Debarking Dogs: Putting your Pooch on Mute

Earlier this week, The New York Times ran an article on debarking dogs, a surgery that muffles the sound of a dog's bark.

The U.K. has a legal ban against debarking as a form of mutilation. The American Veterinary Association recommends that the surgery be done only as a last resort to stop an incessant barker, and many veterinarians refuse to debark. But attempts to ban debarking have failed in several states. Why does the dog-loving American culture still debark dogs?

Debarking is a surgical procedure the involves clipping a dog's vocal cords and removing some of them. The surgery is painful and can have serious complications. Scar tissue can build up in a dog's throat, making it difficult for the dog to breathe. This can lead to multiple surgeries for the poor pooch.

Dogs bark to communicate. My dog, Holly, is a rescue dog and she barks in obvious fear at men with white hair. She doesn't bark at other dogs, with the exception of her arch nemesis, Jessie. Holly barks with such wild ferocity at Jessie that she leaves spittle on my windows. Holly also lets out high-pitched yips to tell me she needs water, a walk, or that she was supposed to be fed a full three minutes ago.

If Holly barked all the time, I would know something was wrong. A non-stop barker may be an anxious, bored, or unhappy dog. Debarking treats the symptom, and not the problem.

Finally, the good news: The U.S. Congress Massachusetts is seriously considering a law against debarking. 15-year-old Jordan Star has been the motivating force behind the bill called "Logan's Law." Logan's Law was named for a debarked dog who was abandoned after the surgery. Logan's attempts to bark were heartbreaking for the family who adopted him. Logan's Law is now in the third reading, which could mean a victory for dogs and for the young Star.