So, this post about how the Ang Mo Kio Branch Housing & Development Board advised dog owners to debark dogs that bark too loudly appeared on Facebook on Aug. 27, 2014.

And the Internet got riled:

<div id="fb-root"></div> <script>(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script>

<div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153211767813438&amp;set=a.10150800943993438.506292.522313437&amp;type=1" data-width="620"><div class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153211767813438&amp;set=a.10150800943993438.506292.522313437&amp;type=1">Post</a> by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/shawn.boo.5">Shawn Boo</a>.</div></div>

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It was subsequently shared by Action for Singapore Dogs (ASD)'s Facebook page:

<div id="fb-root"></div> <script>(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script>

<div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/asdsingapore/photos/a.131878033509813.15551.123581824339434/839816239382652/?type=1" data-width="620"><div class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/asdsingapore/photos/a.131878033509813.15551.123581824339434/839816239382652/?type=1">Post</a> by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/asdsingapore">Action for Singapore Dogs (ASD)</a>.</div></div>

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However, debarking a dog is not as straightforward a solution as it might sound. There are strict ethical guidelines for veterinarians in Singapore to follow.

The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) is of the opinion that debarking is recommended as a last resort solution, and deemed to be "unethical unless performed as an alternative to euthanasia".

From AVA's <a href="http://www.ava.gov.sg/NR/rdonlyres/8FA86AD7-F5C8-487C-B636-DD7F304A9DAE/22973/CodeofEthicsforVeterinariansFeb2012.pdf" target="_blank">Code of Ethics for Veterinarians</a>, appendix Annex A, 4.1:

<blockquote>4 DECLAWING OF CATS AND DEBARKING OF DOGS

4.1 Declawing of cats and debarking of dogs are unethical unless performed as an alternative to euthanasia. The veterinarian must be satisfied that all reasonable efforts have been made to manage the problem prior to performing the surgery. A veterinarian should first advise his client on the use of all non-surgical alternatives to manage the cat scratching or dog barking behaviour.</blockquote>

So, this means that even though HDB might think it is a solution, one does not simply walk into a vet and demand one's dog's vocal cords be ripped out.

That just doesn't happen.

A better idea of what debarking entails, read this explanation in <em><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anna-jane-grossman/debarking_b_2160971.html" target="_blank">Huffington Post</a></em>:

<blockquote>This surgical procedure, which is called debarking, devocalization or ventriculocordectomy, involves removing a dog's vocal cords with an incision made either through the mouth or the neck. It doesn't stop a dog from barking -- obliterating their ear drums would probably be more effective. Debarking just makes the barks harder for your neighbors to hear. I recently fostered a dog who had been debarked. She sounded like a veteran smoker who'd swallowed a tincan of coins. It was painful to listen to and far more annoying than run-of-the-mill barking.</blockquote>

And this is how a debarked dog sounds like:

<iframe width="620" height="463" src="// " frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

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<em>Top photo from <a href="http://www.petsforlife.com.sg/news/?p=1697" target="_blank">here</a></em>

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