Story By: Ana Marjanovic, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency: Newsflash
Prosecutors have caused outrage by asking that a dog owner have his pet’s vocal cords removed in order to avoid punishment because of the noise.
The dog owner Michael Eddings said he was shocked when the district attorney at Graham County in North Carolina in the United States made the suggestion during a court case.
Eddings was in court on charges of causing a nuisance by the barking of his dog Leo.
The pet is seven years old, and is a Great Pyrenees weighing in at 120 lbs.
During the hearing the district attorney had apparently made the suggestion, which Eddings branded as “inhumane” and “crazy”.
He said that he had been told the charges of noise violation would be dropped if he agreed to the procedure.
The operation to remove a dog’s vocal chords is known as debarking and it is illegal in the United Kingdom, and either banned or restricted to only certain circumstances in many places in the United States.
Leo’s owner added that he had probably spent around USD 750 in noise violation charges over the years because of his pet’s barking, but there was not much he could do because it was a large dog and had a loud bark.
A spokesman for the office of the Graham County District Attorney, Ashley Welch, said that the dog owner’s allegations were not incorrect.
He was quoted as saying: “I have confirmed that an assistant district attorney in my district suggested, as a possible solution to violations of a town’s noise ordinance, that a dog’s vocal cords be surgically altered.
“Whether offered in jest or seriousness, the suggestion was inappropriate.”
The animal rights organisation PETA told Newsflash: “Dogs bark to communicate (it’s their way of “talking”), and it’s no more acceptable to remove portions of their vocal cords—an invasive surgery that requires general anesthesia and results in postoperative pain—than it would be to remove a human’s.
“The American Animal Hospital Association opposes this cruel and unnecessary procedure, many more veterinarians refuse to do it, and California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island all have laws addressing debarking.
“Excessive barking is typically a sign of anxiety, frustration, and loneliness, so PETA urges everyone to listen to what their dogs are really saying and provide them with plenty of exercise, companionship, and stimulation.”
PETA says on its website: “Don’t wait for a visit from animal control, for a court summons, or—worst of all—for frustrated neighbors to strike before you solve your dog’s barking problem. PETA’s caseworkers are flooded with calls from people who have been ordered to subject their dogs to a cruel surgery of convenience, called ‘debarking,’ as a means to try to remedy their animals’ excessive barking.
“But barking is a dog’s means of communicating many feelings—fear, frustration, pain, boredom, or even happiness. This cruel procedure strips dogs of their natural ability to vocalize and communicate. Depriving them of their primary means of expression is unjustifiably cruel.
“Debarking, or devocalization, is an invasive surgical procedure that involves removing a large amount of laryngeal tissue. It involves a great deal of postoperative pain. Because this procedure is unnecessary and inherently cruel, many veterinarians condemn it and refuse to perform it.
“You Can Teach an Old Dog New Tricks!
“If your dog has a barking problem, don’t accept debarking as a solution. Instead, deal with the problem for what it is: a symptom of boredom and loneliness! There are lots of simple and effective solutions, including the following:
“Most importantly, if your dog spends all day outdoors alone in a yard, bring him or her inside to become part of the family, where companion animals belong!
“Call your local humane society for a referral to a humane trainer, animal behaviorist, or helpful veterinarian, and never attempt to use shock or citronella collars as a solution.
“Ask your vet or local humane society to refer you to a dog walker or doggie daycare center, or find a local dog park where dogs can talk all they want.
“If you have been ordered by the court to either debark your dog, euthanize your dog, or move, you may need to seek the advice of a lawyer.
“Raise awareness about cruel debarking by writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper.”
