De-Barking Neighbor's Dog

Fox News ^ | June 06, 2006 | AP

[rawhide]

A woman has filed a complaint against her neighbor, a veterinarian who, without permission, neutered her 10-week-old puppy and surgically quieted his bark.

James Risch, the veterinarian, said he performed the procedures after he found the puppy barking on his porch and thought it was a stray.

"He maimed my puppy," Nancy Miller wrote in the complaint to the Oklahoma State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. "This man is a menace to animals and should not be allowed to continue to practice."

She claims he took the dog from her fenced yard. He denies this.

He said he gave the puppy vaccinations, bathed it, treated it for ear mites, neutered it and performed a "simple procedure that reduces the volume of the bark but does not inhibit the dog's ability to bark." He said the procedure, which is performed on a dog's vocal cords, can make a stray more adoptable.

[rawhide]

Risch wrote a letter of apology to the Millers, saying he did not talk to his wife or check around before he "impulsively took the stray pup from our front porch to the clinic.

"I admit my wrongdoing. I would like you to know that I have sought counseling to understand and correct my impulsive behavior."

Risch also wrote that he did not dislike the Millers' other dog, Phil, "but rather it is the barking at nothing that can be like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. I have made progress recently and have been more able to tune out the barking."

[AppyPappy]

I wish someone would do this for free to my dog.

[marsh_of_mists]

How does a guy who compulsively hates the sound of barking to this extent become a veterinarian?

[GovernmentShrinker]

Maybe he only developed this problem after years of listening to barking all day at work.

[KarlInOhio]

How does a guy who compulsively hates the sound of barking to this extent become a veterinarian?

Because he really likes neutering animals?

There are legal ways of dealing with suspected stray animals, and performing surgery on them is not one of them.

I personally find it hard to believe that a vet wouldn't know that his neighbor had a new puppy and recognize it. I'm just betting he is a spiteful a*****le who needs his vet license at least suspended.

[Pox]

Gelding sounds like an appropriate punishment to me.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Sounds like this vet is a tad too proactive.

[JJR RNCH]

Years ago my MIL had to have her two cocker spaniels de-barked because her neighbor complained to the city. After a couple of months the dogs were able to make soft barking noise.

[elli1]

He said he gave the puppy vaccinations, bathed it, treated it for ear mites, neutered it and performed a "simple procedure that reduces the volume of the bark but does not inhibit the dog's ability to bark."

I'm sending Tex over. I'm willing to skip the de-barking in exchange for a de-ticking. :)

[Ditter]

Since when does the word neuter refer to surgery on the vocal chords?

[yellowdoghunter]

This is terrible. How could someone debark their dog? I have never even heard of this. That is cruel, IMO. This vet should have his license revoked so he can NEVER practice medicine again. What a jerk!

[Skooz]

word

[bwteim]

Article with good pics here.

Can't excerpt.

http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060606/NEWS01/60606005/1002

[CholeraJoe]

Neutering a 10 week old pup doesn't sound right. Don't they usually wait until about 6 months of age?

[HairOfTheDog]

This is terrible. How could someone debark their dog? I have never even heard of this. That is cruel, IMO. This vet should have his license revoked so he can NEVER practice medicine again. What a jerk!

A tad overreactive on your part, now. It's not cruel, in fact most people who raise and show more than one or two of certain yappy breeds like shelties, often have this done.

[yellowdoghunter]

No, no over reaction, just my opinion. I know you it drives you crazy that I have an opinion, but why not just ignore it like I do yours?

I stand by my opinion. And you know what, just skip over my comments in the future, it will do us both a favor. As you will notice, I never initiate contact with you but for some reason, you can't just ignore me like I do you. Try not to post to me in the future, it will take some will power, but give it all you got. (It is kinda like quitting smoking, it takes discipline!)

[HairOfTheDog]

There are legal ways of dealing with suspected stray animals, and performing surgery on them is not one of them.

I dunno... while I'd likely try to find the owner of an apparently well cared-for and lost dog, sometimes strays appear at my door very much in need of emergency care. Just last week, a too-young and very skinny cat appeared at my door, very much in need of help. I took her to a vet and had her looked at, without spending a lot of energy trying to find an owner. Good thing I did, she was very bad off, having a ruptured uterus, dead kittens inside, and unfortunately had to be put down.

My now-departed Zulu, also, appeared as a stray, so skinny and skittish I didn't try to find her owner either. When she was strong enough, I had her spayed.

Our Homer was healthy and happy, and we did try to find an owner... still no owner was found. Had he needed vet care he'd have got it.

Ping!

Other articles with keyword "DOGGIEPING" since 12/29/04

[HairOfTheDog]

I know you it drives you crazy that I have an opinion, but why not just ignore it like I do yours?

Because it's a debate forum. Stop whining whenever someone disagrees with you.

[groanup]

How could someone debark their dog?

For a hundred bucks and an overnight stay at the vet's. It doesn't hurt the dog who still thinks he can bark at will. The bark is still there, just softer. The neighbors will thank you.

[SwordofTruth]

This is terrible. How could someone debark their dog? I have never even heard of this. That is cruel, IMO. This vet should have his license revoked so he can NEVER practice medicine again. What a jerk!

What is cruel is having to listen to your next door neighbor's dogs bark all night long, every night! That is cruel, this is not.

[newgeezer]

Next, I'll be looking for a way to get my neighbors to pick up after their dogs take a dump in my yard.

[KarlInOhio]

Emergency care is one thing. Spaying and debarking is something else entirely. I could possibly understand the spaying after you have tried to find the owner for a reasonable period, have failed and are now working on finding it a new owner.

[groanup]

LOL. It's the law in my town. Now everyone is out walking their dogs carrying bags of s##t.

[yellowdoghunter]

It is not the you disagreed with me it is that you have to make a snarky comment to do it. Which is a pattern with you.

However, I didn't really think you could resist not posting to me as it takes discipline and will power.

[SwordofTruth]

I know you it drives you crazy that I have an opinion, but why not just ignore it like I do yours?

LOL! Now just how are you ignoring his opinion by replying to his opinion? You might want to practice what you preach to others and get some discipline.

[yellowdoghunter]

I just find it cruel. I live in the country and never would anyone that I know of think of doing something like that to their dog. But I guess when you live arms length from someone, it might be a different story. However, I think there are other ways of handling the problem.

[yellowdoghunter]

She initiated it, as always. I never do.

[HairOfTheDog]

Agreed, and I think even this vet agrees, in hindsight.

I'm more alarmed that the vet is unstable enough to think he needs counseling because he did it than the fact that he brought an assumed stray to the clinic.

I think 10 weeks is too young to neuter though. I wonder if the article is a little off on the facts. Wouldn't be a surprise. :~D

[newgeezer]

I sure get tired of picking it up before—or, stepping in it while—I mow the lawn.

Sometimes I wonder if it'd be fun to catch them in the act of leaving it.

[newgeezer]

However, I think there are other ways of handling the problem.

When the other ways have been tried to no avail, we do what we must. Since we humans were given dominion by our Creator, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

[yellowdoghunter]

I hope this lady sues this doctor and gets a lot of money from him.

[HairOfTheDog]

It is not the you disagreed with me it is that you have to make a snarky comment to do it. Which is a pattern with you.

Nothing snarky about it. I said, without any hint of sarcasm, that you were being over-reactive. It's sortof a pattern with you :~D

However, I didn't really think you could resist not posting to me as it takes discipline and will power.

I didn't try to resist posting to you. It's a forum. Your posts have a reply link under them, just like mine do.

Besides, your little resulting temper tantrum has proven to be well worth the price of admission :~D

Have a great day! :~D

[groanup]

I think there are other ways of handling the problem.

Believe me, we tried everything: shock collars, fence panels, etc. It came down to this: keep him inside all day or give him away. He is happier and so are the neighbors.

[TheMom]

Something to think about regarding that pointy headed puppy.

[newgeezer]

I hope this lady sues this doctor and gets a lot of money from him.

Fine.

Conversely, I hope he made every reasonable attempt to get this lady to quiet her dog before taking such drastic action. And, if he did, that she won't get a dime out of him.

People matter more than animals. Yes, even puppies.

[atomicpossum]

A woman has filed a complaint against her neighbor, a veterinarian who, without permission, neutered her 10-week-old puppy and surgically quieted his bark.

Let the punishment fit the crime.

[Delta 21]

Oh, give me a break. The guy used his skill to, what he thought, was helping the puppy, and admitted his mistake, so you want to take him to the cleaners.

Have you ever wondered why some people feed yappy little stray dogs a half pound of hamburger with some ground up glass mixed in, with a cup full of anti-freeze for a chaser?

Keep your pets on a leash or in your yard (under your control) or you dont have a leg to stand on.

[HairOfTheDog]

Have you ever wondered why some people feed yappy little stray dogs a half pound of hamburger with some ground up glass mixed in, with a cup full of anti-freeze for a chaser?

Because they're sick bastards? Exactly how does a statement like that speak to the issue?

[Delta 21]

Just that I have been on the recieving end of a situation such as this and have learned to protect my pets and my property.

The yappy puppy part was my emphasis. I am a strong advocate of disciplined and obediant pets, and yes, it starts with my own.

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, intentionally or not, I think yours sounded like a how-to recipe, to give alternate ideas on how people should deal with strays.

I certainly hope that was not your intent.

[Delta 21]

Not at all, more just to show that there are lots worse things that can happen to your puppy if it gets out of your sight than being de-barked and neutered.

[HairOfTheDog]

Ah - well that point's well taken.

[tob2]

It can be very very noisy at the vet's office. Dogs barking and cats meowing all the time. I love animals but all those animal vocals can get on my nerves in the few minutes I'm there.

[Eaker]

Wonder how this works on wives?

[vetvetdoug]

The old prevailing thought was that the dog/horse/cat had to reach puberty before neutering. The belief was based upon guesswork and crept into the older literature until it was challenged within the last 20 years. Neutering as early as six weeks has been found to have no detrimental effects. The animal matures just as well and there are no adverse effects to any of the organs or urinary tracts. Horses can be castrated as early as the inguinal rings close or are closed enough to not let the abdominal contents herniate through the inguinal canal.

[vetvetdoug]

I just got pinged on this and wanted to make these points:
The vet could have just called the humane society where the pup would have been held for three days or longer to contract parvo or some infectious disease or where it would have been euthanized after three days because of overcrowding
The vet gave this woman a couple of hundred dollars for services for a dog that the woman could/would not keep up responsibly. The vet got it off the street where it could have been eaten by coyotes or run over.
Because I am a vet, I get dogs and cats dropped on me all of the time. After 25+ years in the same location I would bet its been in the hundreds. My compassion is running out for those deadbeat irresponsible animal owners that are too lazy to care for their animals and clandestinely leave their animals at my doorstep for dispensation. Many dogs and cats I have sent to the humane society are dead within the next three days due to euthanasia or disease. So, is the vet that cold hearted? The public should walk in our shoes before they pass judgment.

[HairOfTheDog]

I understand, and agree with your points.

Much worse could have happened, and in fact, her dog got some needed care.

[grellis]

It is an open forum and I'm going to exercise my right to butt my damn nose in. The way that you two go at it whenever your paths cross makes you both read like a couple of snot nosed little school kids in need of some time alone with Mr Paddle. Yellowdog made a pretty polite request, Hair, that in the future, you two simply ignore one another. For crying out loud, please honor that simple request. I bet I'm not the only one who is getting tired of the way you wacky kids hijack threads with your unending kvetching. Enough!