Controversy Over Apartment Notice Saying "Get Your Pet Dog's Vocal Cord Surgery"

Proposal of Vocal Cord Surgery as a Noise Prevention Solution
"Surgical Recommendation Encourages Abuse" Faces Ongoing Criticism

At an apartment in Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province, a notice saying "If you are going to keep a pet, please undergo vocal cord surgery" has sparked heated debates among netizens.

On the 13th, photos of the notice, reportedly posted by the management office of an apartment in Suwon-si, have been spreading on online communities.

[Photo by Lee Ki-woo on Instagram]

In the notice, the management office stated, "According to the management regulations (detailed rules on livestock breeding), pets such as dogs cannot be kept without the consent of neighbors on the same floor and the floors above and below," adding, "Neighbors are experiencing significant inconvenience in their residential life due to pet breeding, and complaints arising from this are causing fundamental disruptions to management operations."

They continued, "We ask households keeping pets to consider their neighbors' discomfort and either stop keeping pets, undergo obedience training, or take fundamental measures (such as vocal cord surgery)," and concluded, "Consideration and concession create good neighbors and a pleasant community."

Some netizens who saw this agreed with the management office, saying, "If such a notice is posted, it means the owner is negligent," and "If you can't manage it, you should live in a detached house."

However, most netizens criticized the notice for recommending vocal cord removal surgery for pets as an excessive measure. Comments included, "Officially mentioning vocal cord surgery in a notice is excessive," and "If such 'fundamental measures' are needed for everything, can there be 'fundamental measures' for noise between floors or indoor smoking as well?"

Vocal cord removal surgery for dogs involves cutting the vocal folds that produce sound, preventing the dog from barking. It is known to carry risks of complications such as infection and laryngeal stenosis after surgery.

[Photo by Teddy (Lee Ki-woo) Instagram]

Meanwhile, actor Lee Ki-woo also voiced his opinion on the matter. Posting the photo of the notice on Instagram, he said, "Of course, if someone causes harm to neighbors, correction and training are necessary, and I also believe that dog owners need to strengthen their responsibilities and duties," but added, "However, recommending vocal cord surgery to prevent dogs from barking feels like encouraging abuse."

He explained, "Under the Livestock Products Sanitary Control Act, dogs are not considered livestock. However, under the Livestock Act, dogs are defined as livestock. Additionally, under the Animal Protection Act, they are considered companion animals. Dogs hold dual status as both livestock and companion animals," emphasizing, "If related laws become clearer, confusion among those who live by the law, as well as unnecessary hatred and disputes, will decrease." Lee has been raising a rescued dog named 'Teddy' since January 2021.