Living next to a barking dog is annoying, that’s for sure. But is surgically altering a dog’s larynx the right way to go about solving the noise problem?

Dogs are having their barks surgically silenced for no reason, a vet warns.

Christchurch vet Ian Ross said … “It’s easy in Christchurch to have a vet surgically alter the larynx of a dog to make its bark quieter. It’s a real shame …”

Some dogs were debarked because constant barking angered owners and neighbours.

“It’s much simpler to drop the dog off at the vet for surgery than it is to increase his exercise and train him not to bark. But why does this dog bark all day and all night?

[Via : Surgery barking up the wrong tree, says vet | Stuff.co.nz.]

In New Zealand the Animal Welfare Act 1999 pretty much prohibits debarking dogs:

Restricted surgical procedures may be undertaken only by a veterinarian, or veterinary student under direct veterinary supervision, who must first satisfy themselves that the procedure is in the interests of the animal (section 17(2)). Therefore, this places a higher ethical test on the performance of the procedure. These procedures are: debarking a dog, declawing a cat, docking the tail of a horse or any procedure subsequently declared to a restricted surgical procedure.

[Via : Guide to the Animal Welfare Act 1999: Table of Contents | MAF Biosecurity New Zealand.]

A search on Google provides plenty of results for “how to stop a dog barking“, including articles, videos and even official leaflets.

Techniques include praising a dog for being quiet, non-punitive aversion techniques such as a citronella collar, understanding why the dog is barking and working with that information, toys, training and exercise, and even professional intervention.

In recent years two of our aged pets have died. One is buried beneath the lemon tree, while the ashes of the other reside in a fine wooden box on the windowsill.

It would be good to think we could have placed both in a pet cemetery and planted a native tree in their memory.

That’s what the fine folks in Christchurch will be able to do soon:

The Christchurch City Council has set aside 60 plots at The Groynes recreational reserve to be sold to pet owners wishing to plant a native tree in memory of their animal companions. …

A plot and tree package could be bought for $75. A selection of native trees would be offered by the council for planting.

[Via : Thumbs up for new pet plots | Stuff.co.nz.]

The Groynes is a wonderful off-leash area. It seems very appropriate to set aside part as a memorial cemetery area for dogs and other pets.

60 plots sounds not very many though — I wonder how quickly they will all be bought up?

For a review of The Groynes doggy playground visit our companion site Run Spot Run.