A professional dog groomer has shared the reality of what happens to a dog when they have been debarked.
Brianna Maphis, 27, first met Copper when he arrived at her Orlando salon, with a gorgeous golden coat and heartwarming grin. But when he tried to bark, Maphis realized he was different.
“Upon first meeting him, he was a super friendly, lovable golden. You could tell he loves his new mommy very much,” Maphis told Newsweek. “It was only after the groom that he started trying to bark and I heard the little noises he made.”
Copper was previously used as a stud dog by a breeder who had three adult golden retrievers, all of whom had undergone debarking—a surgical procedure to reduce the volume and intensity of a dog’s bark. All three dogs were eventually surrendered to Everglades Golden Retriever Rescue, where Copper was adopted into a loving home.
What Is Debarking?
Debarking, also known as devocalization, is highly controversial. Though still legal in much of the United States, the procedure is banned or strictly regulated in several states, including Massachusetts, Maryland, and New Jersey, where it’s only allowed if medically necessary. California and Rhode Island also prohibit landlords from requiring it as a rental condition.
Veterinary groups like the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) strongly oppose non-medical devocalization, citing risks including infection, scarring, chronic respiratory issues, and behavioral fallout. Many animal behaviorists also warn the practice fails to address the root cause of excessive barking—often anxiety, boredom, or inadequate training.
“Dogs bark to communicate—it’s their way of talking—and it’s no more acceptable to remove portions of their vocal cords than it would be to remove a human’s,” Catie Cryar, a spokesperson for advocacy group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, previously told Newsweek.
Maphis had never encountered a debarked dog before meeting Copper, and the moment inspired her to share it with others. She uploaded a video of Copper and his bark to Instagram which has been viewed over 330,000 times.
“I wanted to share this video because I had never heard or met a debarked dog in real life. After seeing the reaction online, I am so glad that I posted about this because it seems like so many people didn’t even know that this operation existed,” she said. “In my opinion, the best way to make changes is through knowledge. I’m grateful this post is educating and spreading information on this practice.”
While is soft, strained vocals are a sign of his past, Copper is now living his best life in a new family, having enjoyed a groom and finally having his voice heard.
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