Friday, November 2, 2012

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 11/02/12

Dog debarking policy at AVMA raises activists' howls of protest

Excerpt: Both dogs have been “devocalized," or surgically muffled, using a controversial procedure regarded as either barbaric mutilation by lazy pet owners -- or as the last resort of animal lovers desperate to keep their furry companions.

Tip: This story is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.

Barking dog case heads to court

Excerpt: The case of [Loudmouth with Nothing to Say], a dog that has been the subject of barking complaints by some neighbors, has headed to court.

[Loudmouth]’s owner, [Mr. Clueless], is appealing the orders issued against his dog by selectmen to Leominster District Court.

Augusta County Considers Dog Barking, Panhandling Laws

Excerpt: If you're annoyed by barking dogs and panhandlers, Augusta County is considering a pair of laws you'll probably like. Both are a response to complaints the sheriff's office routinely hears. But are they needed, and how would they work?

Fighting for You: Madison County Homeowner Calls Dog Barks Bothersome

Excerpt: Many of us have heard the phrase the dog’s bark is worse than its bite. Homeowners in one Madison County community believe it. They say the dogs at a nearby animal hospital bark most of the day. They want the barking to stop. One of the homeowners emailed WHNT NEWS 19.

There are rules in place for handling noise, but the homeowner wonder why the rules are not enforced. The Madison County homeowner lives a few yards away from the Flint River Animal Hospital. The animal hospital is in Huntsville. [A barking-besieged neighbor] says no one in the city or county can figure out how the rules apply in an area split between two jurisdictions. [Mr. Besieged] continues to hear the barks. He wants someone to silence the dogs.

The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Do you wish that Madison County would build a bridge to peace and quiet? Me too. In the meantime, you can get our point across with tee shirts and bumper stickers from the QuietBarkingDogs store.

1 comment:

  1. Good article, as usual!

    Some comments on debarking: It is a procedure that is perfectly safe and humane when performed correctly. The dog still has the ability to verbally "communicate" but now does so at a reasonable volume.

    Face it, flooding our cities and dense suburbs with artificially bred animals that can vocalize at 105 decibels, the same sound level as an automobile horn, is a fail. The explosively loud exclamations produced by dogs are NOT natural: The pet dog is a CONSUMER PRODUCT. Likewise, these sounds are rarely useful in any way: The whole "watchdog" excuse insults our intelligence. The percentage of loud barking we are exposed to is vanishingly small. Frequent "false alarms" must result in a de-activation of the nuisance device in question.

    Furthermore, the keeping of ANY animal in a human community is a PRIVILEGE and may be restricted legislatively. Dog owners have to do whatever they can to control their pets and if de-barking is a constructive way to do that, then so be it.

    The only people diametrically opposed to de-barking are fools who believe that the civil rights of dogs exceed those of people. Human beings don't have the right of unlimited vocalization and dogs do not, either. 'Nuff said!

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