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Wednesday, February 03, 2010

"Debarked"

Once again, a story about dogs makes the front page of  The New York Times, but this time it's not so funny. It discusses the pros and cons of choosing to pay a veterinarian to cut the vocal chords of your sweet pooch, which reduces their bark to nothing more than "a raspy squeak."( Can you see what side I'm comin' down on?)
The article continues with this charming bit of information: "Although there is no reliable estimate as to how many dogs have had their vocal chords cut, veterinarians and other animal experts say that dogs with no bark can readily be found - but not necessarily heard - in private homes, on the show-dog circuit, and even on the turf of drug dealers, who are said to prefer their attack dogs silent. The surgery usually leaves the animal with something between a wheeze and a squeak."
Read the full article here: www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/nyregion/03debark.html?hp
Uh, folks, with a little patience and some of your time (O.K., lots of patience and time), we dogs can be trained not to bark at every little thing, think service dogs, rescue, police work, agility, even stupid dog tricks, for crying out loud!
And, by the way, do you think those humans with barkless dogs would feel differently when that "raspy squeak" failed to wake them up from their peaceful slumber in case of a fire or intruder?
Well, now you know how I feel, but I'd love it if you all would weigh in on this issue...

6 comments:

Asta said...

I'm howwified and so awe my pawwents that someone would evew considew cutting the vocal cowds of us doggies..stoopid, and cwool hoomans do things like that. Thank dog thewe awe othews wif heawts and bwains
smoochie kisses
ASTA

Bocci said...

Sometimes I get a bit outraged-I must take after my Parental Unit!
What a crazy thing to do, though...for convenience, really.
Thanks for checking in and talk with you soon, Asta!

Molly the Airedale said...

We have neighbors who did that to their sled dogs. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch

Rachel said...

They're just trying to ask for some attention. That's wrong.

Bocci said...

Couldn't have said it better myself-Grrrrrrrr is right!
It occurred to me (O.K., it occurred to Parental Unit and she mentioned it to me) that humans often look for a quick fix for just about everything. Like why exercise and eat healthy when you can just pop a pill? So why take the considerable time to train your dog not to bark when you can just take him to the Vets and have him/her do it for you?!
Humans-can't live without 'em, can't eat 'em!
Thanks for weighing in, Maggie and Mitch!
P.S. Parental Unit's sister loved your blog... and both of you!

Bocci said...

Yep, Rachel, that's how we communicate, and we often just crave attention from out humans-how else are we going to tell them?!
Thanks for weighing in!
Talk with you soon.

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