One official in
North Carolina recent gave a family a shocking
ultimatum: cut the vocal cords of their beloved pet dog
Leo, or face huge legal consequences. The
situation escalated after county officials repeatedly
singled out Leo's family, targeting them with multiple
fines for their pup's bark. But Leo's not alone in
his exuberance. The family has multiple
nearby neighbors with dogs that bark, and live
in a suburb where houses stand apart from each other.
His people have made it clear that they'll entertain
alternative humane options, but that this request is
abusive and they won't abide it. Leo is lucky to have such
committed parents, but many other dogs are not so
fortunate.
Removing a dog's vocal cords is
done through a grotesquely inhumane surgical process
called "debarking" or "devocalization." You could
imagine this might be a painful and traumatic
experience, and you'd be right. In many places,
such as the United Kingdom, the procedure is considered
so cruel, it's even illegal. The American
Veterinary Medicine Association has also come out
against debarking, calling the practice "unethical" and
confirming that it "negatively impacts the welfare of
the dog." Unfortunately, debarking is still allowed in
many U.S. states, including North Carolina. This
incident just proves how few rights pet dogs have in
North Carolina — and how quickly an animal could be
abused. Lawmakers in North Carolina must protect pets,
now. Sign the petition to
demand that lawmakers ban the inhumane practice of
debarking dogs throughout the
state!
