Corgi’s past owners silenced him by removing his vocal cords — but the painful aftermath forced his new family to quiet him in another way

His new owner shared that she had avoided judging his former family, yet their choice left a lasting impact on him.

PUBLISHED 4 HOURS AGO

(L) A corgi dog barking. (R) A woman hugging a corgi. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) undefined undefined, (R) Westend61)

In January 2023, a TikTok story shared by user @teresa_jack highlighted how one dog’s life was permanently affected by decisions made before he even found a loving home. Watson, a Corgi, was rescued by his new family after experiencing a painful procedure and losing his first home, leaving him with both emotional and behavioral challenges that his new owners had to navigate. When Watson was welcomed by his new family, he had already undergone the procedure to remove his vocal cords, but the heartbreaking consequences lingered.

An adorable corgi sitting (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Tatiana LM) — An adorable corgi sitting. (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Tatiana LM)

TikTok user Teresa Jack shared clips of Watson while explaining his experience. She described how Watson’s previous family had him undergo a debarking procedure, which surgically removes parts of a dog’s vocal cords to prevent barking. Jack shared in the viral post, “He had an incredibly cruel and harmful procedure done to him called debarking. For years, I have tried not to judge the family who had Watson before we did; however, we have had to live with the consequences of their actions.” The procedure left Watson unable to vocalize normally, and he faced the additional trauma of being rehomed just two weeks later. Jack also explained the possible reason behind the procedure, but still strongly condemned it. "You see, his former family lived in an apartment. I guess they were getting complaints about his barking, and they made a horrific decision and debarked him."

Depressed woman hugging empathetic dog. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images| Photo by The Good Brigade) — Depressed woman hugging empathetic dog. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by The Good Brigade)

The effects of the debarking procedure were severe. Jack explained, “How can a creature survive after such a catastrophic loss? Because he cannot use his voice to let you know when he is uncomfortable, he bites now. So he has to wear a muzzle in public to protect himself from hurting others.” Watson’s new family had to adjust to his behavioral changes while ensuring he remained safe and cared for. The experience left lasting physical and emotional scars on the Corgi, highlighting how a single, misguided decision can alter a pet’s life forever.

A corgi pet dog in a cage. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | SbytovaMN)

“I want to raise awareness about what this procedure did to my dog. It’s illegal in four states, and it should be illegal everywhere. Don’t do this to an animal ever,” Jack said. In her caption, she added, “Don’t patronize veterinarians who provide this service! His life changed forever because people made a choice that wasn’t in his best interest and then abandoned him.” Watson’s story acted as a powerful reminder of the harm caused when convenience outweighs a pet’s welfare.

Many internet users also shared their opinions in the comment section. @goatsensei expressed, "Declawing and debarking is so inhumane." @thedevilsjester wrote, "I feel like there's a slightly more generalized lesson here: don't get pets if you won't put up with everything that they come with genetically." @gilport25 commented, "I can't believe a vet would actually agree to that. As much as they can be annoying, I love my two dogs' unique bark."

For more dog content, follow @teresa_jack on TikTok.