Devocalization (debarking): the law by country

Not named. A non-vet may not perform any surgical procedure on an animal outside listed exceptions, and a vet may not perform one for a cosmetic purpose only.

Animal Welfare Act 1992 (ACT), ss 19(1), 19A(3)Checked 04 Nov 2026

Wording read from the government's public consultation draft of the Regulation, because the NSW legislation site refused automated access; the department confirms the Regulation commenced on 2025-02-01 and covers this procedure. Check the made text. A veterinary practitioner only, for a dog 6 months or older, after a failed behavioural treatment plan, with a nuisance-barking order under the Companion Animals Act 1998 and the owner's statutory declaration that the dog will otherwise be destroyed.

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulation 2025 (NSW), cl 28; the Act, s 12(2)In force since 01 Feb 2025Checked 04 Nov 2026

"Removes the voice of an animal". A veterinarian only, believing on reasonable grounds it is a reasonable and necessary therapeutic measure.

Animal Protection Act 2018 (NT), s 24(7)(d), (8)In force since 01 Nov 2022Checked 04 Nov 2026

• May not be sold

A veterinary surgeon only, for the dog's welfare, or on a nuisance abatement notice or the owners' signed notice when it is the only way to stop the nuisance without destroying the dog. Supplying a debarked dog needs a certificate.

Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 (Qld), ss 25, 28Checked 04 Nov 2026

Any animal. A veterinary surgeon only, satisfied it is required for therapeutic purposes or there is no other reasonably practicable way to stop the animal being a noise nuisance. The Animal Welfare Act 2025 (SA), not in operation on 2026-11-04, will repeal these regulations when it starts.

Animal Welfare Regulations 2012 (SA), r 6(1)(a)(i), (2)(a)Checked 04 Nov 2026

• May not be shown

A veterinary practitioner only, under the Code: a public nuisance from persistent barking, the owner's statutory declaration that the only other course is destruction, and the council's written declaration. Showing is limited as for other prohibited procedures.

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (Vic), s 3(1) prohibited procedure (b), ss 9(1)(l), 11A; Code of Practice for the Debarking of DogsIn force since 12 Dec 2007Checked 04 Nov 2026

• May not be shown
• May not be sold
• May not be imported

Exceptions only where indispensable for the intended use or for protecting the animal or others, or to prevent reproduction, as set by regulation under s.24; painful procedures need anaesthesia and aftercare. Non-farm animals born after 1 January 2008 with such procedures may not be imported, acquired, brokered, passed on (s.8(3)) or exhibited (s.8b(2)); taking one abroad for it is prohibited.

Tierschutzgesetz (TSchG), s.7(1), s.8(3), s.8b(2)Checked 04 Nov 2026

Removal of vocal cords. Listed as cruelty to animals. Text read is a municipal copy consolidated to State Gazette no. 53 of 2014; later amendments not checked.

Animal Protection Act (Zakon za zashtita na zhivotnite), art. 7(2)(20)In force since 31 Jan 2008Checked 04 Nov 2026

Professional rule, not a statute: binds CVBC registrants (veterinarians) only, not other people. Only to treat an injury or disease.

College of Veterinarians of BC Bylaws, Part 4, s.231(4) (professional rule; s.231 revised 2023-11-13)Checked 04 Nov 2026

Allowed when a veterinarian operates to treat an injury or disease or for other medical reasons necessary or beneficial to the animal's health (s.28(a)), and for agricultural practices in line with the NFACC codes or other prescribed codes (s.28(b)). Applies to any person, not only veterinarians.

Animal Protection Act, S.N.S. 2018, c. 21, ss.27-28Checked 04 Nov 2026

A veterinarian may do it when they determine it is necessary to treat an injury or disease and document that in the animal's records (s.1(2)). Applies to any person (PAWS Act s.22). Not in force until 2027-01-01.

O. Reg. 152/26 s.1, under Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act, 2019, s.22In force since 01 Jan 2027Checked 04 Nov 2026

Prohibited unless a veterinary surgeon recommends it for therapeutic reasons. Binds owners and custodians, and persons in veterinary medicine for this section (s.2). Covers domestic companion animals: cats, dogs, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, companion pigs.

Regulation respecting the welfare and safety of domestic companion animals and equines, CQLR c. B-3.1, r. 0.1, s.16In force since 10 Feb 2024Checked 04 Nov 2026

Cutting the vocal cords. The enacted NN 102/17 text could not be opened: read from the Government's final bill of 2017, so wording may differ. Exceptions: veterinary health reasons, reproduction control and similar with anaesthesia and analgesia;

Zakon o zaštiti životinja (NN 102/17), art. 9 of the Government's final billChecked 04 Nov 2026

Surgery to change appearance or for other non-therapeutic purposes is banned, in particular these; except where a vet deems it necessary for veterinary reasons or for the benefit of a specific animal and documents it in writing, or to prevent reproduction. Does not displace the pig, laying hen and broiler regulations.

Animal Protection and Welfare Law 46(I)/1994, s.5, para (ζ)Checked 04 Nov 2026

Destroying vocal cords or otherwise limiting vocalisation is listed as cruelty. Text read on a legal publisher's copy of Act 246/1992 Sb. (last amended 1 April 2025), not the official collection.

Act 246/1992 Sb., s.4(1)(g)(1)Checked 04 Nov 2026

Removing all or part of a dog's vocal cords is banned unless required on veterinary grounds.

Bekendtgørelse nr. 607 af 26. maj 2025 om dyrevelfærdsmæssige mindstekrav til hold af hunde, s.11In force since 01 Jul 2025Checked 04 Nov 2026

• May not be shown
• May not be sold

Falls under non-curative surgery on companion animals. A vet may operate in the animal's own interest or to prevent reproduction. Animals with a banned operation may not be sold or displayed at pet sales, shows or exhibitions, though nationals of countries where it is lawful may display animals lawfully operated on there. Date is this version's.

Code rural et de la pêche maritime, art. R214-21In force since 01 Jan 2010Checked 04 Nov 2026

Falls under the ban on removing or destroying organs or tissue; except on veterinary indication or the other s.6(1) cases.

Tierschutzgesetz, s.6(1)Checked 04 Nov 2026

Surgery to change appearance, or not for the animal's health or preventing later harm, is banned, apart from neutering and interventions set by the implementing rules.

Act XXVIII of 1998 on animal protection, s.10(2)Checked 04 Nov 2026

Cutting the vocal cords is banned in the region, save extraordinary non-aesthetic interventions needed by serious health conditions.

Regione Piemonte, L.R. 27/2009, implementing art. 10 of the European ConventionChecked 04 Nov 2026

• May not be shown
• May not be sold

Surgery to change a pet's appearance or for other non-therapeutic aims is banned unless a practising vet prescribes it. Art. 4.1 bars such pets from competitions, markets, auctions and public exhibitions, except with a vet's record of need, permitted-breed docking, or origin in a country where it is lawful.

Animal Protection Law (Dzīvnieku aizsardzības likums), arts 4.1 and 18Checked 04 Nov 2026

• May not be shown

Bodily interventions are banned unless medically necessary or designated; ch. 2 designates none of this kind. Animals with a banned intervention may not enter shows or competitions.

Wet dieren, arts 2.8, 2.15, 2.16; Besluit diergeneeskundigen, ch. 2Checked 04 Nov 2026

Our reading, not the law's words. The Act named dog debarking a restricted surgical procedure until that definition and s 17 were repealed on 2021-05-09, and the Regulations do not name it. A significant surgical procedure is vet-only, judged by s 16 criteria (operating below the mucous membranes, sensitive soft tissue, significant pain); surgery on the vocal folds meets them, but no text says so expressly.

Animal Welfare Act 1999, ss 15, 16, 21In force since 09 May 2021Checked 04 Nov 2026

Non-therapeutic surgery to change an animal's appearance is banned, and is an offence punishable by 6 months to 3 years or a fine (added by amendment in force 19 May 2022).

Law 205/2004 on animal protection (republished), art. 6(2)(i) and art. 25(1)(a)Checked 04 Nov 2026

Removing animals' vocal cords is a prohibited procedure. Consolidated text of 2013; later amendments up to ZZZiv-G of 2025 were not checked.

Zakon o zaščiti živali (ZZZiv-UPB2, Uradni list 38/2013), art. 20Checked 04 Nov 2026

All mutilation and permanent body modification is banned, except therapeutic need or limiting reproduction, and ear-marking community cats. Art. 1.3 excludes hunting dogs, packs and hunting auxiliaries from this Act.

Ley 7/2023 de protección de los derechos y el bienestar de los animales, art. 27(b)In force since 29 Sept 2023Checked 04 Nov 2026

Falls under operative procedures. Operative procedures are banned unless justified by veterinary medical reasons; the Board of Agriculture may make exceptions.

Djurskyddslag (2018:1192), ch. 4 s.2Checked 04 Nov 2026

Covered as interference with sensitive tissues; not in the permitted list. Medical treatment is outside the offence.

Animal Welfare Act 2006, s.5; Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/1100)In force since 06 Apr 2007Checked 04 Nov 2026

Section 5(5) takes any procedure carried out by a veterinary surgeon, for diagnosis or for medical treatment outside the offence, so a lay person may not do this at all. Not on the lay-person list for cats and dogs.

Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, s.5In force since 02 Apr 2012Checked 04 Nov 2026

Covered as interference with sensitive tissues; Schedules 8 and 9 list no such procedure. Medical treatment is outside the offence.

Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, s.20; Prohibited Procedures on Protected Animals (Exemptions) (Scotland) Regulations 2010 (SSI 2010/387)In force since 30 Apr 2007Checked 04 Nov 2026

Covered as interference with sensitive tissues; not in the permitted list. Medical treatment is outside the offence.

Animal Welfare Act 2006, s.5; Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (Wales) Regulations 2007 (WSI 2007/1029)In force since 27 Mar 2007Checked 04 Nov 2026

Dogs and cats. Only a licensed veterinarian, with anesthesia, certifying in writing to the owner that it is medically necessary to treat a physical illness, disease or injury or correct a congenital abnormality causing harm or pain. Misdemeanor.

Md. Code, Criminal Law s.10-625Checked 04 Nov 2026

Dogs and cats. Only a licensed veterinarian when medically necessary to treat an illness, disease or injury or correct a congenital abnormality causing pain or harm. Up to 5 years or $2,500. Veterinarians keep records and report each one to the board. Read on the Animal Legal & Historical Center's copy; it may not show later amendments.

Mass. G.L. c.272 s.80 1/2Checked 04 Nov 2026

Surgical debarking or silencing of a dog, or causing it, is a third-degree crime except to protect the dog's life or health when a licensed veterinarian considers it necessary. Official code site could not be opened from here; text read at FindLaw, shown as current to 2024-01-01.

N.J. Stat. s.4:19-38Checked 04 Nov 2026

Only a licensed veterinarian with the dog anesthetized; no medical-need condition in the text. Whoever procures it must keep a record until the wound heals.

18 Pa.C.S. s.5542(b)Checked 04 Nov 2026

Veterinarians may not surgically devocalize a dog unless needed to treat or relieve an injury, disease or congenital defect causing or likely to cause physical pain or harm.

Code of Virginia s.54.1-3814(C) (2026 c.829)Checked 04 Nov 2026

Misdemeanor unless done by a licensed veterinarian using accepted veterinary surgical protocols.

RCW 16.52.095Checked 04 Nov 2026