The NY Assembly Agriculture Committee is scheduled to consider a bill tomorrow (Tuesday, March 10) that would ban the practice of debarking in the state unless it is medically necessary to treat an injury, illness, or congenital defect.
The AKC opposes this bill, which would restrict the rights of responsible dog owners to make viable, safe decisions on behalf of their pets in conjunction with their veterinarians.
There is much misinformation about the veterinary surgical procedure of debarking. Debarking is a viable veterinary procedure that may allow a dog owner to keep a dog in its loving home rather than to be forced to euthanize or surrender it to a shelter when the pet's noisy behavior continually disrupts the community.
Debarking should only be performed under anesthesia by a qualified veterinarian after behavioral medication efforts to correct a dog's excessive barking have failed. As with other veterinary medical decisions, the decision to debark a dog is best left to individual owners and their veterinarians.
Talking Points
- Read the AKC's position statement on debarking
- Read AKC's Issue Analysis: Dispelling the Myths of Cropped Ears, Docked Tails, Dewclaws, and Debarking
Those who reside or participate in events in New York are encouraged to contact the Assembly Agriculture Committee TODAY and ask them to oppose Assembly Bill 1679.
Committee Contact Information
Click on the committee member's name below for Albany and district contact information.If you are a constituent, be sure to mention that when contacting them:
- William Magee, Chair (District 121 – Oneida)
- Didi Barrett (District 106 – Hudson)
- Michael Benedetto (District 82 – Bronx)
- Ken Blankenbush (District 117 – Carthage)
- Harry Bronson (District 138 – Rochester)
- Marc Butler (District 118 – Johnstown, Herkimer)
- Clifford Crouch (District 122 – Binghamton)
- Gary Finch (District 126 – Auburn)
- Aileen Gunther (District 100 – Monticello, Middletown)
- Stephen Hawley (District 139 – Albion)
- Barbara Lifton (District 125 – Ithaca)
- Peter Lopez (District 102 – Catskill, Schoharie)
- Steven Otis (District 91 – Port Chester)
- Jose Rivera (District 78 – Bronx)
- Linda Rosenthal (District 67 – Manhattan)
- Addie Russell (District 116 – Watertown, Canton)
- Angelo Santabarbara (District 111 – Amsterdam, Schenectady)
- Luis Sepulveda (District 87 – Bronx)
- Michael Simanowitz (District 27 – Flushing)
- Frank Skartados (District 104 – Newburgh)
- James Skoufis (District 99 – Chester)
- Al Stirpe (District 127 – N. Syracuse)
- Carrie Woerner (District 113 – Saratoga Springs)
AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) will continue to closely monitor this legislation and provide updates as they become available. For questions or more information, contact AKC GR at (919) 816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org.
The NY Assembly Agriculture Committee is scheduled to consider a bill tomorrow (Tuesday, March 10) that would ban the practice of debarking in the state unless it is medically necessary to treat an injury, illness, or congenital defect.