Oregon: Stop This BAD Law

UPDATE: Please do NOT call Sen. Gelser! On June 4, her committee closed the devocalization loopholes in this bill with encouragement from its sponsor, Rep. Brent Barton. If HB3494B passes as amended on the 4th, it will end devocalization in Oregon.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for developments and ways you can help at the appropriate time. Thank you for acting on your compassion!

Help IMPROVE Oregon House Bill 3494A
to Protect Dogs and Cats!

An Oregon state senate committee soon will be voting on HB3494A. While this bill could be a good law if amended to remove loopholes (scroll down), as written, it will hurt dogs and cats.

HB3494A allows devocalization and declawing for the owner's inability to manage his/her animal’s behavior. That would make the law unenforceable and, worse, legitimize painful--and in the case of devocalization, potentially deadly--behavior-masking surgery on dogs and cats.

Many calls and emails to legislators about the cruelty of declawing have addressed that part of the bill.

Now your voice is needed to close the loopholes that enable, justify and encourage devocalization--before it's too late.

TAKE 2 MINUTES, MAKE 2 CALLS TO
SPARE DOGS AND CATS THIS ANGUISH
(Yes, cats are devocalized too)

There is NO benign way to alter a dog’s or cat’s voice. These animals die choking on their food or after inhaling substances such as vomit into their lungs. The “lucky” ones “only” cough and gag relentlessly, suffer painful chronic throat inflammation and struggle to breathe the rest of their lives.

OREGON RESIDENTS: PLEASE CALL AND/OR EMAIL SEN. SARA GELSER
(503) 986-1708 during business hours
Email with "Close the Loopholes in HB3494A" in the subject line:
[email protected]

Politely ask that the Senator close the loopholes in HB3494A when her committee votes on it.
Loopholes like one that allows devocalization "if behavior modification fails" are UNENFORCEABLE and LEGITIMIZE CRUELTY. Making it acceptable under the law to cut a dog's or cat's vocal cords as behavior intervention lifts the stigma. And that can only encourage more devocalization. It's easier for owners than responsible training and care, and profitable for vets. Only the animal suffers.
The bill should be amended so it includes ONLY ONE allowance for vocal cord surgery: to treat a PHYSICAL ailment causing the animal medical harm. The word "physical" is essential (scroll down to learn why). There is no other ethical reason for vocal cord surgery. None.
Otherwise, HB3494A should be killed. Sadly, declawing is already mainstream. Unless the bill is amended as above, devocalization will mainstream too.

HELPFUL HINTS

Ask the aide to read your message back to you, to ensure s/he wrote it down correctly.
If you get voicemail, it’s ok to leave a short message—but be sure to call back until you can speak with someone.

BE AN INFORMED ADVOCATE: LEARN ABOUT
LOOPHOLES IN HB3494ATHAT HURT DOGS AND CATS

LOOPHOLE: "Allowable if behavior modification fails"
REALITY:

Vets can’t know--and some won’t ask--if a client provides the responsible care and correct, consistent training necessary to manage animal behavior. Clients may tell their vet they've tried everything. But they're unlikely to admit they don't give their pets the exercise, companionship and mental stimulation dogs and cats need. Even receipts from a trainer don’t mean the advice was followed. Having an animal’s vocal cords cut or notched is easier for lazy owners, profitable for vets. Only the animal suffers.
Shelters and concerned vets say rehoming is the ethical last resort. Devocalization exposes animals to lifelong misery--and the risk of horrific death from choking or inhalation of food and liquids, including vomit, into the lungs. There are no benefits for animals, not even the falsely claimed "secure home."
Devocalized animals are euthanized, surrendered and abandoned despite--some because of--their surgically altered voices. Devocalization masks the symptom but doesn't relieve the underlying problem, such as boredom, loneliness or other distress. And it doesn't address the top reasons all dogs and cats are surrendered: biting, house-soiling and the owner's health or financial problems.
Some dog AND cat breeds are more talkative than others. This exemption allows their vocal cords to be cut for the benefit of selfish people who buy, adopt or breed them knowing this genetic predisposition.

This loophole encourages devocalization by making it acceptable under the law. Lifting the stigma from devocalization, an act of cruelty, can only expose even more dogs and cats to pain, suffering and risk of horrific premature death just for doing what they were born to do: talk.
And it promotes IRRESPONSIBLE stewardship of animals. There are many effective, humane alternatives to devocalization: selection of a pet appropriate for one’s living environment; responsible care and supervision; consistent, correct training; and sometimes medication under the supervision of a veterinary behaviorist. Access to devocalization relieves owners of these commitments, giving them a quick fix that does NOT fix the underlying issue, only masks it. That can lead to more serious problems, such as biting or house-soiling, leading reasons healthy animals are surrendered and euthanized.

LOOPHOLE: Omission of the word "physical" to qualify conditions under which vocal cord can be performed
REALITY:

The only ethical reason to cut vocal cords is to treat a PHYSICAL illness, injury or birth defect causing the animal medical harm.
A law that omits the word "physical" allows vets to devocalize for any reason, including the absurd claim of "behavioral illness."
Barking/meowing is not pathology. It's normal behavior that only becomes problematic when an owner ignores the animal’s needs (such as for exercise and companionship); keeps too many animals; inadvertently rewards and reinforces barking/meowing; or doesn’t train the animal correctly or at all.
Even anxiety-triggered vocalization can be managed humanely with medication that facilitates behavior modification under the guidance of a veterinary behaviorist. Cutting vocal cords doesn't relieve distress. The animal continues to suffer and in desperation may act out in more destructive ways.