I’m not going to look it up because I can already imagine and I don’t want actual knowledge of whatever the truth really is

Seen it directly, on a small shih tzu type dog.

They still bark, just no noise, not even like a cough. You can just hear the sound of air forcing out. Kinda like their vocal chords are removed. I don't know the actual procedure.

Very strange when you hear it. Seems very cruel too.

They can still bark, or at least the one dog I've met that had it done to it could, it just sounded more like a cough than a bark.

It's often looked down on as unnecessary surgery, as it does nothing to address why the dog was barking to begin with. There are some groups that support it, as it can be looked at as something that can allow the dog to be out in public without being considered a nuisance or as a procedure that can prevent the dog from being put down.

One day a dog will start making inappropriate dog sign language statements.... Stumpy dogs! You remove the paws humanely and replace them with all sorts of cute accessories! Like those that look like he's wearing shoes? The jumping hook made of stainless and Kevlar interwoven in gold leaf.

Plus don't forget the unsmelling.

Probably mutilating the parts that make dogs able to make sounds.

plus ear clipping. Not like marking trap and releases, but "I want my doggo to have pointy ears!"

You remove the thing that does the thing.

Barking is like talking, it uses some parts in the throat to make the noise the way you want.

I'm not doubting your experience, but I'm curious about the paw damage from scratching? What does that look like?

My currently senior cat I adopted several years ago had been previously declawed. While I'd never have it done, we haven't had any behavioral issues and I haven't noticed any mobility issues or harm to his paws as he does continue to try to scratch surfaces. On the other hand, the cat we adopted last year had been picked up on the streets of another city as a roughly 2yo intact male. We got him a couple weeks after he was fixed. While he's been a great addition, he's far more mouthy in a playful manner, but definitely reacts with his teeth before claws. Just wondering how much is clawed/declaw vs individual personality.

Its popular in some Asian countries also, where they want the dog to look good but not be loud.

Our dog was a rescue from Korea and first 2-3 months she never made a single noise, so we were worried she'd had it done ( per vets info on debarking in Asia).

Thankfully she was just unsure of her new home and now barks at me when its time to go outside, or when she's hungry. But we've been training her to come "talk" to us first, before resorting to barking. And its working.

The same Doug Ford that brought back penned hunting for dogs? That Doug Ford can fuck off.

Most vets won't do it. But some vets love money.

Mutilating dog throats so they can't make barking noises.

Me neither. What a world.

There's no reason to declaw cats. Clip the claws to blunt the points, switch claw-tempting furniture for less satisfying styles and provide a good scratching/climbing piece, or realize you're not an adequate person to have a cat.

They surgically cut their vocal cords.

Cats and scratching is like dogs and chewing. When young they have to be taught what is scratch able and what isn't just like teaching a dog what is a toy and what isn't. A well raised cat doesn't scratch on anything other then scratching posts and other cat toys. A well raised dog doesn't chew on shoes or other non-dog toys. Both might damage things they shouldn't due to stress, but I have had multiple cats and dogs that didn't damage anything they weren't supposed to.

Clipping a cat's claws is easily done, even if you only have a human toenail clipper (turn it sideways because claws are taller than they are wide). It helps if your cat has been trained from kittenhood that clipping involves treats, but if not, just do 1-2 at a time, followed by a treat, instead of all at once. Just get the tips, don't cut down to the quick. You only need to do the "fingers" to lessen scratching damage. Be sure to provide something appealing that they're encouraged to scratch and climb.