A bill that would ban “debarking” – a recognized veterinary practice also known as bark softening – continues to advance in the New York Assembly. With only a few days of session remaining, it is possible this could continue to move quickly.
The bill is pending in the Rules Committee, which is a procedural step before being sent to a vote by the full Assembly. It is important that New York residents contact their State Assemblyperson today and ask them to oppose Assembly Bill 3569. Type your address in the AKC Legislative Action Center at akcgr.org/officials to get the name and contact information for your member of the State Assembly.
This bill would restrict the rights of responsible dog owners to make viable, safe decisions on behalf of their pets in conjunction with their veterinarians. It also could force some owners to relinquish noisy but beloved pets to shelters.
View AKC’s previous alert, as well as the key issues page in AKC’s Legislative Action Center for talking points and more information on this issue.
AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) will continue to closely monitor all legislation impacting New York dog owners and provide updates as they become available. For questions or more information, contact AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org.