Virginia subcommittee advances bill banning dog devocalization except for medical need

Sen. Diggs introduced SB707 on the Senate subcommittee floor, saying the bill would make it unlawful for a veterinarian to perform surgical devocalization on a dog unless the procedure is medically necessary. "This is pretty straightforward," the sponsor said when presenting the measure.

Veterinary and animal-welfare groups told the committee they support the bill. Susan Seward with the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association said the procedure "is not even being taught at our vet school here at Virginia Tech anymore" and emphasized the importance of a medical exemption for rare cancer cases. Daphna Nakhminovich, testifying for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, cited positions from major veterinary associations discouraging devocalization and said the procedure "not only [is] painful" but also masks behavioral issues that need other interventions.

Supporters said the practice has been banned in other jurisdictions and urged the subcommittee to act. "When we surveyed our membership, 90 of our respondents, 90 over 97% said, 'I won't do it if somebody comes presents with me because I want to quiet my dog,'" Seward said. Doreen McGuire of Richmond SPCA called the procedure "inhumane" and said shelter veterinarians would not perform it to quiet a dog.

The sponsor offered a substitute to the bill and a committee member moved to report SB707 with the substitute. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote; the chair announced the motion passed and the committee reported the bill with the substitute.

The hearing record shows no organized opposition for SB707. The committee took the action to advance the measure with the substitute, and no further committee scheduling was announced at the close of the hearing.