Barking Dog Problem? Will a Canine Devocalization Ban Be Next?

Want to rent this place? Then you'll have to declaw your cat and devocalize your dog. That's what some Californians face when looking for rentals and it's something Assemblyman Pedro Nava wants to put a stop to. His bill, AB 2743, seeks to prohibit landlords and property managers from requiring cat declawing and dog debarking procedures as a condition of rent. However, the bill only applies to rentals that allow pets in the first place -- if a place has a no pets policy, then the subject is null. Now pet-lover and Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Koretz is calling for the city's official support of the Nava's bill. "Devocalizing animals, which is normally done for the convenience of owners to silence animals who are engaging in normal vocalization, is inhumane and unnecessary," he wrote in a resolution. "Devocalizing dogs also poses safety risks for law enforcement officers, due to the possibility of a silenced attack dog being present on property when law enforcement officers have legal cause to enter."

Earlier this year Los Angeles banned cat declawing within city limits. With dog devocalization getting some buzz, thanks to this bill, we can't help but wonder if the city will join New Jersey and Massachusetts to ban it next? And if it does become a reality, properly training your dog will be a must in L.A.: the city is currently looking into citing owners for violating barking dog laws.