.

So, here we have the predominant veterinary medical association saying exactly what all of us have been saying; bark softening is a valid alternative to dealing with excessive barking in dogs when other forms of training have failed. Who would you have us believe…. unknown vets who do not perform this procedure? The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association is the ‘veterinary arm’ of the radial animal rights group, HSUS (Humane Society of the United States). It does not carry the experise and prestige that the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) does and between the two organizations, the AVMA wins out, hands down!

By: N. L. in B.

N. L. in B. — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:56:32 +0000

What kind of cruel creature is that roomy of yours, what would they do if someone would ‘denail’ their fingers??? Or rip out their vocal cords?

I live in Westeurope, where Animals have real rights and freedom as it seems. 🙁

By: Selene

Selene — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 22:16:19 +0000

@N.L. in B. I agree, sad, I didnot want to declaw my cat, and i still feel bad about it sometimes, but my roomy insisted. Where do you live? Good place.

By: N. L. in B.

N. L. in B. — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 07:17:19 +0000

What are you people in the US doing to your pets? Where I live, declawing & devocalising is forbidden & a veterinary can loose their license if they still do it.
Inhuman!!!