New law in Massachusetts

Last week, a new law went into effect in Massachusetts. The law bans surgical devocalization of animals. As the Boston Globe put it - "the right to free speech -- for dogs and cats."

The governor signed the bill into law on April 22. The new law bans "de-barking" in any case except a case of medical necessity. Devocalizing a pet in Massachusetts now could carry a penalty of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $2500. The Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association opposed the legislation.

Laws surrounding devocalization vary from state to state, but it seems that it is largely still legal in most states. California is apparently considering a similar bill to the one in Massachusetts now. (Devocalization is illegal in the UK, though I don't know what penalties are involved.)

I've only known one dog who had this procedure done. He lived in a tiny apartment and he would not stop barking. His owner wanted to keep him, but because of his barking, would have had to give him up without the surgery. (I didn't meet this dog until well after the surgery had been done.) In his case, he had no side-effects from the surgery (as many animals do). He still "barked" constantly, but there was little or no noise. He made a small sound that sounded like "blacket".

I personally would never consider doing a devocalization. If I were in a situation with an animal would wouldn't learn to be quiet when appropriate, I think I would rather try to re-home to a place where barking wouldn't be a problem.

What do you think of the new law on the books in Massachusetts? Would you ever want to devocalize a pet?

--Tammy

Comments

[Laurel]

I don't believe in this, but if it came down to this or having to give up a dog, I don't know how I'd feel...

I've learned to "never say never" because each situation is so unique and personal. Like many of these procedures, it should never be a first resort, but a carefully considered option when all else has failed. Even then, I can't imagine how the dogs must feel. Imagine only being able to say "blacket" yourself!

[turtlecookie]

Well said, Laurel. My immediate response is that I would "never" do that. But as you said, never say never. If I had an animal I dearly loved and had the choice of debarking or finding a home where barking was ok, I'd like to think I would either find a new place to live, if feasible, or find a better home for my dog. But I can see circumstances where I might make the choice to debark.

In general, I'm against things like that. For instance, I had two cats that were declawed. The two cats I have now are not declawed because I learned more about what it means to declaw a cat. My furniture suffers for it, but my cats do not.

Turtlecookie

[Midge Ruhl]

The constant yowling is absolutely incessant. Over time, 9 months since I got him, this whining yowl is fast becoming intolerable. I have often thought of how great it would have been if this cat could have no voice but instead, would have his hearing. Yet in all my desperation, I can say never....I would NEVER seek to have his voice stilled.

I have a deaf cat that lived on the streets for a year. I now know why the former owners opened the door one day and let him out. They actually told the person who ultimately brought the cat to me that they hoped "nature" would take care of this cat and that if he met his fate on the streets, so be it - they actually said it could happen none too soon. While I thought that cruel, they simply could not deal with him as he was.

When this cat came home, they would not let him into the house, as they could not stand the constant yowling...so they turned him into an outdoor cat, with no attention ever paid to him, from that day forward....no commands were ever given to teach him to communicate without that grating yowling sound he loudly and constantly makes.

So now that I took him in, it is my really big problem. He has mastered not looking at me when I want to give him a signal or a command....I have tried daily for the past 9 months to arrive at some kind of training to communicate....I have to be careful of hand signals, as this cat was abused, I hear tell, and he will duck if my gestures are broad and sweeping.....

So, without making my comment longer than necessary, I would consider re-homing him before I sought any type of surgery. He is so vocal! Imagine what he must trying to say.....all the terrible things he has endured, who knows?

For now, I am trying...I really want this to work, but my efforts are not working for now....He gets so vocal and so active that I have to take his scruff of the neck between my thumb and index finger and give him a shake....then I seem to reach him for a command. If I don't resort to this, he is absolutely out of control! What a cat, huh?