I think its cruel and have only known one dog that actually had it done. It was a sheltie that my uncle had and it was debarked before they got the dog. The poor thing would open his mouth like he was barking but nothing came out but a rough cough sound.
. I honestly didnt think vets or people did this anymore.. (yes call me naive).. however to me its just as cruel as those people who use shock collars to stop dogs from barking. My neighbors have a outside dog, that rarely gets fed, water etc (yes, they have been turned in and nothing was done) and because the girls parents (who live on the other side of them) couldnt handle the dog barking constantly anymore (however when they fed the dog, she quite barking!!) they bought the dog a shock collar, so know does she not only doesnt get fed she gets zapped every single time she barks because she's hungry...
...
Sorry, I got carried away..
If you cant handle a dog barking then you shouldnt own one, plain and simple and you certainly shouldnt own a whole house full!!