Jefferson County, Alabama: You are a Puppy Mill If...

You might be a "puppy mill" if...you own more animals than someone else thinks you should.
You might be a "puppy mill" if...you don't adhere to the same standards of care that someone else thinks you should.
And...hold on to your hats, folks, because this next one is new to me!

You might be a "puppy mill" if...you happen to own Jack Russell Terriers AND drive a truck with a camper shell and said animals are VISIBLE in their crates to law enforcement, who just happen to be driving behind you while traveling through the Birmingham, Alabama area.

Let the Criminalization of Transporting Dogs Begin...
Over the weekend a story began circulating on dog related email lists regarding a lady and her daughter on their way to a Jack Russell Terrier Trial in Germantown, Tennessee.  While traveling through Jefferson County, Alabama, the exhibitor was stopped by local law enforcement.

According to the dog owner, the policeman asked her if she knew why she was stopped and she told them, "No I don't".   He said, "I stopped you because I saw you had dogs in your truck".

In an email sent by Lt. Randy Christian, Office of Sheriff, Jefferson County, Alabama, "She was stopped driving a Truck with a Camper Shell. Multiple dogs were visible in rear camper window. This Captain is familiar with people who run "puppy mills" and these were all the same breed and were puppies. The 3 visible in the back window were visible panting."

So, here we have it spelled out for us in black and white:  in Jefferson County, Alabama, if you are driving a truck with a camper shell AND have dogs visible in the back (which were in crates by the way), that is now probable cause for law enforcement to stop you? 

In case some of you need it spelled out, Jefferson County law enforcement has CRIMINALIZED the mere possession of having dogs and puppies in YOUR vehicle.  And unless I missed the memo, there is NO legal definition--in any law, in any state--of "puppy mill". 

There are many, many more obervations about this entire incident, but I will save those for another day.

Victimizing the Victim by Those That SHOULD Know Better...
I guess being in the trenches fighting the animal rights nazis can make you crazy after awhile because that is what seems to have happened to many people whom I NEVER dreamed would victimize this lady. 

Accusations of "it's a hoax", "you're a liar"....I would expect that reaction from the bunny huggers and the animal rights diehards, but not from the very people who are accutely aware of this exact type of harrassment taking place all over the country!

The bottom line is this...what happened to this dog owner is proof positive that the falsely named "Humane Society of the United States" has taken their hatred of dog breeders--and therefore the arbitrary term "puppy mill"--to now criminalize the act of having dogs and puppies in your vehicle too?.  We read about breeders being raided and harrassed at their homes on a weekly basis it seems like; people being criminalized for breeding animals, for crying out loud!  Or for having too many animals!

I can't reiterate this point enough:  this woman was stopped FOR HAVING DOGS IN HER VEHICLE.  Period.  End of story.  Panting dogs my ass.  Just how close was this officer driving behind her anyways? The dogs were in crates, how in the hell could anyone **know** from driving behind the vehicle exactly whether or not ALL the dogs were the same breed--much less if they are puppies or young adults.

Furthermore, it may come as a total shock to some of you, but there are dog events in this country that do not REQUIRE YOU to pre-enter.  How many of you fellow exhibitors take your entry confirmation WITH YOU to the dog show? 

Oh, and for all the AKC dog show snobs that say that folks that choose to participate in UKC, AHBA, or in any other venue (other than AKC) are "puppy mill" people, or "responsible breeders don't participate in those lesser registries events.."    GET OVER YOURSELVES and please don't offer to help in the fight for animal ownership rights...we have enough enemies as it is from the AR side.

Tennessee Dog Breeders Were Thrown Under the Bus

The following was written by Carlotta Cooper.  It makes me sick that the fancy still does not "get it" and is willing to form unholy alliances with the HSUS.  Now that a "magic number" has been established into law, the next step will be ANOTHER piece of legislation to LOWER that number.  That IS the HSUS game plan; and the fancy played right into their hands.
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I was asked to provide a little more information about why we lost with the commercial breeder bill in Tennessee. These are my views on the matter.

Losing with this bill is devastating. We have people who have been fighting the legislation who are now trying to decide which dogs to have put to sleep or looking for friends and family to take some of their dogs so they will be under the 20 female dog limit and won't have to be inspected.   We have some people who want to move out of the state.

I think the primary reason we lost was because our dog people were divided. Everything in Tennessee centers around Nashville and that's where the decisions are made. Last year HSUS carried out a raid on a
breeder near Nashville with 700 dogs. They got the Nashville Kennel Club and some other local clubs involved in helping them. Ever since that time there have been some core people in those clubs who were
convinced that fighting "puppy mills" was their primary mission. The new HSUS state director was very smart in getting these kennel club members involved in the raid and making friends with them.

At the same time the Nashville Kennel Club, led by AKC judge Jon Cole, was heading up a new dog federation in Tennessee (Tennessee Federation of Dog Clubs). They had about a dozen member clubs from
around the state and enough money to hire a lobbyist. HSUS convinced them last winter that a bill against "puppy mills" was going to pass and that they would be better off helping to write it. So, the Federation sat down with them, had some input and has supported the bill since that time, with just a few exceptions. That was 12 of the biggest clubs in the state. Very little information was actually given to the members of the clubs. Delegates voted to accept what Jon Cole and the others decided. All meetings were held in the Nashville area.


So, it came down to the Nashville area clubs deciding things for the entire state with very little input from anyone else.


The rest of us -- Responsible Animal Owners of Tennessee (mostly in Memphis and the west) and Tennessee Pet-Law (a lot of people in east Tennessee and across the state) were picking up everyone else opposed to the commercial breeder bill.


HSUS was able to say that they had the blessing of show breeders and others with the bills. They claimed to have stakeholder input which wasn't true -- there were no real commercial breeders involved in writing the bill at all. But they did have the Federation on their side.

I contacted Jon Cole as soon as I heard that he was working with HSUS on the bill in December to ask him to oppose it. I told him the reasons why he shouldn't be working with HSUS. I told him why he should be protecting breeder rights. I told him we should be fighting breeder licensing, not trying to get it. I told him that
they should have real commercial breeders on their committee if they wanted to have a fair bill. He blew me off. I know that I'm not the only one who contacted him and told him these things.

I think if the Federation had opposed the bills and informed their membership about them so they could help fight them, the bills would have died in committee. We certainly could have used their lobbyist working for us. If they had even fully informed their membership of what they were doing I think the membership would have tried to stop them.

We got ZERO help from AKC. No alerts sent out. No messages posted on their home page. They posted a couple of messages about what was happening in Tennessee -- buried deep in their government relations
section. But they never even sent them to me so I could post them on the Tennessee Pet-Law list or send them to e-mail lists. They frequently posted inaccurate, out-of-date information in their Take Command newsletter, even though I was sending them updates. I wrote Sheila Goffe several times explaining the situation and asking for help. I felt like I was "handled." The AKC basically continued on the same course.


Instead, they(the AKC) stayed in contact with the Tennessee Federation of Dog Clubs and encouraged them to compromise on the bill throughout the process. Most of the time they claimed to be Neutral. For a few weeks I convinced AKC to oppose the bill, but as soon as one or two amendments were made they went back to being Neutral.


NAIA wasn't much help either. They also worked with the Federation and encouraged them to negotiate rather than fight the bill.

Those of us fighting the bills could have done more. We were learning as we went. I wish that we had been able to attend the committee meetings. We were only able to make a presentation at two committee hearings (and our presenter wasn't treated very kindly at one of them). But Tennessee is a looong state and it's hard to convince people to drive 6-7 hours to be there for a two-minute presentation. We couldn't pull together any kind of demonstration to hold at the Capitol either.

It would have been better if we could have lobbied in person. We discovered that our e-mails and faxes were being deleted and thrown out. Only phone calls had any effect at all. Even then, a representative could assure you that he was opposed to the bill and then vote for it. We had staff completely lie to us. When a dozen people called the governor's office and spoke to his assistant to tell them they were opposed to the bill, I called and spoke to the same woman. She told me they hadn't received any calls about the bill.


We looked for assistance from dozens of outside groups that had similar interests but, though some were sympathetic, none were really willing to help.


I'm sure it didn't help that Wayne Pacelle personally went to Nashville to lobby for the bill.


So, those are some of the reasons that we lost. I hope some of this is helpful for others. Again, these have been my impressions from working on the commercial breeder bill since December of last year, before it was fully written. Some people may disagree with me and take offense but this is the truth.


I wanted to add just one more thing about the situation with the Tennessee Federation of Dog Clubs. From what I understand Mr. Cole and a small group made a unilateral decision in late 2008 to work with HSUS to write the commercial breeder bill that was so harsh to breeders. This was all done before the bill was introduced into the legislature. It was done without the knowledge or consent of the other Federation member clubs.

 AFTER the bill was written and introduced Mr. Cole took a vote at the Federation's annual meeting in March to see if the Federation as a whole would support the bill.

There was one dissenting club (bless them) and a few clubs with delegates who were not present, but the Federation voted to support the bill. Later there were clubs within the Federation who voiced their opposition to the bill but they didn't have the votes to turn the Federation around and make them oppose the bill in its entirety.

By that time the damage had been done and they could only respond to each amendment as it was written.


Permission to cross-post this message and my previous message on Why We Lost In Tennessee.

Carlotta Cooper

Dog Owners UNITE: We Must Help Ohio Farmers Beat HSUS at Its Own Game!

I've said it for a long time now:  if we are going to win the war for our rights regarding our animals, it's crucial that we all stick together and that includes farmers and dog people alike.

There is currently a war being waged on the very hands that feed us, yes, YOU! And your dogs.  The target isn't just dog breeders anymore, America's farmers are being threatened by the radical animal rights group, the Humane Society of the United States.

Just as the HSUS knows NOTHING about animal husbandry issues relating to dog breeding, they know LESS about what it takes to care for and raise good healthy food for Americans.  That's why the farmers in Ohio have taken the bull by the horns and are proposing the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board whereby decisions concerning the care and raising of livestock would actually be made by those that KNOW and not by a multi-million dollar animal rights front group, the Humane Society of the United States.

HSUS has waged war on Ohio farmers and now the FARMERS are fighting back.  THEY NEED OUR HELP!  If you are a resident of Ohio, it is CRITICAL that you contact your state Representative AND your state Senator and tell them YOU SUPPORT Ohio's farmers' and the Ohio Farm Bureau and to please VOTE YES on SJR 6 and HJR 6.  The vote is Wednesday, June 24!

Dog owners and breeders, this is a call to ACTION.  How many times have you lamented "What can I do?" "We have to stop HSUS!"....NOW is the chance to STOP the 900lb HSUS gorilla in Ohio.  Even if you are not a resident, please take a moment and write or call the Ohio legislators and tell them that you support farming and that decisions regarding farming and farm animals belong with those that know best:  REAL FARMERS, not the Humane Society of the United States.

Arkansas: The Vet's Views-Could YOU Be Raided by HSUS?

The following was written by a Veterinarian following the HSUS raid on an Arkansas dog kennel.  There are always two sides to every story.

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The Vet's Views

Paris Veterinary Clinic

Could You Be Raided?

By James E. Shearer

Recently a kennel owner in our area was "raided" by the Humane Society of the United States and the Arkansas Chapter of the organization according to the Paris Express. The Northwest Arkansas - Arkansas Democrat Gazette ran at least 4 days of articles. One was from an interview with the owners. There are many things that are disturbing about this.


First there are some that have a biased opinion of breeding dogs. Animal husbandry has been practiced for centuries. This includes selective breeding to develop better animals for intended uses. We have developed rescue dogs, sentry dogs, retrievers, bird dogs, stock dogs and different natures pets to name a few. The activist buzz name is "puppy mill". How do people describe your hobbies, habits or business if they personally despise it? Animal husbandry, as well as agricultural practices, in this nation have been able to provide for our needs and much of the world's. Animal neglect and cruelty is not profitable or productive. If the few radical people had their way we would be in desperate circumstances.


Second, our nation was founded on personal initiative and personal property with property rights. We are a civilized nation and respect the rule of law. Your freedom ends where other's freedom begins. We have democratically set laws for the protection of all systems to execute these laws we have deemed necessary. While the system isn't perfect it has exceeded all others. We do seem to be having problems with eccentric groups that exploit the system to their desires that are far from the "spirit" of our laws - that is - our wholesome intentions. There are times private property is used to do evil things and we, by necessity, deal with these cases. However, under the same rules invasion of private property can be affected by activists that have the time and means to use against anyone of normal or less resources doing their best to be a productive member of our society. Somehow reason and public opinion will overcome. A free-unbiased press with! reporters for integrity and a reasonably informed public is necessary for a free society to operate.
 
Third, standards of acceptable facilities and care of animals have been established and are applicable under specified conditions. A USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) kennel license is required to sell puppies to wholesale brokers. Other licenses are involved for transportation, exhibition, research and many other defined activities. The Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare regulations are the legal basis for the licensing. No license is required if it isn't included or is exempted in the regulations. It is difficult to insure personal freedoms and yet regulate requirements. That is why we go through debate in our law making. There are always some that are not satisfied.

Forth, the public perception of an incident is greatly influenced by the publicity. Many things are dealt with involving only those affected. Those possess more complete knowledge close to the situation and farther broadcast is of no other benefit. The curious and nosey are forever wanting to know and crusaders with their cause are postured to capitalize on these events.

Fifth, accurate newspaper and T.V. reporting has its hurdles. The most difficulty that I perceive is the source and reliability of facts. The only ones that want to be quoted are the ignorant or the ones with a cause. The victim has more pressing concerns. The officials are also tediously tending to business. Most situations are far more involved than can accurately be represented. Tedious research is really needed to be fair. In fairness to the media, it would be nearly impossible to be fully informed in every case, which they are called upon to report. Guilty is often the verdict in the news at the time but the actual conclusion in the end is the opposite. I don't know if we excuse them as readily as we do the forecasters. However, an experienced reporter should be able to see a spoon fed set up.

Sixth, the law enforcement is only an instrument that is responsible to act on "credible" information with a due process that is designed to apprehend the guilty with the evidence. A judge as a safe guard against persecution issues warrants, and yes gives a means to proceed. By the time a warrant is executed all bases should be covered. However there are people that exploit this process.

In the case of the raid on the Krupczinski's kennel and farm there is a lot more to the story. There were problems and opinions as to the progress on the problems. Dor several years outside activists have repeatedly assumed their business did need action from outside. There was a herd of miniature horses on the farm that were basically semi-wild but seen to and well fed. An unnamed onlooker invoked the state Coggins law by reporting them to the state. Fifty three horses were caught and tested and sold because of the situation and difficulty of annual testing. The cost was over $20.00 each. They certainly weren't the only horses in Arkansas that didn't have their annual test. Harassing visits were made to the USDA licensed kennel by activists. The sheriff was involved because of the adversarial nature of the acquisitive people wanting to inspect for themselves. The Krupczinski's had difficulty with the USDA inspectors and after a time dropped their license according to them but was recorded by the USDA as suspended (or revoked). The license required that a veterinarian be listed that provided a health care plan for vaccinations, parasite control and emergency care. A minimum of annual visits is required. I was the veterinarian that served them. Beside the annual inspections we have a record of 80 animals that were brought to the clinic for various medical attention. I'm aware of other cases taken to other veterinarians in the area. As a practicing veterinarian I never liked to be placed in the position of being the solution of the USDA's responsibility and yet being paid by the client. I view myself as serving the needs of our community. I do what I love, but also what is necessary. I was miss-reported by the Arkansas Democratic Gazette as one of the complaints at the humane Society received July '07. I did visit the kennel for a USDA inspection (requested by the Krupczinski's and required by the USDA inspector) in January 2007. I recommended that they needed to reduce the number of dogs considering their health and the lack of available help. We did euthanize three dogs that day. I never complained to Humane Society. Their inspection was past due, but I view the appointment to be the responsibility of the kennel owner. After all, they may choose to use a different veterinarian. Most of the kennels I serve use other veterinarians besides me on occasions for various reasons. I make it a point not to inspect their house - that isn't part of the licensed kennel and none of my business. The picture in the Paris Express with a Humane Society worker wearing a hazmat suit holding a little puppy was designed to express horrid conditions. The Humane Society provided this picture to the paper. One picture is worth 1000 words. Unfortunately the Humane Society was the source of the information to the news. In the Arkansas Democratic Gazette 28 mini horses (on inventory list) and one larger horse was reported as 36. Many were said to be pregnant as if that was a fault. However, they were reported to being rescued by a miniature horse breeder in North Dakota. I suspect that the medical attention the horses needed was coggins testing and vaccinations.

Medical attention sounds worse. The Arkansas Democratic Gazette did give an interview with the Krupczinski's and cut them some slack for their age and health. They also reported 130 dogs being placed by and through the Sebastian County Humane Society in the last 6 months. 309 were taken. They reported none of the animals were euthanized. Not true, I had to euthanize a cat that had it's jaw broken during its capture. I performed this service for the Humane Society by the request of Desiree Bender. They haven't picked up the extra large carrier they brought it in.

According to the sheriff's inventory there were 309 dogs, 8 cats, 5 birds, 29 horses and 10 turtles taken. 71 dogs were reported as taken from the house. That leaves 238 dogs to be elsewhere. The kennels had 2 sundowner kennel buildings with a total of 64 indoor-outdoor units. There was a well-constructed building with 16 indoor-outdoor units. A second building had 8 units of indoor-outdoor for larger dogs. Besides these were 14 outdoor units with doghouses. Besides these grouped units there were 4-6 other outdoor units with houses - 2 very large. With only 2 dogs per unit there is ample room for 216 dogs. USDA standards will allow 3 to 4 dogs per unit depending on the size of the dogs.


Leonard Krupczinski is a retired decorated Marine of the Korean and Viet nam wars and Caterpillar repair mechanic. You will never meet a more capable or creative individual. Until his health gave way his age didn't stop him from out-working 3-4 young men. I am saddened to see this couple have their property taken and be humiliated in public. I am especially upset that a national "charitable" organization can inflict suffering in the name of Humanity. Surely we can work things out better than this.

Same Battle, Different Dirty Words: Farmers and Dog Breeders Share Common Enemy

Play along:  "Factory Farm" is to agriculture as .....(blank) is to dog breeders..."

The correct answer is:  "puppy mill". 

The buzz word "factory farm" is intended to solicit the same emotional response from the public as the "P" word.  We all know that the Humane Society of the United States are masters when it comes to swaying public opinion, even if the "information" used to sway said public is full of unscientific facts based solely on emotion, or just outright lies.  Substitute baby pigs and cows for puppies in cages and *bingo*...another campaign against animal ownership and use is born.

The public at large is sorely disconnected from where -and how- their food is raised.  Proof of this fact is evident in the passage last November of California's Proposition 2, a ballot initiative driven by and lobbied for by the HSUS.  Words like "gestation crates", "factory farms", "tax cheats" and images of chickens in cages were enough fodder to put California meat producers out of business by the year 2015.  If Californians want their meat and eggs imported from foreign countries such as Mexico, then you got it, Baby!  But when the citizens of California that live on fixed incomes can no longer afford to buy eggs or milk or meat, be sure to send good ol' Wayne Pacelle and the HSUS a "Thank You" card.  When the California producers of eggs, milk and meat can no longer afford to stay in business and pay their share of taxes (which contributes to the state's bottom line), be sure and send a "Thank You" card to Wayne and company.

The farmers of the United States are under attack just as dog breeders.  Once again the animal radical organization, the HSUS, is out to demoralize and criminalize the act of animal ownership and proven animal husbandry methods.  If Wayne and company want "cage free eggs" and "free range whatevers", then that option is available to Mr Pacelle or any other person that can afford the higher prices.  Uh, wait a minute...Wayne is a vegan.  That means he doesn't eat or use animals in any way.  Hmm.  I smell a minority agenda being forced on the American public and that stinks.

So why is the HSUS assaulting farmers and the agriculture community?  Because as Wayne Pacelle has stated, ""We're against animal fighting and killing animals for fur…. We want Americans to eat fewer animals," Wayne Pacelle, DVM News, Jan 1, 2008. 

And this:  "We have no ethical obligation to preserve the different breeds of livestock produced through selective breeding. . One generation and out. We have no problem with the extinction of domestic animals. They are creations of human selective breeding." Wayne Pacelle, Senior VP of Humane Society of the US, formerly of Friends of Animals and Fund for Animals, Animal People, May, 1993.

The war for our rights as American citizens has been waged by the wealthiest animal radical (rights) organization in the world.  Will YOU stand up and help defeat the 900lb HSUS gorilla?  Or bow down and kiss the feet of the HSUS bully?  The HSUS plan of attack is this:  elimination via incrementalism.  Each bill that is introduced is intended to make it harder, if not impossible, for farmers to raise meat, or for dog breeders to continue producing puppies. 

Stand up, proud and tall, farmers.  You feed America.  I trust farmers and am greatful for the long hours put in on a daily basis to care for our meat supply.  The agriculture community and the dog community must join forces to fight and win this battle.  If we don't, the HSUS will surely prevail.

Dog Breeders : Signs of the times

There is no doubt that America has changed in the past decade regarding animal husbandry issues.  (No) thanks to Animal Radical (AR) groups like the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the words "dog breeder" is now another "4-letter word".  It has become a sin to "buy from a breeder" rather than "adopt from a shelter".  One is considered "mean, cruel and abusive" if a dog is made to live outside.  When did this happen?  Why have we allowed these Animal Radicals to dictate to us what is "bad"?  And yes, we DID allow this to happen every time a donation was made to the HSUS, PETA and their ilk.  We DID allow this change in public perception every time we remained silent when a fellow dog breeder was being raked across the coals for breeding their dogs and heaven forbid! For selling their puppies!

On a weekly basis, I read story after story of dog breeders living in fear and being harrassed.  For what, you ask?  Simply because they choose to breed their dogs, or they own "more" dogs than anyone could possibly "ever" care for.  According to whose judgement or to what standards?  Why is it automatically "assumed" that anyone who owns/breeds more than "insert number here" of dogs is "bad"/neglectful/abusive?  (I refuse to use the "P.M" word, tho that is what people are often called when one owns "more dogs"/"breeds more litters" than anyone "should")  Dog owners and breeders are being forced to go into hiding in Los Angeles, Louisville, KY, and points in between due to overzealous animal control and do-gooder Animal Radical sympathizers.  Makes me almost wish we could return to a time when all we had to fear from the 'net was stalkers...

I read on a daily basis where breeders have removed their addresses, phone numbers and other information that would identify them from their websites.  This is a double edged sword:  people are forced to do this in an effort to protect themselves, but it makes it even harder for potential puppy buyers.  Wonder where those puppy buyers end up going if they can't find a breeder in their area? 

In today's world with the power of the internet, information is a click away:  any information, including where you live, your phone number, aerial photos of YOUR house and property.  Information that is readily available to friends and foes alike.  Information that the Animal Radicals can easily access and use to find YOU and YOUR dogs.  It doesn't matter that your house and dogs and property are immaculately kept.  It doesn't matter if all of your ducks are in a row with paperwork about your dogs and breeding program.  All it takes is one whacked out Animal Radical that doesn't like the fact that your "poor doggies" are "forced" to breed, or are kept in a crate, or that they like to play in mud and you haven't had a chance to give them a bath yet. 

Are we, as a society, truly THAT weak that we have allowed groups such as the HSUS dictate to us what is right or wrong?  Remember folks:  this is still the United States of America, where the great Constitution and the Bill of Rights guarantee us the RIGHT TO OWN PROPERTY.  Too many people have forgotten that fact and are willing to throw away the RIGHTS that many, many soldiers have fought and died for.  And for what?  Someone "else's" ideas of how many dogs I can own or breed or sell? 

The times have changed, and as long as we allow the Animal Radical groups such as the HSUS to dictate to us how we should/should not breed/own, etc, our dogs, it will only get worse.  I, for one, am not willing to let that happen, and neither are the residents of the great states of Oklahoma, Colorado, Florida, Arkansas, and many other states that have stood up and made their voices heard loud and clear when legislation was introduced this year by saying, "NO! NO! NO! You will NOT tell me how many dogs I can own or sell or breed.  You will NOT force me to spay/neuter my dogs!"

We can change the tide:  just stand up and say, "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!"

HSUS: Criticism Equals Exploiters

In Wayne P's latest blog post, The HSuS Strategy for Success, Wayne once again tap-dances around the truth regarding all those millions in donations.  Why not just come right out and admit that the HSUS is nothing more than a animal radical lobbying group hell-bent on turning Americans into vegans?  Why not admit that the HSUS is NOT an umbrella group for animal shelters across the United States?  Why not admit that the HSUS has NO policing/government authority?

Because the donations would dry up, that's why.  So, in order to maintain hefty bank accounts and use that money to lobby away our constitutional rights, they choose instead to feed off of the very confusion their name invokes.  That's NOT honest any way you slice it. 

Wayne further whines in his blog about those of us that dare to criticize HSUS, calling such critics sympathizers/supporters/fronts for "dog fighters", "puppymills", "factory farms", the "meat industry", ad nauseum.  Well, I AM a critic of you, Mr Pacelle, and the vegan front group you lead, so if that makes me part of a "front group" I suppose I am.  Yes, indeed.  I am part of the "front group" for Americans that REFUSE to allow you and your minority ideals of veganism to strip us of our constitutional rights. (and if you want to call us by a name, then I guess you can call us "Freedom Fighters")

Does that mean I favor dog fighting, animal abuse or cruelty?  Absolutely not.  But it will be a cold day in hell before I stand with the likes of you and your ilk, Mr Pacelle, because unlike you and your lobbying organization, I believe in due process of law, the constitution of the United States, the right to hunt, fish, trap, wear fur, go to circuses and rodeos, and to breed and own pets of my choosing.

Call us exploiters all you like, but perhaps you should take a good long look in the mirror before you do.  After all, playing on the emotions of the animal loving public to fund a hidden vegan agenda is expoitation.  And just a little fraudulent.  Lobbying for legislation that allows for warrantless inspections/searches of private property, or for legislation that calls for the taking of one's personal property (i.e, animals) without due process or compensation shows us just what little regard you have for our constitution, or for HUMAN rights.

Keep on bloggin', Mr P, because every time you do your true colors come through loud and clear.

Another Animal Lover Has Seen The Light (Kleenex Moment)

The airing of the WSB-Atlanta video along with the blogging efforts of AR-HR.com, PetDefense , yours truly and the Center for Consumer Freedom website have helped to awaken more animal lovers' eyes! 

Since the truth has come to light about where the HSUS donations REALLY go, I have received emails thanking me for helping to spread the truth . But this one made me get all teary-eyed and feel all warm and fuzzy:

"Wow! I honestly thought the humane society of the United States was a real agency for the government or something.  I have supported them for the last five years with what money I could, but now that I know my donation won't be helping animals in shelters they will never see another dime of my money."

See, guys..persistence does pay off. 

Now, where is my tissue...

Just Bad Luck or Something Devious?

Welcome to my nightmare. 

The problems with my blog and, in particular, the link to the "HSUS 900lb Gorilla" post, began hours after I published it to the web.  Users reported error messages when trying to access the post, or in some cases the window would just close on its own.

I'm not that technical of a person when it comes to "compromising" or "hijacking" a website /blog/whatever.  And it may just be a case of bad luck.  However, this afternoon my computer "fell ill" under mysterious reasons causing me to lose EVERYTHING on my hard drive: pictures of dogs no longer with me, thousands of documents, email addresses...gone.  Vanished.

I am having this looked into for whatever it will be worth.  In the meantime, I am using a backup computer to ensure the TRUTH is kept alive.  All of this may just be bad luck, but it could also be a case of trying to shut me up.

For those that know me personally, you know that ain't gonna happen!  It takes more than being "watched" by the animal radicals (AR); it takes more than "intimidating" messages...not even a total computer crash will stop me from exposing the animal radicals (AR) and their agenda.

Keep the TRUTH alive.  Forward and forward AGAIN the links to the video HSUS does NOT want in the public eye.  We are making HUGE headway into exposing the masters of deception.  The WSB Atlanta station gave us a huge helping hand...don't drop the ball.

Article Hijacked Evidentally The Truth Hurts, Especially Million Dollar HSUS Bank Accounts

Evidentally yesterday's blog post entitled, "How To Kill the 900LB HSUS Gorilla in 60 Seconds or Less" has gotten some folks upset.  So upset in fact that the link to that post has been tampered with.  It is still available on the main page, but links to that post do not work.

This tells me the HSUS does NOT want any reference to the telling WSB Atlanta expose floating around anywhere.  It also tells me the HSUS is running scared for the first time.  And with good reason:  their hefty bank accounts are being threatened because that little video expose told the truth about how their donations AREN'T used.

I won't back down.  I will not be silenced. The link to this post will probably get tampered with too.  That's fine.  I will keep posting and reposting a thousand times over if necessary.  PLEASE copy and paste this blog post into an email and forward it far and wide.  WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE!  Keep spreading the truth!

 The truth is out there on the web.  Here are the links again to the video the HSUS does NOT want the public to see.

The PetPac copy of the transcript of the broadcast, including the statement that PetPac has been told to take the transcript down:
http://www.petpac.net/news/headlines/story_exposing_hsus_buried_read_transcript/

The high definition (55 meg) version on Vidoosh, an Iranian video sharing site:
http://www.vidoosh.tv/play.php?vid=4360

A smaller version (9 megs) in Windows media format (.WMV) on USENDIT:

https://rcpt.yousendit.com/692013900/57c2dc3f3c9fe7230654e2004a6bc755

A still smaller version (8 megs) in .MOV format. This is the quickest of all to view if you have only dial up service.
http://tinyurl.com/opf2zg 

How to Kill the 900 LB HSUS Gorilla in 60 Seconds or Less

In case you haven't heard, WSB-TV Atlanta aired a telling expose last week on the deceptively named Humane Society of the United States.  Unfortunately, after only 24 hours of that airing, all mentions of that piece were removed from the station's website.

Whether the HSUS turned their lawyers loose on the station with threats is being speculated.  The video made an appearance on YouTube garnering tens of thousands of hits before being removed due to "copyright" issues.  Yeah, right.  It was more than likely removed due to "bank account" infringement.

If the mighty HSUS is trying to do "damage control", they are doing a piss poor job of it.  Wayne-O desperately tried to explain in his blog that the Hurricane Katrina money was used to help those animal victims ...What he FORGOT to mention is that not a dime in Katrina money was spent until AFTER  the Louisiana Attorney General launched an 18 month investigation into just where that $34 million in donations went.  So, the lying HSUS went in and donated a paltry sum to build a new animal shelter.  Big fat hairy deal, Wayne.  Unless that shelter cost $34 million, the HSUS has still got a LOT of 'splainin' to do!

 The damage has been done.  The truth was uncovered and now MILLIONS of United States donors (and would be donors) know of the HSUS deception in fundraising all in the name of "saving the animals".

So, how can we make sure that millions MORE people see that infamous video??  By cross-posting the following links to every email list, by sending it to your friends, neighbors, co-workers, AND LEGISLATORS!  It turns out this video is alive and well on an Iranian (GO FIGURE!) video sharing site.  (Many thanks to Walt on Pet-Law for providing these valuable links!)

The PetPac copy of the transcript of the broadcast, including the statement that PetPac  has been told to take the transcript down:
http://www.petpac.net/news/headlines/story_exposing_hsus_buried_read_transcript/ 

The high definition (55 meg) version on Vidoosh, an Iranian video sharing site:
http://www.vidoosh.tv/play.php?vid=4360

A smaller version (9 megs) in Windows media format (.WMV) on USENDIT:

https://rcpt.yousendit.com/692013900/57c2dc3f3c9fe7230654e2004a6bc755 

A still smaller version (8 megs) in .MOV format. This is the quickest of all to view if you have only dial up service.
http://tinyurl.com/opf2zg 


If YOU want to continue to be able to enjoy eating meat, owning pets, hunting, fishing, and to PROTECT your rights with regards to such activities, then it is imperative that the truth continues to be told and shared.

 WSB is the first tv station with the intestinal fortitude to expose the deception at HSUS.  The non-profit Center for Consumer Freedom has given a HUGE boost to the cause of protecting our rights as dog owners and breeders by helping to expose the hypocrisy.  In addition to spreading this post far and wide, you can help with the next phase of the HSUS undoing by donating what you can to the CCF to help with the making of a HSUS documentary that WON'T be pulled and buried on the internet!

That's right, that little "disappearing video expose" was just the beginning...ain't life a bitch.

ANTI-H$U$ Gear Now Available!

Since the wonderful expose on the deceitful Humane Society of the United States aired on an Atlanta tv station, the heat is ON.  The greedy HSUS has been bullying their way around the internet pulling the video from YouTube and any site that dares to post it. 

Makes one wonder WHY?  Because the truth hurts(their bank accounts!), that's WHY.   The courageous expose done by WSB Atlanta did more to discredit the Humane Society of the United States than we have done in the past 5 years.  And the HSUS knows it.

Animal lovers can now take the ANTI-H$U$ message with them in the form of a quality t-shirt or decal!!!

These items are great conversation starters and will give your "GOT 50?" campaign a big boost!

To order your ANTI-H$U$ gear, visit the following e-bay store, Good Dogs USA

I received mine and am proud to wear it!  Help spread the word further...the public has a RIGHT to know just how deceptive the Humane Society of the United States really is.

Tennessee Sportsman Senator Doug Jackson Sponsors HSUS Anti Breeder Bill

How can a member of the Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus (a group that looks out for the interests of hunters) ALIGN themselves with the BIGGEST ANTI HUNTING GROUP in the country???

By signing on as a sponsor of the HSUS driven TN Commercial Breeder Act, that's how.

It seems that Senator Doug Jackson has a conflict of interest going on here.  On the one hand, he is a member of a group of dedicated to "protecting" the interests of hunters against ANTI hunting groups.  While on the other hand, he has signed on as a sponsor of the TN anti breeder bill, pushed by the biggest ANTI hunting group of them all:  The Humane Society of the United States.

Perhaps Senator Jackson doesn't realize that sportsmen and hunters keep and breed dogs?  Perhaps Senator Doug Jackson didn't read the memo on which animal rights group (the Humane Society of the United States) is the BIGGEST ANTI HUNTING LOBBYING GROUP threatening U.S. sportsmen today?
"If we could shut down all sport hunting in a moment, we would." Wayne Pacelle, Senior VP Humane Society of the US (HSUS), formerly of Friends of Animals and Fund for Animals, Associated Press, Dec 30, 1991;   "Only 7% of Americans are hunters. That means there are more of us than there are of them. It is simply a matter of democracy. The majority rules in a democracy. We are going to use the ballot box and the democratic process to stop all hunting in the United States... We will take it species by species until all hunting is stopped in California. Then we will take it state by state." (Full Cry magazine, October 1990)

I think Senator Jackson needs a refresher course on WHO the enemy really is.  Perhaps polite email reminders of his apparent conflict of interest are in order?






As currently amended, the TN Commercial Breeder Act (SB258 HB386) will have a devastating impact on responsible sportsmen and hobby breeders:

"Commercial breeder" means any person who possesses or maintains under their immediate control twenty (20) or more adult female dogs for the purpose of the sale of their offspring as companion animals.

Just how will anyone PROVE to animal control or other inquiring entity, that one DOESN'T intend to sell the female's offspring?  OR that one DOESN'T even intend to breed in the first place?  The answer is:  you can't.

Under this ill written bill, ANYONE that falls under this definition is GUILTY.  It doesn't matter that someone would rather have intact animals vs sterilized ones.  It doesn't matter that someone may have only had ONE litter in the past two years and KEPT the puppies for themselves and not for sale. 

How does one prove these things?  YOU CAN'T.  This anti breeder bill has set the trap for sportsmen and hobby breeders alike.  And with the help of Senator Doug Jackson.  A person who has been entrusted to LOOK OUT for the interests of hunters in the state of Tennessee from ANTI hunting groups like the Humane Society of the United States.

And one more thing, sportsmen and Senator Jackson, this quote sums up the animal rights/anti hunting agenda pretty well:

"The entire animal rights movement in the United States reacted with unfettered glee at the Ban in England ...We view this act of parliament as one of the most important actions in the history of the animal rights movement. This will energise our efforts to stop hunting with hounds." Wayne Pacelle, CEO, Humane Society of the US (HSUS), London Times, December 26, 2004

The last time I checked there are dog breeders that breed hounds....hounds used to HUNT.

S.O.S KILL The HSUS Bills Phone-AThon Tennessee

There are some nasty HSUS backed bills in Tennessee that need to die.  So, on Monday, April 13, 2009, get ready to CALL, FAX, or at the very least email the committee members (as well as your own rep) to send the strong unified message that we are OPPOSED to these bills.  The ARs do this all the time...They stage call-in days and bombard the lawmakers with calls/faxes.  WE must do the same!

Please forward this post to any individual, group/club, groomer, pet sitter, breeder, dog owner, anyone that can lend a few minutes to send these H$U$ bills to their grave!

Animal Forfeiture Bill, HB 0626, will be heard Tuesday, April 14, before the House Calendar and Rules Committee   Bill Summary:  In animal cruelty prosecutions, if a defendant is ordered to post court security to pay for expenses of caring for the animal, s/he currently has 15 business days to come up with the money. If s/he can't do that the ownership rights are lost. This bill will change the time limit to 72 hours, which is very little time considering that the person will also need to find money for an attorney and bail, and the amount of money required for the security is likely to be considerable.

The bill will also remove the following wording:  " However, if the person from whom the animal was seized is not the owner of the animal and the person has not posted the court-ordered security within fifteen (15) days, the court shall order the governmental animal control agency or the humane society to make all reasonable efforts to determine who the owner of the animal is and to notify the owner of the pending proceeding. No animal shall be deemed to have been abandoned and forfeited to the governmental animal control agency or humane society until reasonable attempts to determine and notify the owner have been made."

This wording gives rightful owners an opportunity to reclaim pets that have been stolen or otherwise ended up in the hands of an (alleged) animal abuser.


The take home message here is that both of the above-mentioned changes will make it easier or more likely for an innocent person to lose his/her animals. They also could result in overzealous prosecution and/or abuse of process. More information concerning the problems with asset forfeiture programs can be found here: http://www.fear.org// .
 
Innocent people DO get accused of animal abuse, and, unless they are wealthy, they will almost certainly lose their animals and go bankrupt while defending themselves. As our legal system is based on "innocent until proven guilty," it would be better to have the person reimburse the costs if and only if found guilty.
 
HOUSE CALENDAR AND RULES COMMITTEE MEMBERS: (please contact each member and ask them to OPPOSE this bill.  The phone/fax numbers are for their Nashville offices)
Chair: Rep. Bill Dunn
R-Knoxville, District 16 - Part of Knox Cty: Phone (615) 741-1721 Fax (615) 253-0276
rep.bill.dunn@capitol.tn.gov
Vice-Chair: Rep. Larry Turner
D-Memphis District 85 - Part of Shelby Cty:  Phone (615) 741-6954 Fax (615) 741-3144
rep.larry.turner@capitol.tn.gov  
Secretary: Rep. Matthew Hill
R-Jonesborough District 7 - Part of Washington Cty: Phone: 615-741-2251 rep.matthew.hill@capitol.tn.gov
Members:  Rep. Joe Armstrong  Phone (615) 741-0768 Fax (615) 253-0316
rep.joe.armstrong@capitol.tn.gov  ; Rep. Stratton Bone JR D-Lebanon District 46 - Cannon, Trousdale and part of Wilson Cties: Phone (615) 741-7086 Fax (615) 741-2405 rep.stratton.bone@capitol.tn.gov  ;Rep. Harry Brooks R-Knoxville District 19 - Part of Knox Cty: Phone (615) 741-6879 Fax (615) 253-0212
rep.harry.brooks@capitol.tn.gov ; Rep. Glen Casada R-Franklin District 63 - Part of Williamson Cty: Phone (615) 741-4389 rep.glen.casada@capitol.tn.gov ;Rep. Kent Coleman D-Murfreesboro District 49 - Part of Rutherford Cty: Phone (615) 741-6829 Fax (615) 253-0332 rep.kent.coleman@capitol.tn.gov ; Rep. John J. Deberry JR. D-Memphis District 90 - Part of Shelby Cty: Phone (615) 741-2239 Fax (615) 253-0294
rep.john.deberry@capitol.tn.gov ;Rep. Lois DeBerry D-Memphis District 91 - Part of Shelby Cty: Phone (615) 741-3830 Fax (615) 741-3992 rep.lois.deberry@capitol.tn.gov ; Rep. Craig Fitzhugh D-Ripley
District 82 - Lauderdale, Crockett and part of Dyer Cties: Phone (615) 741-2134 Fax (615) 741-1446
rep.craig.fitzhugh@capitol.tn.gov ; Rep. Bill Harmon D-Dunlap District 37 - Sequatchie, Van Buren, Grundy and Marion Cties: Phone (615) 741-6849 Fax (615) 253-0264 rep.bill.harmon@capitol.tn.gov ; Rep. Beth Harwell R-Nashville District 56 - Part of Davidson Cty: Phone (615) 741-0709 Fax (615) 741-4917
rep.beth.harwell@capitol.tn.gov ; Rep. Susan M. Lynn R-Mt. Juliet District 57 - Part of Sumner and Wilson Cties: Phone (615) 741-7462 Fax (615) 253-0353 rep.susan.lynn@capitol.tn.gov ; Rep. Judd Matheny

R-Tullahoma District 47 - Coffee and part of Warren Cties: Phone (615) 741-7448 Fax (615) 253-0226
rep.judd.matheny@capitol.tn.gov ; Rep. Joe McCord R-Maryville District 8 - Parts of Blount and Sevier Cties: Phone (615) 741-5481 Fax (615) 253-0220 rep.joe.mccord@capitol.tn.gov ; Rep. Gerald
McCormick R-Chattanooga District 26 - Part of Hamilton Cty: Phone (615) 741-2548 Fax (615) 253-0305 rep.gerald.mccormick@capitol.tn.gov ; Rep. Steve McManus R-Cordova District 96 - Part of Shelby Cty: Phone (615) 741-1920 Fax (615) 253-0232 rep.steve.mcmanus@capitol.tn.gov ; Rep. Gary W. Moore, SR D-Joelton District 50 - Part of Davidson Cty: Phone (615) 741-4317 Fax (615) 253-0360
rep.gary.moore@capitol.tn.gov ; Rep. Jason E. Mumpower R-Bristol District 3 - Johnson and part of Sullivan Cties: Phone (615) 741-2050 Fax (615) 253-0298 rep.jason.mumpower@capitol.tn.gov ; Rep. Gary Odom D-Nashville District 55 - Part of Davidson Cty: Phone (615) 741-4410 Fax (615) 741-7528
rep.gary.odom@capitol.tn.gov ; Rep. Curry Todd R-Collierville District 95 - Part of Shelby Cty: Phone (615) 741-1866 Fax (615) 532-8221 rep.curry.todd@capitol.tn.gov ; Rep. Joe Towns, JR D-Memphis
District 84 - Parts of Shelby Cty: Phone (615) 741-2189 Fax (615) 253-0201 rep.joe.towns@capitol.tn.gov ; Rep. Mike Turner D-Old Hickory District 51 - Part of Davidson Cty: Phone (615) 741-3229 Fax (615) 741-4322 rep.mike.turner@capitol.tn.gov ; Speaker Kent Williams Carter Cty Republican-Elizabethton District 4 - Carter Cty: Phone (615) 741-7450 Fax (615) 253-0310
speaker.kent.williams@capitol.tn.gov

 Commercial Breeder Act [HB0368]: House Judiciary (full committee) on the 15th.


Commercial Breeder Act [SB0258]: Senate Commerce, Labor, and Agriculture Committee on the 15th.

PLEASE CALL/FAX/ or EMAIL BOTH of these committees and ask them to OPPOSE this bill (both identical versions) 

The National Animal Interest Alliance has set up the CapWiz on their website.  This will work for Tennessee residents ONLY...IT IS SUPER SIMPLE!  Click and send and your message will be sent to ALL of the committee members!!!  If you would rather fax, you may still use the NAIA site.  When your letter is complete, just print and fax! 

House Judiciary Committee (FULL committee)  (click for complete info on each member!)

Senate Commerce, Labor and Agriculture Committee  (click for complete info on each member!)

In some significant ways, these bills resemble HSUS supported anti-breeder legislation that has shown up in several other states so far this year.

The Tennessee Commercial Breeder Act:


* Applies to dogs and cats.

* Defines a commercial breeder as anyone who possesses or maintains 20 or more adult female dogs  for the purpose of the sale of their offspring as companion animals”.

* Limits the number of dogs/cats a commercial breeder can maintain to 75 unsterilized “companion animals” over the age of 6 months.NOTE: (In the current amended version, the 75 cap has been removed...as of 4/12/09)

* Requires annual licensing of commercial breeders and sets up a fee structure of $500 per year for those owning 20-40 adult companion animals, and $1000 per year for those owning 41-75.

* Empowers the Commissioner of Agriculture to grant licenses, oversee compliance with standards, rules and regulations, and suspend licenses for non-compliance or cruelty. Breeder will be given a 10-day
written notice of suspensions and may be granted a hearing to contest. Violations would constitute a Class B misdemeanor punishable by fine only.

* Licenses will only be granted to applicants of “good moral character” after a criminal background check and inspection of the premises. (NOTE: In the current amended version, the wording "good moral character" has been removed)

* Allows commercial breeder premises and records to be inspected at all reasonable times by the Commissioner, a representative of the Commissioner, or a legally constituted law enforcement agency.

* Requires commercial breeders to file semi-annual reports on the number of dogs/cats in their possession, the number of dogs/cats sold including the names and addresses of who purchased them, and the number of dogs/cats received by the breeder that were not purchased including the names and addresses of who they obtained them from.

* Grants the Commissioner authority to confiscate animals for failure to license and hand them over to local or federal animal welfare agencies or humane organization, like ASPCA or HSUS, and order the breeder to pay a security bond that could be transferred to the agency/organization for the cost of care.

* Subjects violators to a fine of $1000 per animal sold, offered or advertised without a license.

This Act reads as though its main preoccupation is to introduce a complex layer of state regulation that will generate revenue through licenses and fines, not directly improve actual care and conditions for animals.

Many of the definitions provided are unclear and inconsistent and consequently make hobby breeders, trainers, handlers, hunt clubs, boarding kennels and private rescue networks vulnerable to commercial requirements.

We oppose number limits because they are arbitrary, unscientific and have been found to be unenforceable and vulnerable to court challenges. Furthermore, they have never been successful in addressing irresponsible breeding or negligent rescue operations. Limits and caps drive pet owners and breeders underground where they are harder to oversee and prevent abuse.

We believe there are more effective solutions available to help eliminate substandard kennels, from greater enforcement of existing anti-cruelty and nuisance laws to educating consumers about how to seek out responsible and humane sources of healthy pets.

Politely explain that this legislation misses the mark. Offer your expertise as a Tennessee resident with hands-on animal experience who they can rely on instead of an out of state organization for their information about pet issues.


Please call, fax or email the representatives and senators that will be hearing ALL of these important issues!   Government officials work FOR the people...Politely let them know you OPPOSE these 3 bills !!!!

Sleeping With The Enemy in Tennessee

The HSUS Kool-Aid has made its way to Tennessee,  as evidenced by the state's ANTI breeder bill that is being supported by several of the AKC all breed dog clubs. ("We just HAVE TO get rid of those terrible "puppy mill" people"...yeah, whatever that means...)

Called the "Commercial Breeder Act", SB258/HB386  seeks to label breeders who "possesses or maintains at least 20 female dogs in order to sell their offspring as companion animals" as commercial breeders.  Once again, a "magic number" is being introduced....a number that can easily be LOWERED at the whim of the HSUS and lawmakers.   What's worse, the bill calls for WARRANTLESS inspections, guidelines for breeders to follow that aren't described in this bill.....AND .....before a license is issued it must be determined that the applicant is of "GOOD MORAL CHARACTER"....

Does any of this sound VAGUELY familiar to anyone???   Does this sound like the other dozens of ANTI breeder bills being pushed around the country??? 

How many "hobby breeders" co-own bitches with other people as well as "possess" bitches at their homes?   Under this bill, the burden of proving you are NOT intending to sell those bitches' offspring falls on your head...and, just how exactly, would a person do that?  The short answer is:  YOU CAN'T.  Think about it.  It's not hard to reach the magical "20" number. ( "But, Mr Animal Control Officer, those 3 bitch puppies over there....I'm holding onto them to see if they will be show quality or not.....and, well, I don't actually own those over there 'cuz they are just here for me to show and train...")


So, what if someone has, say 19...or 18...Guess that pesky detail will have to be changed next year, huh?  When are people going to wake up?  Obviously not soon enough, since the House version of this Anti breeder bill passed yesterday.  The Senate is expected to vote soon.  Rather than stand up and CONFRONT the bully that is the HSUS head-on, the dog fancy has chosen to "protect itself" and throw somebody else under the bus. 

Act now:  Write, call, fax the senators in Tennessee and tell them to OPPOSE SB258....Tennessee already has cruelty/neglect laws on the books, and Commercial Breeders are already licensed and regulated under the USDA.  Placing the "burden of proof" on the accused as this bill is written is unconstitutional as it deprives the breeder of due process under law.

Who, I wonder, will be left to stand up when the HSUS comes for you.....and your breeding program....hmm...

The Gospel According to HSUS

Unless you've been living under a rock this year, it's impossible to avoid the onslaught of "ANTI-dog breeder" bills that have been introduced in no less than two dozen states pushed by none other than the Humane Society of the United States.  These two dozen bills are worded almost identical in all states, with the common theme being to limit the number of intact animals a person can own and in most cases, allowing for WARRANTLESS searches of the breeder's premises.  Are these laws really about cracking down on substandard breeders?  Or is it a nationwide push to make dog breeding so troublesome and expensive that hobby breeders will just quit? 

According to Wayne Pacelle's blog,

• "There are perhaps more than 10,000 mills in the nation, with Missouri accounting for more than 3,000, and then Oklahoma and Iowa the next biggest." 
•  Last year Virginia was the "hub" of puppy mills (the "Virginia Is For Puppy Mills" campaign), and Pennsylvania is "the puppy mill capitol of the East"

Gee, with Wayne stating facts like that, it makes you wonder WHY legislation is needed in states like Nevada, Minnesota, Washington, Oregon, Tennessee, Illinois, Maine, West Virginia, Arkansas, Delaware, Texas, California, Florida....you get the idea.  Are all of these states infested with "puppy mills" as well??   The real reason for these bills?  To ensnare the "other guy"...the hobby breeder; those breeders who are not required to operate under USDA guidelines. 

From the H$U$ website:  "Under current law in most states, and under current regulations of the federal Animal Welfare Act, individuals running breeding operations that only sell puppies directly to the public are not required to be licensed and inspected by an oversight agency."  (YEP, show folks, that's YOU!) 

And further:  "USDA exempts breeding facilities – regardless of the number of animals they have or financial thresholds they meet – where the puppies are bred and sold directly to private pet owners as "retail pet stores."........"Without oversight, the operations can easily fall below even the most basic standards of humane housing and husbandry."

A good breeding facility law: (According to H$U$)

• applies to all breeding operations with animals or animal sales numbering over a specified threshold.  (can you say "limit laws")
•  requires a licensing fee and pre-inspection. (Like $500 per intact animal fee...and "must be of good moral character", as we have seen in bills proposed this year)
• includes routine, unannounced inspections at least twice yearly. (Warrantless searches of private property, unconstitutional last time I checked)
• is enforced by an agency with adequate funding and properly trained and tested staff. (Oh yeah, we're just in the worst economic crisis since the Depression, but I'm sure Wayne and company would love to step in and take over this job, huh) 
• rotates inspectors to cover different areas of the state. (Uh-huh, I can see that happening...who would want to uproot their families to move to a different area...)
• is equipped with strong penalties when facilities are in repeated non-compliance, including but not limited to cease and desist orders.  (H$U$ translation:  raids, intimidation of breeders into "signing over" all dogs so said dogs can be sold for profit to further stuff their warchests)

Do you get it yet?  Have you connected the dots?  The current nationwide push to "end puppy mills" is NOT about protecting animals...it is NOT about cracking down on substandard breeders...it is NOT about regulating commercial breeders that are already under USDA guidelines...

What it IS about is ending purebred dog breeding.  Period.  Using incrementalism (limiting the number of animals someone can own, which can easily be lowered next time, in a new law), the Animal Rights group, the Humane Society of the United States, is pushing it's REAL agenda:  to eliminate the hobby breeder, who has now become "just another puppy mill" in the eyes of the public...There is no one left to throw under the bus.  The bus is headed straight for OUR breeding programs.

Are you willing to throw away years of dedication to your breed and your breeding program?  Are you still one of those breeders that thinks "this law won't apply to me"?  Now it does.  There can be no compromise, no backing down.  The only way to defeat the bullies is to get in their faces and scream, "HELL NO!! You will NOT take away MY rights...you will NOT tell me how many dogs I can own...you WILL NOT tell me how or when or to which dogs I can breed to!!!"

The "Anti-dog breeder bus" is roaring down the street...in YOUR state, or will be headed there shortly.  There will be no "other guy" to sacrifice like we have done in the past because we are now the "other guy".

Good Moral Character Required for Dog Breeders

Nevada is the only state in the Nation where the oldest profession known to man...-er...woman-kind, is legal in some counties.  The state known for glitzy casinos, quickie divorces, and legalized prostitution is calling for a higher standard for dog breeders.  Yep, if you want to breed a litter of puppies or kittens in Nevada, ya' gotta be of "good MORAL character".

The state of Nevada is the latest victim in the Humane Society of the United States' all out anti-dog breeder legislative campaign.  SB241 seeks to, among other things:

• Impose $500 breeder permit  (wow! That's expensive considering there is also a bill being proposed there that would levy ONLY $5 tax on "human sex acts")
• Make microchipping of dogs mandatory
• Limit the LIFETIME litters of any dog to 2 litters
• AND "Breeders Must Posess "Good Moral Character"

So, I ask you the million dollar question:  Just WHO in the hell is going to be the judge in Nevada as to "good moral character"????   THINK ABOUT IT! 

But considering that the H$U$ is pushing these cookie cutter ANTI breeding bills across the country, I guess even a prostitute is of higher moral character than the ever-so-cleverly-deceptive H$US and company...At least you "know" right up front what a prostitute is all about.  The H$U$, however, continues to mislead millions of hardworking folks with good intentions into "donating" to what the majority still believe will benefit their local shelter or will help the H$U$ on their "war on puppymills".  When in fact, all those hard earned dollars will go to their already HUGE warchest to end the production of meat, fur, fishing, and to put "ever-so-greedy dog breeders" out of existence.

Give Wayne-O and company the boot, Nevada.  Ya'll have got a lot more to worry about than the "good moral character" of dog breeders.

NEVADA: Give HSUS The Boot April 7 Hearing

Heads up, Nevada....HSUS and company are ridin' into town....Gather up the posse` and send 'em back squealin! 

The following article appeared in The Wendover Times, and is posted here with the permission of the author. 

NOTE:  THE HEARING FOR THIS BILL HAS BEEN CHANGED TO APRIL 7!!!!  For more information and to join the FIGHT for your RIGHTS and ANIMALS, please contact:  info@savernvanimals.org     
http://www.savernvanimals.org/    

************************************************************************

David Meets Goliath in the Old West

by B. Kubichka

Dateline: Elko - Nevada

Most people don’t think too often about Nevada, well maybe Las Vegas comes to mind. But when the ranchers and other animal breeders and lovers in this sagebrush covered, windswept, high desert town, tucked in the eastern corner of the great Silver State, found out the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) was a comin’ to town with their big city anti-animal breeder agenda, well that burr was too much for them to tolerate under their saddles.

That’s when the good and hearty folk - ranchers and the plain talkin’ townsfolk had enough! No big city D.C. city slickers were going to tell these good old boys--the tough and sun weathered independent ranchers and farmers --how to run their lives.

These D.C. big city outsiders from HSUS, decided it was high time they invaded this dusty Western state with their animal rights agenda and animal welfare laws. Just because these Old Timers don’t talk much, old HSUS decided, they must be asleep at the wheel. Well when these independent old frontier folk got wind of this plot against their freedom and their constitutional rights, and well, they got mad. Nobody was going to tell them how to run their lives, no siree!




Well then an amazing thing happened in this lonely corner of this vast desert state--the good and independent pioneer spirit of the Old West was galvanized! People woke up. People became red blooded, fighting Americans again! No way was HSUS going to tell the good people of this state how to run their lives. The good folk of the Old West were not going to take this outside interference laying down!

An amazing grassroots effort sprung up between these many disgruntled Nevadans. It eventually took a turn and turned into an organization of the people--just ordinary folk of Nevada, but with that independent and self reliant spirit.
 
One such person was a woman, Cheri. A slender, Western gal, golden by working outside in the clear blue skies and strong Nevada sun, more comfortable in jeans than a little black dress. Cheri, who is a small breeder of AKC purebred cattle dogs, was so outraged by the audacity of HSUS, of assuming they know what is best for her state and for her animals, she just knew she had to do something! So she became the Elko hub of the grassroots, just plain Nevadans movement, Savernvanimals.org.
 
According to Cheri, “No way is HSUS coming here! You will not come to our state and tell us how to run things!” She feels as many other Nevadans do, that local government handles these animal issues “just fine and to our satisfaction”. She stresses, “We don’t want or need your [HSUS] presence in Carson City [state capitol] telling our legislators how to think. The work for us!”
 
And another thing, Cheri says is, “We don’t want you [HSUS] telling the world that “Nevada is one of the five worst states in the United States.....and that you say “In Nevada, well anything goes...”. As a proud Nevadan and of independent spirt, Cheri was outraged when she saw this statement in the HSUS press release on their very own website.
 
“It’s insulting", she continues, she says they [HSUS] also says Nevada is a puppy mill state, when according to the USDA , who monitors and licenses commercial kennels, there are only two ‘commercial breeders’ in the entire state of Nevada, and they don’t even breed dogs”, she exclaims!
 
So Cheri got mad, very mad. She pulled together a coalition of ranchers, farmers, vets, and just plain towns folk who love their animals and their independence, and formed a caravan, a big caravan. And it’s planning on coming to Carson City on April 9th to attend the big rally against SB241, the Nevada Puppymill Bill proposed in part by HSUS and a Senator Townsend, who isn’t from around these parts. (NOTE:  The date has been changed to APRIL 7th, for more info, please email info@savernvanimals.org )
 
According to Cheri, HSUS and the collaborating legislators should be scared, “....because us old Cowboys won’t be asking you twice to pack your bags and leave our state and never come back. We are officially giving you the boot out of Nevada!”


+++
Sources:

[www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/press_releases/worst_exotic_pet_states_031809.html]
[www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/efoia/index.shtml]breeder reports
Savernvanimals.org is a grassroots organization of Nevadans from all animal areas, be they rancher or pet owner, and is opposed to the loss of our constitutional rights as guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and serves to help protect plain Nevada animal folk from the threat of bigger and bigger government, not to mention the unfunded mandates these proposed laws require of Nevada taxpayers.

Welcome to the Fight: An Open Letter to the Agricultural Community

To All Farmers, Cattle Ranchers, Pork and Poultry Producers, and Anyone Else involved in feeding and sustaining America:

Welcome to the fight against the Animal Rights Movement; more specifically, welcome to the Crusade to Expose the Humane Society of the United States (aka, the H$U$).  The purebred dog and cat community have been on to them for many years now, fighting off the onslaught of anti-breeder/anti-purebred propaganda.  By joining forces, the agricultural community and the millions of pet owners and breeders in this great country, we can defeat the ARs (animal rightists) and expose their true agenda:  No animal use for any purpose.

It won't be an easy war, nothing worthwhile ever is.  The good news is that there are groups of us that have years, decades even, of experience and knowledge in fighting and exposing our common enemy:  the Humane Society of the United States.  The National Animal Interest Alliance, the Sportsmen's and Animal Owners Voting Alliance, the Cat Fancier's Association, and the hundreds of dog club federations across the country, not only monitor upcoming legislation in all states, but issue thousands of letters, faxes, phone calls, etc, to federal, state and local lawmakers.

The first thing you all should know is that there are more of US (pet owners/breeders, farmers, folks who use/own animals) than there are of THEM (the H$U$, PETA, ASPCA, etc).  The sheer number of Americans that love and or rely on animals for whatever reasons, FAR outnumber those true hard-core Animal Rights fanatics that want us to eat nothing but tofu.

Secondly, learn from the mistakes that we in the dog world have made.  Assuming that "that law won't apply to me", or "my operation is above reproach", or "why should I care what happens in California" type attitudes will only divide us further.  Divide and conquer is the number one strategy of the H$U$.  NO ONE is immune, NO standards of animal husbandry (no matter how well we care for our animals), will EVER be good enough. 

Third, NO COMPROMISE.  PERIOD.  When a vauge law is introduced, band together and KILL IT.  Some will say, "oh, well, THAT part isn't too bad and SOUNDS reasonable".  A common H$U$ tactic is purposely introducing vague, feel good, fuzzy wuzzy type laws that to most Americans, sound logical and appeals to their EMOTIONS.  Lawmakers want to pass laws that they THINK will please their constituents and hopefully get them re-elected.  The public-at-large, along with lawmakers for the most part, do not stop to think of the "unintended consequences" a law will have.  Case in point:  the Anti-Horse Slaughter Bill.  The H$U$ was successful in shutting down the industry by playing on the emotions of the public.  So, once the slaughter plants were closed, that left many horse owners with a delimma:  what do I do with my old/sick/unruly horse?  Some were turned loose, to which the H$U$ et al, responded with "horse overpopulation", some were transported out of the country to Mexico where horse slaughter standards are waay below humane (to which the H$U$ responded with the current law on making TRANSPORTATION of horses destined for slaughter would be outlawed.)

I, personally, am looking forward to working with the agricultural community to defeat those that threaten our way of life with our animals.  We are all in this together; agriculture, ranchers, pet owners, breeders, veterinarians...even John Q Public that enjoys grilling steaks on the weekend, though "John" hasn't fully realized it yet.  It is imperative that we turn up the heat on our enemy, the H$U$, and expose them for what they really are:  the wealthiest and most dangerous Animal Rights group this great country of ours has ever seen.  They are a lobbying machine, nothing more; lobbying to take away our rights, as an animal owning/using society, for their own vegan driven agenda.

We must utilize every media outlet, organize community seminars, and reach out to and educate the public and our lawmakers that the "Humane Society" is a humane society in name only:  they do not operate or oversee the thousands of animal shelters in this country.  The H$U$ has no police powers.  This is a war of propaganda:  and it is high past time that we start dishing it back.

HSUS Sinks to New Low, Even For Them

This week, Wayne and company (the H$U$), hit a new low by pimping out kids to lawmakers in Tennessee. Not teenagers, little kids belonging to Brownie Troop 550 in Nashville. (And just where were these kids parents, anyway??) This latest ploy had the kids lobbying on behalf of the H$U$ to "stop puppymills" in Tennessee.

We all know the H$U$ relies on emotion over facts and common sense, and sadly the majority of Americans oblige. There are several "visuals", that when put before even the most level-headed, will cause an opening of the wallet (sad little puppy and kitty photos, "Help us, please")....and the wide innocent eyes of young children ("Hey, Mister Lawmaker, would you make those bad dog breeders not be mean to those poor doggies anymore?")

It is no secret that Wayne and Insane Ingrid are trying to indoctrinate our youth and brainwash them in the ways of veganism. But, c'mon!!! Taking advantage of the innocence of YOUNG children that don't understand the issues involved...and aren't even old enough to vote! Parading them up and down the halls of the state capitol...using their innocence and their emotions to push your ANTI-breeder agenda... That's a new low, even for you, Wayne-o. Shame on you.

Tennessees' breeders are just one of the many states being targeted by the wealthy animal rights group. Senate Bill 258, sponsored by Sen. Doug Jackson (D-25) and House Bill 386, sponsored by Rep. Janis Baird Sontany (D-53) places breeding of purebred dogs under criminal animal cruelty statutes. The bills classify a Commercial breeder as any person who possesses or maintains twenty (20) or more adult female dogs in whole or in part for the purpose of the sale of their offspring as companion animals. If even one litter of puppies is produced, a commercial breeder licensing would be required. Ownership of 75 is the absolute limit. Background checks will be required for applicants, and the state will determine if the applicant is of good moral character and deserving of the license.

HSUS State Director, Leighann McCollum, responding on behalf of Sen. Doug Jackson confirmed that USDA regulations currently in effect under the Dog and Cat Dealer Act (44-17-101) will be required for the new commercial breeder kennels. Senate Bill 258 was referred to Senate Committee Commerce Labor & Agriculture Feb. 19; no hearings are scheduled at this time.

Everyone knows that most states are facing the most troubling economic times we have seen since the Depression, so does the H$U$. Wayne and company may be morally bankrupt, but they aren't stupid; they know what sells, and in this case, when the going gets tough, NO child is safe or above being pimped out for their breeder elimination plan.

Dog Owners: We are NOT Done MORE HSUS Bills Must Die

We aren't done in Illinois. While the anti dock/crop bill appears to have been defeated, there are still ***2*** MAJOR issues that need our attention.  We are a large, powerful group and the "KILL THE BILLS" phone-a-thon is working!  Keep up the pressure!  The first being the hearing TOMORROW, MARCH 11, in Springfield, HB198 and SB53, the anti breeder bill.   PLEASE use the links provided at the AKC for sample letters you can personalize to help KILL this BILL!  The Illinois Veterinary Medical Association and the AKC remain opposed.

The second bill requiring our help is the MSN ordinance in Chicago.   Hearing on Thursday, MARCH 12...The Chicago Veterinary Med. Ass'n, the Illinois State Veterinary Med Ass'n AND the AKC are OPPOSED to this ordinance and all of its amendments.

I have it on good authority from someone involved in the fight that the HSUS has PROMISED to take this MSN ordinance in ALL directions of the country, should it pass. It is CRUCIAL we all step up to the plate and help each other and preserve our rights to ***choose*** when, where and how invasive surgical procedures are done.

For great sample letters that you can personalize and send to the Chicago Aldermen, please visit the following AKC link by clicking HERE .

URGENT, ANTI-BREEDER BILL TO BE HEARD WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, SPRINGFIELD, IL

 Please VOICE your opposition via fax, email and phone to save hobby breeders in Illinois.  This is another HSUS backed bill designed to eliminate breeders.  DO NOT LET THEM WIN.

The following is from the AKC.  For sample letters, for everyone both in and out of state, please click HERE

House Bill 198 and Senate Bill 53


These bills are supposedly an attempt to address “puppy mills” and irresponsible dog breeders in Illinois. However, these bills affect many small-scale hobby breeders and create unreasonable standards for
commercial breeders who are in compliance with current state and federal laws. Their passage will not improve enforcement or the lives of animals in Illinois.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture already has a licensing program in place which requires breeders with more than 5 intact females to be licensed. The “puppy mill” that sparked the introduction of this bill was not licensed as current law required and was being investigated by the Department of Agriculture.

Although draft amendments that have been circulating would allow the Department of Agriculture to administer the bill (current bill language establishes a new program in the Department of Financial and Professional Regulations), the provisions continue to be burdensome and will not improve animal welfare.

Enforcement of current laws is the most effective way to address animal care issues in Illinois.

House Bill 198 is scheduled to be heard:

Wednesday, March 11, 2009
2:00 p.m.
House Business & Occupational Licenses Committee
Illinois State Capitol, Stratton Building
Room D-1
Springfield, IL

Senate Bill 53 is scheduled to be heard:

Wednesday, March 11, 2009
3:00 p.m.
Senate Licensed Activities Committee
Illinois State Capitol, Room 409
Springfield, IL

What You Can Do:

* Call your Illinois State Representative and State Senator TODAY.
Tell them that you are a constituent and ask them to oppose HB 198, SB 53

*Personalize sample letters to send to your representatives. Due to the speed at which these items may move, we highly suggest sending your message in an email or by fax. Click here to find out who represents you in the Illinois State Legislature. (please go to link above to find your rep AND for sample letters)