BOSTON, July 20 (UPI) -- A new Massachusetts law will prohibit so-called "debarking" procedures on dogs and cats, animal rights activists said Tuesday.
The ban the state Legislature in Boston enacted on surgical devocalization (vocal cord cutting by a veterinarian) will go into effect Wednesday, The Boston Globe reported.
Gov. Deval Patrick signed the bill into law April 22, the newspaper said.
"Beacon Hill should be congratulated," said Beth Birnbaum, a member of the Coalition to Protect and Rescue Pets, the organization that instigated the legislation.
The law bans the devocalization of dogs and cats except in cases of medical necessity, the Globe said.
Devocalization may carry a penalty of up to five years imprisonment and a fine of up to $2,500, the Globe said.
Debarking procedures can be dangerous for pets. Scar tissue in the throat can make breathing difficult, and can lead to a lifetime of wheezing, coughing and choking, Birnbaum said.
