United Against Devocalization is a campaign of Coalition to Protect and Rescue Pets.
Devocalization is Mutilation!
Devocalization--cutting vocal cords just to stifle a dog's or cat's voice--is an act of animal cruelty that's been kept under the radar. Those who have animals devocalized and the vets who perform it for them rarely disclose it.
They know it's considered inhumane. And it's a cruelty that's easy to conceal: Unlike cropped ears, docked tails or declawed paws, cut vocal cords are hidden from view. People assume these animals have laryngitis.
THE TRUTH HURTS
Vocal cord surgery is dangerous no matter how skilled or experienced the veterinarian, the surgical route (through the mouth or an incision in the neck), or the instrument used, even laser.
Animals may choke to death, suffer heatstroke even when it's not hot or die of pneumonia after inhaling food, liquids--or vomit--into their lungs as a result of this unnecessary surgery. The lucky ones "only" struggle to breathe, and cough and gag persistently the rest of their lives after being devocalized.
Because there's no benefit for the animal, not even assurance of a home, devocalization isn't just risky; it is cruel. That's why Massachusetts banned it in 2010. Every state should.
Be Their Voice: Click on These Links,
Then Share on Facebook, Twitter
and Other Social Media
ABOUT DEVOCALIZATION
Devocalization: The Truth: The risks, what devocalized animals sound like, who would do this to an animal--and why, and more.
Claims and Facts about devocalization: What those who profit from this inhumane practice claim. What the truth is.
Expert Perspectives: What animal shelters and rescue organizations, adopters of devocalized animals, animal behavior experts and concerned veterinarians say about devocalization.
True Stories of devocalized dogs.
Lola's Story
Lady's Story
Stella's Story
Porter's Story
PROHIBITING DEVOCALIZATION
Loopholes That Hurt Animals: Be an informed advocate. Learn about the language pushed by special interest groups to create laws that elevate this act of cruelty to an acceptable option.
Devocalization Laws That Hurt Animals: Some state devocalization laws actually sanction and legitimize surgically stifling dogs and cats.
Massachusetts Devocalization Ban: Massachusetts has the only enforceable law in the U.S. that protects all dogs and cats statewide from devocalization. Learn who supported it, who fought it and the provisions that protect animals and people. For example, those who purchase dogs or cats without being informed of a prior devocalization can be awarded treble damages for the harm done to their pets.
Proposed New York State Devocalization Ban: Special interests that profit from devocalization opposed this proposed humane law; it died in the NYS Senate without a vote when the 2011-12 legislative session ended, but was refiled in 2013.
WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW, WITHOUT SPENDING A DIME
"Sunlight is the best disinfectant." Take devocalization out of the shadows--and help end it--by sharing these links via email, Facebook, Twitter and other social media.
Along with getting the word out, you can use your power to protect animals by doing this:
Talk to Your Vet: Some vets devocalize. Others don't, but are afraid prohibiting it could lead to laws restricting declawing, cropping and docking; though not as dangerous as devocalization, these also are mutilations, elective surgeries that animals don't elect and are helpless to refuse.
Have Your Vet Endorse Humane Laws prohibiting devocalization by signing this easy form. It'll take just five minutes to help protect animals from a lifetime of anguish or a terrible death.
You're the client. You pay the bills. You have the right to ask your veterinarian to support devocalization bans--without loopholes!--and other humane laws. And you have the right to choose another vet if he or she won't. Devocalization is widely considered an act of animal cruelty. No vet should perform it. And no vet should sanction it with silence.
Copyright © 2013 Coalition to Protect and Rescue Pets. All Rights Reserved.
