Let’s Give ‘Em Something to Bark About
Dogs in Massachusetts are woofing it up and cats are purring with delight after Gov. Deval L. Patrick signed into law a bill making it illegal to cut dogs’ or cats’ vocal cords to keep them quiet. This means that no more animals in the Bay State will be subjected to cruel, unnecessary “devocalization” surgeries—which are extremely painful and can result in difficulty breathing, chronic gagging, and hemorrhaging—just for someone’s convenience.
We can yak all day and no one tells us to “hush,” but all too often a dog opens his or her mouth and is met with a harsh “Be quiet!” Let’s hope that this law inspires dog guardians to prevent excessive barking the kind way: by taking their pups for lots of long walks, keeping them indoors, and treating them like members of the family. One surefire way to make your dog feel included—celebrate your canine every day with tips from Let’s Have a Dog Party!
Written by Lindsay Pollard-Post
