Devocalization bill update: Why we need to keep calling Beacon Hill.

Logan was a show dog whose breeder had his vocal cords cut to stifle his
voice—then dumped him when he stopped winning ribbons. His rescuer says
"Logie" couldn’t bark. Instead, he rasped and wheezed, gagged and retched till
the day he died. Devocalization is more common than you think. Keep the
pressure on Beacon Hill to ban it.

We hoped An Act Prohibiting Devocalization, H.344 would go to the House
Floor Nov. 18. Unfortunately, the Third Reading committee didn't release
it. We can still pass this humane legislation, but going forward, it will be
harder. Animals are worth it!

Top Priority: Rep. Vincent Pedone and House Speaker Robert DeLeo
Live anywhere in Worcester County? (Click on link for cities and towns.)
Call Rep. Vicent Pedone (617-722-2410), who chairs Third Reading. Ask that
he release An Act Prohibiting Devocalization, H.344 from committee quickly
as written, so it can be enforced. Politely say this humane bill is a
front-burner issue for you, and you'll be following it. Call every 3 weeks to
reinforce your support. Squeaky wheels pass laws.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worcester_County,_Massachusetts_

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worcester_County,_Massachusetts
)







Live in Winthrop or Revere? Bringing Speaker Robert DeLeo (617-722-2500)
on board is equally important. Urge him to ensure An Act Prohibiting
Devocalization, H.344 passes this session, without amendments that would
undermine its intent.







No matter where you live, it's important to call your Rep again. Here's
why.
Legislators say your calls, emails and faxes advanced the devocalization
ban farther than anyone would have thought, but they're now getting more
pressure from opponents. Those who profit from devocalization have escalated
efforts to kill the bill--one way is to stall it in committee--or add
loopholes that would make it unenforceable. Either way, helpless dogs and cats
would continue to be maimed. The legislative process is long: Don't let
lawmakers forget you want the bill to pass this session as written!
So what to do now?
* Call, email or fax your State (Beacon Hill) Rep every three weeks
till the bill is approved by the House. Email's ok, but not as effective.
Legislators want to hear from you!

* Always Include your name and address--even on voicemail and
emails--to confirm you're a constituent.
* Visit your Rep if possible; many will meet with you in the
district.
* To find your Rep: www.wheredoivotema.com

(http://www.wheredoivotema.com
) , enter your address, then look for your "Rep in General Court"



What to say?
* In your own words: "I'm (NAME), a constituent of Rep. (NAME). I'm
checking the status of An Act Prohibiting Devocalization, House Bill 344,
because I want it to pass this session without amendments that would
undermine its intent. I'd like Rep. (NAME'S) support. This is a front-burner
issue for me. I'll be following it closely. Thank you."
* You can add why this is personally important to you.
* If you get voicemail, just say you are asking the Rep's support
for An Act Prohibiting Devocalization, house Bill 344. Be sure to leave your
name and address. Then call again.

Get the word out--little effort, big impact!

Opponents have large constituencies, money and lobbyists. Animals need
many compassionate voices to protect them. Every call to legislators counts.
* Hand out information where you live or work, in doggy park, or as
you run errands; _CPRPets@aol.com_ (mailto:CPRPets@aol.com
will provide
flyers.
* Post the following youtubes to your Facebook, MySpace, blog or
website.
* Forward Alerts to other compassionate people in Massachusetts.

Meet devocalized dogs and their rescuers:
_http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZPoyuMw870_ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZPoyuMw870


Hear what animal experts say: _http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4ADbMoX4aw_
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4ADbMoX4aw


An Act Prohibiting Devocalization, HB 344, is sponsored by Coalition to
Protect and Rescue Pets, an all-volunteer network. It is endorsed by Angell
Animal Medical Center, shelters statewide and more than 200 concerned MA
vets. Make sure your vet is among them!






++++++++++++++++++++++
"Animals have the right to avoid being killed unnecessarily. No one is
forced to eat meat. It's a choice between killing and compassion. How much
violence is necessary when there are other things to eat?"
Paul Shapiro, founder of Compassion Over Killing

Banfield pet hospitals ban tail docking, ear cropping on dogs

Banfield, The Pet Hospital, the nation's largest network of animal hospitals, has announced it will no longer do tail docking, ear cropping or devocalization on dogs.
Headquartered in Portland, Ore., Banfield is the nation's largest general veterinary practice, with more than 730 hospitals and 2,000 veterinarians nationwide.

Devocalization, or de-barking, is a rare procedure and has long been controversial. It involves the full or partial removal of a dog's vocal chords to keep it from barking.


Tail docking and ear cropping, both quite common, have become more controversial over the past few years. Last year, the American Veterinary Medical Association passed a resolution opposing ear cropping and tail docking of dogs, "when done solely for cosmetic purposes," and encouraging the elimination of ear cropping and tail docking from breed standards.
Banfield has come out strongly against the procedures.

"After thoughtful consideration and reviewing medical research, we have determined it is in the best interest of the pets we treat, as well as the overall practice, to discontinue performing these unnecessary cosmetic procedures," says Karen Faunt, vice president for medical quality advancement. "It is our hope that this new medical protocol will help reduce, and eventually eliminate, these cosmetic procedures altogether."

The hospitals will continue to carry out the surgeries on pets for which it is medically necessary, she says.

There have been numerous attempts in several states, most recently Illinois, New York and Vermont, to outlaw the practice of tail docking and ear cropping. The American Kennel Club has fought such laws.

In statements opposing them, the AKC says that "as prescribed in certain breed standards, (they) are acceptable practices integral to defining and preserving breed character, enhancing good health and preventing injuries," and that "any inference that these procedures are cosmetic and unnecessary is a severe mischaracterization that connotes a lack of respect and knowledge of history and the function of purebred dogs."

Gina Spadafori, an editor at the website PetConnection.com, says that tail docking is still fairly common, in part because it's done within days of birth. Ear cropping, which is generally done when the puppy is between 12 and 14 weeks old, is fading, in part because "people are not comfortable seeing their puppies taped up like that."

Both docking and cropping have gone out of fashion in Europe, she says. In the USA, many breeders of show dogs "would happily stop doing it if they thought they could still win in the ring."
Find this article at:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2009-07-30-dog-tails_N.htm

Beacon Hill doesn't think you're outraged by vocal cord mutilation of animals!Action needed!

Please stop what you're doing. Act. And forward to protect dogs and cats.

Beacon Hill legislators don't believe us when we say the public opposes
devocalization of dogs and cats. Why? Because breeders and MVMA vets are
calling them in droves to defend this cruel practice--from which they profit.
Legislators say they're not hearing from enough who support An Act
Prohibiting Devocalization, H.344.

"Evil triumphs when good people do nothing." It's not enough to forward
these alerts. Please stop and call your legislators now. And if you've
already done that, get five people to do the same.

The clock is ticking. The public hearing for H.344 is July 14. Members of
the Judiciary Committee (see below) need calls immediately from
constituents-from constituents--and statements from from constituents--and
statements from other legislators--who want them to support this bill.
Otherwise, it will die in committee, an

It will only take a few minutes to prevent a lifetime of suffering for a
dog or cat.


Calls and faxes urgently needed NOW.

Call or fax your State Rep and Senator (not those in DC) during business
hours. To find your legislators: _www.wheredoivotema.com
(http://www.wheredoivotema.com/
) and look for "Rep and Senate in General Court." Or call
1-800-462-8683.

1) If your Rep and/or Senator are on the following committee, identify
yourself as a constituent and urge them to "report An Act Prohibiting
Devocalization, H. 344, out of Judiciary quickly with a favorable recommendation,
as it is written."
OR
2) If your Rep and/or Senator are not on the committee, urge them to
"send a support statement for An Act Prohibiting Devocalization, H. 344, as
written, to Judiciary Committee Chairs Rep. O'Flaherty and Sen. Creem."

Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Reps.
Eugene O'Flaherty, Chair, 617-722-2396
Christopher Speranzo, Vice-Chair, 617-722-2396
Katherine Clark, 617-722-2220
James Dwyer, 617-722-2014
Lewis Evangelidis, 617-722-2263
James Fagan, 617-722-2430
John Fernandes, 617-722-2396
Colleen Garry, 617-722-2380
Danielle Gregoire, 617-722-2080
Marie St. Fleur, 617-722-2030
Daniel Webster, 617-722-2487

Senators
Cynthia Stone Creem, Chair, 617-722-1639
Steven Baddour, Vice-Chair, 617-722-1604
Gale Candaras, 617-722-1291
Jack Hart, 617-722-1150
Thomas McGee, 617-722-1350
Bruce Tarr, 617-722-1600

ALSO...Come to the public hearing, Tuesday, July 14, noon,
at the State House (Gardner Auditorium); wear a red ribbon to show your
support. Call 617-722-1639 the day before to confirm the date and time. Sign
in at 10:30 if you want to deliver a short support statement for this
humane legislation. Limit 1 minute to save time for our experts, and please
keep it polite. Let those who cut animals' throats shame themselves.

Learn about devocalization and post to Facebook or your website.

_http://www.youtube.http://wwwhttp://www.yo_
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MADA4SOaOqU)


++++++++++++++++++++++
"Animals have the right to avoid being killed unnecessarily. No one is
forced to eat meat. It's a choice between killing and compassion. How much
violence is necessary when there are other things to eat?"
Paul Shapiro, founder of Compassion Over Killing

Action urgently needed to protect dogs and cats in Mass.

Please forward to other compassionate people in Massachusetts.
An Act Prohibiting Devocalization, H. 344, would ban the cruel practice of
devocalization--cutting vocal cords to stifle a dog's or cat's voice--in
Massachusetts. It's painful, risky and more common than you think. The
public hearing is July 14.

CALLS AND FAXES URGENTLY NEEDED NOW THRU JULY 16:

Call or fax your State Rep and Senator (not those in DC) during business
hours. To find your legislators: _www.wheredoivotema.com_
(http://www.wheredoivotema.com/) and look for "Rep and Senate in General Court." Or call
1-800-462-8683.

1) If your Rep and/or Senator are on the following committee, identify
yourself as a constituent and urge them to "report An Act Prohibiting
Devocalization, H. 344, out of Judiciary quickly with a favorable recommendation,
as it is written."
OR
2) If your Rep and/or Senator are not on the committee, urge them to "send
a support statement for An Act Prohibiting Devocalization, H. 344, to
Judiciary Committee Chairs Rep. O'Flaherty and Sen. Creem."


Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Reps.
Eugene O'Flaherty, Chair, 617-722-2396
Christopher Speranzo, Vice-Chair, 617-722-2396
Katherine Clark, 617-722-2220
James Dwyer, 617-722-2014
Lewis Evangelidis, 617-722-2263
James Fagan, 617-722-2430
John Fernandes, 617-722-2396
Colleen Garry, 617-722-2380
Danielle Gregoire, 617-722-2080
Marie St. Fleur, 617-722-2030
Daniel Webster, 617-722-2487

Senators
Cynthia Stone Creem, Chair, 617-722-1639
Steven Baddour, Vice-Chair, 617-722-1604
Gale Candaras, 617-722-1291
Jack Hart, 617-722-1150
Thomas McGee, 617-722-1350
Bruce Tarr, 617-722-1600




ALSO...Come to the public hearing, Tuesday, July 14, noon,
at the State House (Gardner Auditorium); wear a red ribbon to show your
support. Call 617-722-1639 the day before to confirm the date and time. Sign
in at 10:30 if you want to deliver a short support statement for this
humane legislation. Limit 1 minute to save time for our experts, and please
keep it polite. Let those who cut animals' throats shame themselves.

Powerful Lobbies That Profit From Devocalization
Are Fighting to Kill MA House Bill 344.

Use Your Voice to Pass It!

BREEDERS GONE WILD! TAKE ACTION TODAY!

Breeders Gone Wild!


http://www.wickedlocal.com/roslindale/town_info/government/x986614388/Looking-to-ban-the-devocalization-of-dogs-and-cats_(http://www.wickedlocal.com/roslindale/town_info/government/x986614388/Looking-to-ban-the-devocalization-of-dogs-and-cats)
If you haven't read the article yet, or you have but not in the last hour,you're in for an eye-opener. The blog has become a battlefield. Pleasecheck it out and post a comment opposing devocalization, supporting the bill toban it, to all the newspaper's editions. Urge every animal lover you knowto do the same.
Charlotte McGowan, local mouthpiece for NAIA--the organization that existsto kill all animal-protective legislation--and her cronies are foaming atthe keyboard. They're spreading disinformation, attacking the teen whoinitiated the devocalization bill, and smearing Dr. Nick Dodman, a true friendof animals and the most respected veterinary behaviorist in the U.S.,renowned worldwide.
15-year-old Jordan, whom Cruela DeBarker attacked viciously, is veryupset. And just so you'll know: He does have a dog. He adopted the deaf,12-year-old, abused Yorkie no one else wanted.
Please defend Jordan, Dr. Dodman and legislation to stop those likeCharlotte, who consider animals nothing but property--and the vets who pander tothem--from cutting a dog's or cat's vocal cords for their own convenienceand profit.
Devocalization is Brutalization. Tell the MA Legislature:Pass House Bill 344!