TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Miaoli County Animal Care and Health Office is investigating a veterinarian-run kennel in Gongguan Township for allegedly removing the vocal cords of dogs, following reports filed by animal rights advocates on Friday.
Officials inspected the registered breeding kennel, which is operated by a licensed veterinarian and houses around 300 dogs of various breeds. They found that while the dogs had sufficient food and water and appeared to be in normal health, some were unable to bark, suggesting their vocal cords may have been surgically removed, per Liberty Times.
Authorities said a follow-up inspection will be conducted on Monday to review the number of dogs kept, breeding records, and evidence of vocal cord clipping. If the allegations are confirmed, those involved in running the kennel could face penalties for violating the Animal Protection Act.
A veterinarian surnamed Hsieh (謝), who practices in Taichung, is suspected of establishing the kennel primarily for breeding small dogs, including red toy poodles, Chihuahuas, Miniature Pinschers, and Yorkshire Terriers. Hsieh denied wrongdoing, saying only dogs kept before 2017 had undergone the procedure and claimed the report stemmed from complaints by unhappy neighbors.
In the past, some breeders as well as pet owners opted for vocal cord surgery to reduce excessive barking. The procedure, however, has since been condemned as cruel and is internationally recognized as a form of animal abuse.
Miaoli County Animal Care and Health Office Director Chang Chun-yi (張俊義) emphasized that under current pet protection laws, “except for sterilization, no unnecessary or non-medical surgery may be performed on pets.”
Chang added that even if businesses claim vocal cord clipping occurred before 2017, the practice is still prohibited under the Animal Protection Act. Violations may be prosecuted under Articles 5, 6, 7, and 11 of the act, as well as under the Regulations for the Management of Specific Pet Businesses.
Veterinarians who perform vocal cord removal without medical necessity could also face charges of professional negligence causing injury, said Chang.
