On June 21, the NYS Senate Failed Animals...
And YOU!

Thursday night, June 21, the NYS Senate closed its 2011-12 legislative session. Sadly, Majority Leader Skelos did not bring the devocalization ban to the Senate floor for a vote.

The New York State Veterinary Medical Society, which has been lobbying against this humane legislation for over a year, won the battle (but not the war; we'll be back).

Professional associations exist to protect members' business interests. While many vets endorsed the ban--click here to see if yours is among them--apparently enough others are performing this unnecessary surgery that the association felt it important to fight humane legislation prohibiting it.

Shame on the veterinary association: Cruelty should never be a business interest. It should never be an option. And devocalization is undeniably cruel, outlawed in many countries. There is no safe way--or ethical reason--to cut vocal cords with the sole intent of stifling a dog's or cat's voice.

Shame on the NYS Senate: The Massachusetts Legislature prohibited devocalization unanimously. New York should have too. Instead, the Senate denied the proposed ban democratic process--a vote.

MAKE SURE YOUR VET TAKES A HUMANE STAND

A growing number of veterinary practices are putting their patients' welfare first and foremost. They don't perform surgery except to treat a physical ailment. And they stand up for humane laws that prohibit convenience and cosmetic procedures. They stand up for animals.

Talk to your vet about joining the ranks of these enlightened practices. You're the client. You pay the bills. You have veterinary choices. You have the right and the power to protect all animals, not just your own.

REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER

Lawmakers' promises of "support" mean nothing. It's action that counts, and only a handful of Senators actively advocated to bring the ban to the floor.

Click here to learn which lawmakers to thank--and who stood in the way of protecting defenseless dogs and cats from painful, risky surgery they don't need and can't refuse.

Remember all of them on election day this November.

Meanwhile, take a bow. You fought a great fight to save dogs and cats from the horrors of devocalization.

Thanks to your calls and outreach, the NYS Assembly passed the devocalization ban 138-4.

Assemblymembers heard your voice above the roar of special interests that profit from devocalization.

Next year--and on election day--we'll just have to speak louder to the Senate.

Never let lobbies working against humane treatment of animals devocalize you.