The NYS Devocalization Ban Has Now Passed the Assembly, But… A Much Harder Fight is Ahead in the Senate
A1204, banning devocalization of dogs and cats, passed the NYS Assembly 121-5. This astounding vote is testament to all of you who called your Assemblymembers–you are true activists–and to the commitment of the bill’s sponsor Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski.Assemblymembers Steve Katz (a veterinarian) and Linda Rosenthal also spoke on the floor in favor of the bill. Animal lovers everywhere are grateful to them and to Speaker Sheldon Silver, Agriculture Committee Chair William Magee and Codes Committee Chair Joseph Lentol for their support of this humane legislation.
The Proposed Devocalization Ban Still Needs Your Advocacy As Senate Bil S2271, sponsored by Sen. Mark Grisanti, the devocalization ban now must pass through two Senate committees and a floor vote. And just as they succesfully did before, the New York State Veterinary Medical Society and the AKC are fighting the bill tenaciously–last year, the Senate didn’t even bring it to the floor. One way to kill a bill is to stall it in committee. Another is to vote it down on the floor. A more insidious and destructive way to effectively kill this bill, which hurt countless animals, is to add loopholes like this: Allowing devocalization as a so-called “last resort/final alternative to euthanasia” is obviously unenforceable. Worse, it would elevate this act of cruelty to an acceptable option, resulting in even more dogs and cats being subjected to vocal cord mutilation for the “crime” of communicating. Here’s the truth:
No one is forced to cut healthy vocal cord tissue OR kill a healthy animal for unwanted barking or meowing. There are many effective, humane and far more responsible solutions for those willing to pursue them, with rehoming a kinder “final alternative.”
Read about other loopholes here: http://stopdevocalizing.weebly.com/legislative-loopholes.html
Remember: Online petitions don’t influence lawmakers. FB posts expressing sympathy won’t end devocalization. Contacting your lawmakers–preferably by phone–is your best shot at protecting dogs and cats from vocal cord mutilation.
Meanwhile, Read, Watch, Share…
Always Be an Informed Advocate
www.stopdevocalizing.weebly.com
Veterinarians Speak Out: http://youtu.be/K7MFE7y6xAE
Shelters Speak Out: http://youtu.be/n2gNtrBI1Us
Adopters Speak Out: http://youtu.be/reFzqMiHgOw