Debarking Bill Expected To Be Heard In MA
(Photo courtesy of the Animal Law Coalition)
13 July 2009
by Anai Rhoads
AnaiRhoads.org -- Massachusetts is expected to vote on a bill Tuesday, which may end the inhumane practice of debarking cats and dogs. The bill emphasises that the practice is typically unnecessary.
An Act to Prohibit Devocalization of Dogs and Cats (House Bill 344) will be heard at the Massachusetts state house tomorrow. Rep. Lida E. Harkins sponsored the bill along with numerous co-sponsors in January after grassroots animal activists spoke out about the issue.
H.R. 344, also known as "Logan's Law", is dedicated to Logan, a dog who was devocalised then later abandoned.
Animal welfare activists want to end the practice, which involves an invasive surgical procedure to remove or cut out the animal's vocal chords. The side effects vary from laboured breathing to anaphylactic shock from the anesthesia.
The practice is done typically by the owner for a host of reasons. Some owners debark their dog to avoid legal issues with their neighbours, while some simply fail to employ professional trainers to correct the dog's behaviour.
Some breeders will debark as part of the sale, per request of the buyer. More notably, debarking has lent a hand to backyard breeders and puppy mills. The operations are able to hoard more animals than legally acceptable in conditions that are imaginable. The cries of the dogs and puppies are literally silenced.
Dog fighting operations have taken full advantage of this method, since they are better able to host fights without being heard. Dozens of dogs who are bred to fight can be left chained in yards or put in abandoned facilities without much notice.
The only people who benefit from these surgeries are those who stand to make a profit from them, which include veterinarians who stand to make thousands of dollars for medically unnecessary operations.
The dogs are left without a means of vocal defense and are often left feeling isolated. Without a means to release frustration or to alert their owners of strangers, a dog loses its ability to function in its natural state.
Another concern is safety. When a small child approaches a dog who has been devocalised, there are no clear-cut signs of an impending bite. This makes the surgery that much more dangerous.
If the bill is passed, any person in violation could face up to five years in a state prison and up $2,500 in fines. H.R. 344 also requests that the court establish a mental health evaluation, counseling or treatment for those convicted of violating the bill.
The bill also states that the convicted person, "will be barred from owning or possessing any animals, or living on the same property with someone who owns or possesses animals, for a period of time deemed appropriate by the court, and required to take humane education, pet ownership and dog training classes as ordered by the court."
All veterinarians licensed in the state will have to file a written certification with the town clerk or with the police commissioner before the operation can take place. Proof must be shown that the procedure is necessary to the animal's well being.
For more information, please visit the Animal Law Coalition
| 
