United Against Devocalization is a campaign of Coalition to Protect and Rescue Pets. The NYS initiative is co-sponsored by Animal Advocates of Western New York and New York State Humane Association.
Calls Needed to Ban Devocalization: Urge the NYS Senate Agriculture Committee to Release the Bill ... WITHOUT Amendments!
NYS Senate Bill S2271 would prohibit devocalization--the cruel act of cutting vocal cords just to stifle a dog's or cat's voice. The companion bill passed the NYS Assembly overwhelmingly on March 5, just as it did last session.
But in 2012, the Senate bill died without even getting a vote on the floor; the Agriculture committee wouldn't release it.
We don't want that to happen again--or for the Senate to add amendments. Pushed by lobbies that profit from devocalization, they are an insidious way to kill this humane legislation and worse, legitimize an act of cruelty.
WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW TO HELP ANIMALS? A LOT IN JUST 5 MINUTES OR LESS!
Our first job as animal advocates is to get S2271 released from the Agriculture committee now--without amendments. The way to do that is for constituents of committee members to call them, and for all New Yorkers to call Senate leadership. Online petitions won't help.
STEP 1: FIND YOUR NYS SENATOR (IN ALBANY, NOT WASHINGTON, DC) Just type your street address and zip in the space provided, top left of this page, to find out who your Senator is and how to contact him or her.
STEP 2: MAKE A FEW QUICK CALLS DURING BUSINESS HOURS Calls are quicker and more effective than emails. Always be calm, brief and polite.
If you get voicemail, leave a short message. Then try to call back.
If you must email, put this in the subject line: Support for S2271, No Amendments
Either way, provide your name/address.
Who to call and what to say: ►If your Senator is on the list below, say this: "I'm a constituent and I'd like Sen. NAME to make sure Senate bill S2271 passes without any changes. This is very important to me, so I'll be following it closely."
Sponsor of S2271: Sen. Mark Grisanti (Don't forget to thank him for introducing this humane legislation!)
Senate Agriculture Committee Sen. Patty Ritchie, Chair; and Senators Patrick M. Gallivan, Terry Gipson, Velmanette Montgomery, Thomas F. O'Mara, Michael H. Ranzenhofer, José M. Serrano, James L. Seward, Cecilia Tkaczyk, David J. Valesky, Catharine Young Senators Gipson and Serrano are among the five cosponsors of S2271. When you call, be sure to thank them--then let them know you want to the bill to pass as it was introduced.
►ALL NEW YORKERS: Call Senate Leadership but only say you're a constituent if you actually are. Sen. Dean Skelos, 518-455-3171 Sen. Jeff Klein, 518-455-3595
STEP 3: POST THIS TO FACEBOOK AND TWEET THE LINK NY FRIENDS: Calls to the NYS Senate are needed to keep the devocalization ban moving WITHOUT amendments! Lobbies that profit from this cruelty are working to add loopholes, to sanction cutting dogs'/cats' vocal cords to stifle their voices. INFO: http://tinyurl.com/call-nysenate
TALKING POINTS: BE AN INFORMED ADVOCATE
Allowing devocalization as a "last resort/final alternative" is unenforceable and meritless. No one needs to cut healthy vocal cords OR kill a healthy animal for barking or meowing--there are better, more responsible and far kinder solutions. But no vet can know, some won't ask, if all they've been tried. Even receipts for training don't mean the advice was followed. Cutting vocal cords is easier for the owner, profitable for the vet. Only the animal suffers.
Vocal cord surgery on dogs and cats should be allowed ONLY to treat a PHYSICAL ailment causing the animal medical harm. To perform it for any other reason is an act of cruelty.
Veterinary specialists say devocalization is always dangerous, regardless of the vet's skill, the instrument used and the surgical route, through the neck or the oral cavity. Even a little scarring, a normal outcome of any surgery, can be deadly or cause lifelong suffering when it forms in the dog's or cat's throat.
Shelter and rescue executives say devocalization doesn't prevent surrender or euthanasia of a healthy animal; responsible people do. And there are many effective humane solutions for unwanted barking or meowing, with rehoming a kinder "final alternative" than cutting vocal cords!