Surgical Procedures for Resolving Undesirable Behavior

Normal companion animal behaviors such as barking in dogs and even biting in some circumstances, and scratching and spraying in cats, may be considered very undesirable by their guardians. The ASPCA believes that a combination of training and environmental management is the appropriate way to resolve these so-called nuisance behaviors [see Training Aids/Methods and Behavioral Pharmacology]. The ASPCA does not support the use of surgical procedures that attempt to circumvent the behavioral issue while exposing pets to unnecessary discomfort and risk.