Here is a follow up to yesterday’s blog with a video on the victims of this horrible practice and a vet talking about the possible consequences. Please share this as much as possible so that people become aware of the many possible problems that can occur – plus the barking will continue as the root cause of the problem has not been eliminated.
Unfortunately I could not get permission to feature the video and whole story so can only give you part of it with a link to the video. I will not say enjoy, I will instead say Educate!
Devocalization: The controversial act of removing dogs' vocal chords
Some dog owners will do anything to keep their pets from barking, including putting them under the knife
Anyone who's ever owned a particularly chatty dog, or lived in the same building as one, knows that incessant barking can be a nuisance. While most owners take it upon themselves to teach their dogs good barking etiquette, others are taking a short cut — literally. Surgically removing an animal's vocal chords, a controversial procedure that's been around for decades, is under fire again, as one dog owner, horrified by the results, is petitioning the American Veterinary Medical Association (AMVA) to outlaw the practice. Here, a guide to the uproar:
What exactly is "devocalization"?
Debarking, formally known as ventriculocordectomy, is most often done on dogs, but has also been performed on cats. Targeting the animal's vocal cords either through the mouth or a throat incision near the larynx, a veterinarian severs the cords either partially or completely, typically leaving dogs with a raspy or high-pitched bark.
Who wants it outlawed?
When Sue Perry, a 58-year-old Connecticut bookkeeper, adopted Porter, a 123-pound Newfoundland, five years ago, she was disturbed by his pained attempts to bark. A vet confirmed that Porter had been devocalized. Perry claims Porter has trouble breathing, gags a lot, and has to be monitored when eating or drinking. (Watch a video of Porter and other devocalized dogs below.) Perry says she's spent more than $2,000 on corrective surgery. "It's horrible, it's horrific," she tells CBS News. "Don't do it. Devocalization should never be an option." Together with another concerned owner, Perry is working with the Coalition to Protect & Rescue Pets to ensure it never is. More than 145,000 people have signed the online petition the women drafted in the hopes of convincing the AMVA, the nation's largest vet organization, to condemn the procedure.
READ FULL STORY AND SEE VIDEO
http://news.yahoo.com/devocalization-controversial-act-removing-dogs-vocal-chords-154400934.html
Unfortunately I could not get permission to feature the video and whole story so can only give you part of it with a link to the video. I will not say enjoy, I will instead say Educate!
Devocalization: The controversial act of removing dogs' vocal chords
Some dog owners will do anything to keep their pets from barking, including putting them under the knife
Anyone who's ever owned a particularly chatty dog, or lived in the same building as one, knows that incessant barking can be a nuisance. While most owners take it upon themselves to teach their dogs good barking etiquette, others are taking a short cut — literally. Surgically removing an animal's vocal chords, a controversial procedure that's been around for decades, is under fire again, as one dog owner, horrified by the results, is petitioning the American Veterinary Medical Association (AMVA) to outlaw the practice. Here, a guide to the uproar:
What exactly is "devocalization"?
Debarking, formally known as ventriculocordectomy, is most often done on dogs, but has also been performed on cats. Targeting the animal's vocal cords either through the mouth or a throat incision near the larynx, a veterinarian severs the cords either partially or completely, typically leaving dogs with a raspy or high-pitched bark.
Who wants it outlawed?
When Sue Perry, a 58-year-old Connecticut bookkeeper, adopted Porter, a 123-pound Newfoundland, five years ago, she was disturbed by his pained attempts to bark. A vet confirmed that Porter had been devocalized. Perry claims Porter has trouble breathing, gags a lot, and has to be monitored when eating or drinking. (Watch a video of Porter and other devocalized dogs below.) Perry says she's spent more than $2,000 on corrective surgery. "It's horrible, it's horrific," she tells CBS News. "Don't do it. Devocalization should never be an option." Together with another concerned owner, Perry is working with the Coalition to Protect & Rescue Pets to ensure it never is. More than 145,000 people have signed the online petition the women drafted in the hopes of convincing the AMVA, the nation's largest vet organization, to condemn the procedure.
READ FULL STORY AND SEE VIDEO
http://news.yahoo.com/devocalization-controversial-act-removing-dogs-vocal-chords-154400934.html