Friday, January 23, 2009

When You Choose To Dance With The Devil...

I know there are many folks that read my blog that are new to the fight against the Animal Rights lunatic fringe.  Hell, when I first started my education into the 'dark side', I didn't know what to think or which side to believe.  After reading this post, I hope ya'll will now believe me when I tell you that the Animal Rights believers hate us: US meaning breeders, owners of purebreds, those of us that choose to buy our dogs from a breeder rather than a shelter.

Those that choose to support the lunatic fringe Animal Rights movement do not deserve our support.  That goes for corporations, small businesses, even authors.  One thing that us sane folks can do is send our message loud and clear:  If you support or sympathize with the Animal Rights groups, such as PeTA or the HSUS, we will take our business elsewhereIf you choose to allow any Animal Rights group to "endorse" your business or product, there will be consequences:  such as taking our business and our hard-earned dollars elsewhere.  The following is posted with permission from Sharyn Hutchens.  The first is a letter that Sharyn wrote to the author.  The last is the response from the author herself, who has obviously drank waayy too much of PeTA's Kool-Aid. 

Date: Jan 22, 2009 10:03 PM

Subject: Your book
To: Alana Stevenson, MS, CDBC
Dog and Cat Behavior Specialist, Trainer

Dear Alana,

A friend recommended your book, "The Right Way the First Time," very highly to me. I was on the verge of ordering it when she called me back and said not to -- that there is an endorsement from PETA on the front of it and she was afraid PETA might be receiving money from it.

What does it mean when an organization that kills 97 percent of the animals it "rescues" endorses a book on positive training methods? I live in Virginia and have followed their antics and atrocities for years. Dogs are my life and there was a time when I would have loved to be a supporter -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals?  Gosh, that is exactly what I've promoted literally since I could talk!  But the more I looked into PETA's philosophy, the more I realized how truly sick this organization is.

Your association with PETA will only do you harm. It has already cost you this sale, the respect of my friend (a professional trainer) and the sales you'd have gotten when she recommended it to all her students. I know it is probably not about money to you, but I'm sure you don't want to be associated with people who admit freely that they do not believe in keeping pets at all and who routinely kill healthy animals who could be placed into new homes.

I don't expect you to change your allegiance to them due to a letter from a stranger, but I do hope you will investigate them further. You can start with the following quotations (all with citations) from their founder and CEO -- the first few are the PETA view about pet ownership. The next couple will give you an insight on just how twisted these people are. I cannot imagine anyone with your obvious intelligence willingly being used by these people.

"In a perfect world, animals would be free to live their lives to the fullest: raising their young, enjoying their native environments, and following their natural instincts. However, domesticated dogs and cats cannot survive "free" in our concrete jungles, so we must take as good care of them as possible. People with the time, money, love, and patience to make a lifetime commitment to an animal can make an enormous difference by adopting from shelters or rescuing animals from a perilous life on the street. But it is also important to stop manufacturing "pets," thereby perpetuating a class of animals forced to rely on humans to survive." PETA pamphlet, Companion Animals: Pets or Prisoners?

"I don't use the word "pet." I think it's speciesist language. I prefer "companion animal." For one thing, we would no longer allow breeding. People could not create different breeds. There would be no pet shops. If people had companion animals in their homes, those animals would have to be refugees from the animal shelters and the streets. You would have a protective relationship with them just as you would with an orphaned child. But as the surplus of cats and dogs (artificially engineered by centuries of forced breeding) declined, eventually companion animals would be phased out, and we would return to a more symbiotic relationship ­ enjoyment at a distance." Ingrid Newkirk, PETA vice-president, quoted in The Harper's Forum Book, Jack Hitt, ed., 1989, p.223.

"Pet ownership is an absolutely abysmal situation brought about by human manipulation." Ingrid Newkirk, national director, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PeTA), Just Like Us? Harper's, August 1988, p. 50.

"As John Bryant has written in his book Fettered Kingdoms, they [pets] are like slaves, even if well-kept slaves." PeTA's Statement on Companion Animals.

"The bottom line is that people don't have the right to manipulate or to breed dogs and cats ... If people want toys, they should buy inanimate objects. If they want companionship, they should seek it with their own kind," Ingrid Newkirk, founder, president and former national director, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PeTA), Animals, May/June1993

"Six million people died in concentration camps, but six billion broiler chickens will die this year in slaughterhouses." Ingrid Newkirk, founder, president and former national director, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, as quoted in Chip Brown, "She's A Portrait of Zealotry in Plastic Shoes," Washington Post, November 13, 1983, p. B10.

"To those people who say, `My father is alive because of animal experimentation,' I say `Yeah, well, good for you. This dog died so your father could live.' Sorry, but I am just not behind that kind of trade off." Bill Maher, PETA celebrity spokesman

"Even if animal tests produced a cure [for AIDS], 'we'd be against it.'" --Ingrid Newkirk, national director, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PeTA), as quoted in Fred Barnes, "Politics," Vogue, September 1989, p. 542.

"Until your daddy learns that it's not "fun' to kill, keep your doggies and kitties away from him. He's so hooked on killing defenseless animals that they could be next!'' PETA flyer quoted in
the Asbury Park Press, September 23, 2005

I would like to believe that you became associated with PETA through ignorance of their real motives. You are obviously a talented, educated person and a sincere lover of dogs. But you aren't doing the species any kindness by promoting PETA or allowing them to self-promote through your book.

Wishing you all the best...
Sharyn

And now, the response from the author:

From: Alana Stevenson

Date: Jan 23, 2009 9:43 AM
Subject: Re: Your book
To: Sharyn Hutchens

Wow, no offense. But *you're* nuts.

I have a MS in bio. I have been vegan for the past 20 years. I volunteer at a shelter and all my animals are rescues. I read the paras. and they are right on. What could you possibly have against them unless 1) you are breeding animals and selling their babies to make a profit and 2) you promote the buying and selling of animals, which is just plain wrong.

There are many "pet" lovers and "dog" lovers yada yada.  There aren't many people who give them responsible homes, spay and neuter them etc.

What Ingrid Newkirk believes in is what I believe in...we've have bought and sold and bred animals as slaves, which they are, just look at any dog being yanked around on a choke chain, pinch collar, shock collar or slammed in a cage against their will. We do not respect them. They are here for our purpose. But since there are so many, the animals cannot survive on their own, they need good homes. My cats certainly can't live on the street, nor can dogs. So Ingrid supports rescue and adoption.  Peta is against breeding and selling (hence "manufacturing") ...which is basically using them as products for our needs "pets." This is why animals are considered property, because people can buy and sell them in stores and make a profit. The majority of dog and cat owners shouldn't be allowed to have dogs and cats.  As many are pretty poor in their behaviors to animals, and those are the good ones. Breeders by the way are the worst and give out some of the worst information.

It's interesting how few people who are involved with animal shelters dislike Peta. It is always the breeders and these people who seem to profess a love for animals, then feel everyone has a right to own one and buy and sell them. That is why animals are property. That is why there are few serious penalties for animal abusers. That is why there is no licensing or really good mandatory national certification credentials for animal behaviorists and trainers. Animals are property.

Somebody professing to love animals and want dogs as pets and then forces dogs to mate, to sell their babies for money, is laughable. But unfortunately too common. If you thought of doing this to a person, people would be outraged.

Lastly, it floors me that anti-peta people, getting a lot of their information from an organization that is pro-hunting, trapping, breeding, meat-eating... will not read information or learn because somebody who they dislike likes my book. So that means if Bin Laden liked my book, yet my Jewish father also liked my book that one negates the other?

I'm sorry but Peta does not nearly kill as many animals as breeders. In addition, I have known Peta from their start as 2 activists with the Silver Spring Monkeys. Peta singlehandedly, by a long shot, has done more for animals in this country...then most of the national organizations combined.  And making me read quotes from Peta, that to me, sound great, as if I'd be in horror, is laughable. I've known about Peta and their existence about in the early 80's when they were just beginning.

I've read Animal Liberation by Dr. Singer and Free the Animals by Ingrid Newkirk.  In fact, it is because of the Animal Liberation Front and Peta that Dr. Jane Goodall became vegetarian and an advocate and activist for primates as opposed to just studying them. Dr. Jane Goodall is vegan, opposed to animal experimentation and I'd bet you 100% into animal rescue and anti-the buying and selling of animals. Most enlightened, educated people are. Including Dr. Michael Fox, among others.

I'm vegan, are you? I believe in adoption and spay/neuter, do you?  Obviously, not as you believe in breeding and make money from it. I believe that pet shops are disgusting and should be illegal and people shouldn't buy and sell animals, that is why animals are considered property and why anybody can do anything to an animal and essentially get away with it. I think breeders are part of this horrendous pet overpopulation problem and if you have ever been in the killing fields of shelters because of the surplus, you would see people's disdain for breeders (those who are in rescue and advocacy).

Have you actually seen a kill shelter in action my dear?  Have you seen animals thrown in gas chambers by the hundreds? Peta has excellent footage of all this stuff, which you are more than welcome to look at, and the people who work there (Peta) have seen a hell of a lot more than you and that is why they believe what they do. They video tape and watch first hand animals skinned alive for their fur.

As far as that goes, I am not affiliated with Peta nor does peta get money from me, though they do buy my book wholesale and sell it, as do other places and I think that is fantastic. The way we treat dogs and cats *is* an animal rights issue.

People who keep their dogs on chokes need to be educated.  And I am pro-spay neuter/adoption and pro-rescue/adoption from shelters. I am extremely educated and I find the people who are anti-peta and probreeding, "pet" owning, we need to buy and sell mentality, but profess to love animals, really hypocritical and ignorant or shallow. They are part of the problem, not the solution. And they are no different then anyone else's mentality over the years who want their cake and want to eat it too without thinking of the consequences. I can hunt, it's a free country. It's my kid, I can do what I want. We all have the right to carry guns. We all have the right to breed and sell animals. We all may have the 'right.' But it is *not* right.

I am actually happy you don't want to buy my book. I find the ignorant like to stay ignorant.

Have a Happy Day.
Alana Stevenson, MS, CDBC, CSAMT
Dog Behavior Specialist
Cat Behavior Specialist
Dog Trainer
***********************************************************************

And I find those that are meat-protein deprived are so far removed from the real world that we live in that perhaps they would be happiest secluded from normal society, since we are nothing but "ignorant animal abusers"...Anybody know an island for sale super cheap? 

This one just in:  ANOTHER email from the author...

From: Alana Stevenson

Date: Jan 23, 2009 11:39 PM
Subject: your harassing emails

You know, I really wish you would fight amongst yourselves or do something productive and leave me alone. I am tired of these harassment emails from your lists and your forwards. Again, I am not going to not sell my book to Peta. I like a lot of what Peta does, always have and I am happy the organization likes the book.

I do know that I get hate mail from breeders and that all these people profess to getting information from the "Center for Consumer Freedom." CCF is a fraudalent group. All this "controversy" has been going on for years and is not new to me.

Here is information for YOU.  http://pcrm.org/news/release080708.html  (note from The Endangered Owner:  This link is to the PHONY PeTA created group, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, which will grant membership to ANYONE, no M.D. required!)

You found my emails insulting?? I am tired of being sent an onslaught of insulting emails over and over again because Peta likes my book, by people who profess to love animals, and I disagree with many of their views.

Have any of you watched animals being slaughtered for food?

Have any of you watched animals being stabbed in the heart by shelters, because animals are bred, and bred, and bred, and bred, and bred, and bred, and bred, because somebody likes the breed and everybody feels they should be entitled to have a pet?

I could send you just as many links from many organizations, that are far more reputable and have done a lot more for animals by miles. I am surprised you feel I have so much power, attacking me relentlessly.

Here are some people who support activism, are you going to attack them?  (note:  she listed many links to myspace pages, which I have removed.)

Or about watching undercover footage of:

There are many live video clips of animals being tortured and slaughtered and only Peta, and now fortunately HSUS, has done anything to stop it. http://www.petatv.com/

You're upset with my email?? Yet, somehow I am being slammed over and over again by people professing to love animals because peta supports my book?  

Why don't you harass Cesar Milan for alpha rolling dogs and jabbing them in the ribs, or the president of the March of Dimes, a corrupt organization that does essentially nothing for humans. Their childhood "spokesperson" who is handicapped is now an animal rights activist, and has been for over 25 years. Jane Goodall, vegan. Michael J. Fox, vegan. I have been involved in advocacy for over 25 years. I don't need to be harassed by people who are promoting forwards from CCF.

And it's just like people promoting CCF who would tell people to stay clear of my book when they've never read it.

If you continue to email me I will simply delete your emails, and yes get annoyed.

I will continue to do what I do, promote my book and the humane treatment of dogs. And it is just like people, claiming they love dogs so much, who would try to block a book so much or tell people to stay clear of it when it is all about their humane treatment and training.
Alana Stevenson, MS, CDBC, CSAMT
********************************

It's this simple, when you choose to side with the lunatic fringe Animal Rights groups and believe what they believe, YOU will hear from us.  When someone OPENLY allows an endorsement from a terrorist group on their book, perhaps it's time to find new friends?  Or move to that island far, far away.....

HSUS Agenda: Eliminate Pet Breeding

Nothing says, "Happy New Year" like introducing bad laws. Here we are just 23 days into January and the HSUS led Animal Rights foot-soldiers are introducing BSL (Breed Specific Legislation), MSN (Mandatory Spay/Neuter), and breeder limits/breeder 'permits' type legislation.
First The Good News: MONTANA
Since I always seem to be the bearer of bad news, I thought I would share some VICTORY news for a change! Just a few short weeks after being introduced into the Montana legislature, HB 191 has been rejected by lawmakers. The bill sought to ban 'pit bull type' dogs (Am Staffs, American Pit Bull Terriers, etc) from being bred or bought in the state...Thankfully, lawmakers quickly killed this bill stating that it was an ineffective way to combat dog attacks! Big paws up to those that wrote, called, or faxed their opposition !! There is strength in numbers, folks!

HSUS Agenda: Mandatory Spay/Neuter Law Introduced in FLORIDA

After the death of California's proposed AB 1634 (the bill that wouldn't DIE..and tried to mandate spaying/castrating of every dog 4mos of age and older), the HSUS (the Humane Society of the United States), vowed to take mandatory spay/neuter (MSN) across the United States. MSN has been signed into law in several U.S cities including Los Angeles, West Palm Beach Co, FL, and is being pushed in Chicago, IL.

The HSUS has yet to have MSN signed into state law anywhere, but that doesn't keep the wealthiest Animal Rights group on the face of the planet from trying. Florida's legislative session does not officially begin until March, but the Animal Rights lunatic fringe has introduced House Bill 451, which seeks to Require owners of every dog or cat in Florida to have each animal sterilized within 30 days of the animal reaching four months of age, or within 30 days of the owner receiving the animal.

The American Kennel Club, along with the National Animal Interest Alliance Trust of Florida, have issued alerts on this AR driven piece of legislation. Diane McKinney of The NAIA Trust of Florida has issued the following statement with permission to crosspost:
"Please let people know that NAIA Trust of Florida is working on talking points on this bill as well as several more....an announcement will be coming out as quickly as possible....another FYI, our legislative session in Florida doesn't even START until March 3, 2009! So it's not as though we don't have a "little" bit of time to get this stuff together.....I think we're doing pretty well considering that we JUST found out about this - what YESTERDAY? Let the games begin! "
I cannot stress to Florida residents how important it is to join together and defeat this bill. Our dogs are our property. That includes their reproductive parts. The decision on whether to spay/neuter should be left where it belongs: with the animal's owner and their veterinarian not with the government. There are risks to any surgical procedure, including spaying/neutering, and ESPECIALLY doing so at too early of an age.

HSUS Agenda Targets Illinois and Colorado

Bills have been introduced in Illinois and Colorado that will negatively impact dog breeders and owners. The Illinois bill (HB 198) is 45 PAGES and would limit the number of dogs they can own and requires licensing for anyone who maintains three or more females (even if they are not bred) "for the purpose of the sale of their offspring." The bill would also mandate unannounced inspections, fingerprinting, and require breeders to pay an unspecified license fee. It is important that ALL fanciers, responsible dog owners, and breeders work together to oppose this burdensome and ineffective legislation. Please visit the American Kennel Club's website for important contact information of Illinois Senators!!!! The AKC also has a sample letter that you can personalize and send!

The Colorado bill ,HB 1172, seeks to dictate to breeders how many UN-altered dogs they may own over the age of 6 mos. More HSUS/Animal Rights driven laws designed to make the breeding/owning of pets more expensive and restrictive. Don't let the HSUS win! Don't drink their poison Kool-Aid and fall for the ruse of trying to eliminate so called "puppymills"...The number of animals one can own is a personal choice and is different for everyone. The Colorado Federation of Dog Clubs is aware of this pending bill and The Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States (RDOWS) has sent a letter to the powers that be in Colorado asking for this lunatic fringe proposed law to be struck down.


THIS MEANS WAR!

The HSUS is waging war on OUR rights to own, breed and keep animals. The bills I have listed above are just a sampling of what we have in store this legislative session. The bickering and bitching and finger-pointing among dog breeders/owners has got to STOP if any of us hope to have a future with our dogs.

When one area of the country is targeted by HSUS backed legislation, we are ALL sitting ducks. Just because you do not see your state listed yet does NOT mean you are in the clear. The legislative sessions are just beginning in many states and soon it will be your turn to fight with whatever draconian law the HSUS has in store for you and your dogs.

Will you be ready? Do you know who your legislators are? Will you stand shoulder to shoulder with fellow dog owners and breeders to preserve the rights for all, including yourself? Or will egos and poison Kool-Aid prevail?
When the AR came for the unlicensed puppy mills,

I remained silent;
I was not an unlicensed puppy mill.

When they confiscated dogs from those who had one too many for their local ordinances,
I remained silent;
I was not over my local limit of dogs.

When they came for the Pit Bulls similar breeds,
I did not speak out;
I was not an owner of a Bully breed.

When they came for the Commercial Breeders,
I remained silent;
I wasn't a Commercial Breeder.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out......(Author Unknown)


Friday, January 16, 2009

HSUS Agenda for Animals Officially Targeting the Hobby Breeder

The Humane Society of the United States must be dancing with glee.  With Obama in the White House, Tom Vilsack as the new Secretary of Agriculture, Cass Sunstein to head the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (this guy is HEAVY AR!),  along with the new head of the EPA, and the recent announcement of the Agriculture Committee members, the HSUS must be thinking the time has finally arrived for them to unleash the next steps of their Animal Rights driven agenda now that key players are in place in our government.
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and The Humane Society Legislative Fund (HSLF) have unveiled their 100 Step 'Change' Agenda for Animals.(this link is in .pdf)  Among the highlights(from the HSLF)  :
  • The Agriculture Department must improve enforcement at slaughter plants, puppy mills, research laboratories, and wild animal exhibits, and crack down on abusive practices such as animal fighting, horse soring, and puppy imports. It should apply basic humane slaughter protections to poultry so that nine billion birds per year have a merciful death, and finalize its pending rule to prohibit the slaughter of downed cows who are too sick or injured to stand up. The agency should work to stop the export of horses for slaughter in other countries, and should shift the focus of its Wildlife Services program to effective nonlethal methods rather than the use of aerial gunning, cruel traps, and toxic poisons. 

Just what exactly is a puppy mill? There is no legal definition, therefore, it is simply a derogatory term used to turn breeders against one another.  And if you are thinking that the HSUS is only referring to 'commercially licensed USDA breeders' or 'breeders that sell to pet stores', THINK AGAIN.  The HSUS is actually referring to ALL breeders, 'hobby/show/home breeders' included: (from the above mentioned .pdf file):

"5) Puppy mills – require all dog and cat breeders to comply with AWA requirements, including those who sell directly to the public; require daily exercise and socialization for animals in commercial breeding facilities; prohibit non-stop breeding every heat cycle"
There you have it, folks, the TRUE eventual intent of the P.U.P.S bill...the rest of us are now officially targeted.  Did the writer over at the HSLF think that people wouldn't really click on the link to their '100 Step Plan' and see the truth???  That is:  "Require ALL dog and cat breeders to comply with AWA requirements including those who sell directly to the public....."

Of course, dog breeders are not the only intended targets.  The HSUS is coming after the farmers that feed our nation; the scientists that are working to find cures to devastating diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, cancer, AIDS, Alzheimer's Disease; the hunters and trappers and fishermen...everyone and anyone that has any contact with animals is a direct target. 
Don't Drink The Kool-Aid

The thing is this:  while these changes put forth by the HSUS sound reasonable (to some) on paper, the ways in which these changes will be written into legislation are what you have to pay close attention to.  NOTHING the Animal Rights groups put forth is for the 'good of the animals' as they claim; rather, these changes are among many steps to try and end human use/benefit of animals of all types. Read again my post on the Twelve Step Plan To A No Animal Nation , then compare that to the 100 Step Change Agenda.....

Little by little, bit by bit, unless all animal owners stand united against the Animal Rights bullies, we will see life as we know it with animals come to an end.  It is time to realize who the real enemy is and to put aside differences of opinion on how individuals should own/breed/farm/hunt, etc...the Animal Rightists are making their intentions known.  Will you be duped into drinking more of the HSUS Kool-Aid?

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Wow ..My First Award! I'm Speechless...

I have been rendered speechless...and let me tell ya', that isn't an easy thing to do! LOL  It gives me a great feeling of accomplishment to know that folks are reading what I have to say;  that perhaps I am making a difference thru the wonder that is this thing called blogging.  My heartfelt "thanks" to everyone who has commented, read, cross-posted, linked to thru other blogs and websites and found The Endangered Owner blog. 

At any rate I received this 'Friendship' award from fellow blogger, Kat, over at Wolfdancer Creek.  Thank you, Kat!  In keeping with the spirit and the 'rules' of the award, I am now supposed to pass the award along to eight fellow bloggers.  So, without further delay, here we go:
  • To the PetDefense blog:  for eternal vigilance in finding the truth, no matter how hard the ARs try to hide or disguise it.  I have learned much from this blog.
  • My friend, Billy, over at Dog Show Poop:  One of the nicest people I have had the pleasure to meet in person and a great writer.  Thanks for providing us dog show fanatics with the latest results from around the country!
  • BlueDogState:  One of the first blogs I ever read and what gave me the idea to start blogging myself.
  • To Ken and Linda for endless hours of their time devoted to keeping all dog owners informed of pending legislation from all across the country thru The Monthly National Legislation Report
  • To Stop The Lies and United We Bark, for their hard work on stopping BSL and for educating people on the true agenda of the HSUS
  • The No Kill Blog , Nathan Winograd:  for enlightening the world on the betrayal of animals by the very ones that are supposed to save them, the shelters.
  • And finally, to Caveat, the great blog to the North, who writes much better than I do and is a staunch opponent of BSL

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Don't Drink The Kool-Aid: Lawmakers

The fight for our rights as pet owners and breeders continues on a daily basis.  Every day well-intentioned lawmakers in cities and states across the country pass or consider passing BSL (breed specific legislation), MSN (mandatory spay/neuter), pet limit laws, and other anti-pet/anti-owner laws. 

Just yesterday, Riverside County, CA, Board of Supervisiors passed a "3 Strikes Then the Pet Gets Fixed" ordinance, which states "that cats and dogs caught running loose more than three times in the county be spayed or neutered — regardless of a pet owner's wishes."   Sorry, but this is NOT the way to solve a stray dog problem nor is it the answer to lowering shelter intakes.  Enforcing current leash laws/dogs roaming at large laws is the answer.  Offering free or low cost spay/neuter clinics, along with EDUCATING and HELPING people solve dog behavior issues and working on owner retention, rather than surrendering the animal to a shelter, is a better solution.

Animal Rights advocates along with animal control and shelter workers sang the same tune we have heard before:  "we don't want to KILL the animals..." (But yet, they do it anyway) Rather than  putting policies/practices in place that actually REDUCE intakes and REDUCE killing, the blame for the KILLING is placed, as usual, on the public. 

Dog owners and breeders were also on hand to speak, stating:
 “I want the freedom to make my own medical decisions about my dog and not have to worry about animal control coming to my house,” Mary Bradley said.  
  And...Susan Scholar told the board that pet sterilization ordinances in other states and Los Angeles had not proved successful, resulting in revenue declines as fewer people register their pets.




“History shows that mandatory spay/neuter laws are not wise,” Scholar said.
Perhaps the Board of Supervisors should refresh their memories on a little thing called the Constitution and Bill of Rights rather than drinking more of the Animal Rightists poison kool-aid.  Maybe someone out there should send a copy of Nathan Winograd's book, "Redemption", to the shelter workers and the Board.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

HSUS Turn In A Breeder Program

Breeders, BEWARE. Yep, I'm talking to ALL breeders...especially those that have their heads buried in the sand thinking they are above reproach...The HSUS is taking names and they want YOU. (yes, that includes the hobby/show breeders too), courtesy of their "Pet Seller Complaint Form".

BEWARE: If you sell someone a puppy and for whatever reason that person is not happy with their new little fluffy bundle of joy, YOU can be turned in to the HSUS!!! Yes, folks, the HSUS has now appointed themselves "breeder watchdogs"...All a person has to do is download the 6 page form (count 'em **6** pages of forms), fill them out with their name and contact information and supply the BREEDER'S contact information, then submit copies of the packet (with all contracts, registration, medical records, etc) to the following:
Once this form is complete and additional documents have been attached make six copies of your packet. - Send one copy to Puppy Mills, The Humane Society of the United States, 2100 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20037.
- Send one copy to the Department of Agriculture in the state in which the breeder does business.
- Send one copy each to the Attorney General of the state in which the breeder resides and to the Attorney General in your state.
- Save one copy and all originals for your records.



Folks, it is this simple: The HSUS is NOT a government agency. The HSUS is NOT a law firm. The HSUS is NOT a law enforcement agency nor does it have enforcement powers. What the HSUS is, in fact, is a multi mega dollar Animal Rights group out to destroy dog breeders, the fur trade, the meat and dairy industry, and would LOVE nothing more than to see America become a land of tofu munching vegans.

Does this description sound familiar? It should. The HSUS has the SAME agenda as their Animal Rights cousin, PeTA. However, the HSUS has chosen to disguise themselves as a "animal protection agency" dressed in thousand dollar suits and driving Jaguars.

So, before any of you write and say, "I'm a responsible breeder and I guarantee all of my puppies and I only breed to better the breed"...You are not immune. Most people that I know have a website with their contact information listed (or even if you don't, it is VERY easy to get by anyone). The website may be nothing more than a way to show off your show wins, your stud dog, etc. Just a site of general information for potential puppy buyers. Let's say that one night a Animal Rights foot-soldier is cruising the 'net and stumbles onto your site. Maybe they don't like the fact that you show dogs, maybe they don't like the breed of dog(s) that you own, maybe they don't like the fact that you are a breeder period.

So the AR zealot decides to turn you in to the HSUS...even though this person has never met you, much less bought a puppy from you. BAM! All of your information is now in the hands of the enemy...the group that is working THIS YEAR to bring down "the rest of us" with the introduction of the PUPS bill in congress.

My best advice: protect yourselves. Don't post personal contact information on your website. Be extra careful of AR lunatics posing as "puppy buyers". And most importantly: DO NOT SIGN AWAY YOUR DOGS and DO NOT let any "humane" officer onto your property without a WARRANT. (Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on t.v., if you need legal advice contact an attorney to find out what laws are in your state)

For more information on what to do (and what NOT to do) when Animal Control Comes Knockin' on your door, please see "How To Respond to Anti-Dog Enforcement" and "A Dog Owner's Rights" on the American Dog Owners Association website.

This is not good. Not for any breeder. If a puppy buyer is mad enough, or feels they have been "scammed" , YOU can now be "turned in"...but what makes this so terrifying is that the HSUS will have ALL of YOUR information. Pretty handy information for an Animal Rights group to have laying around, huh? To be used for WHATEVER purpose they see fit: RAIDS, comes to mind. Especially if you have "pit bulls" (which the HSUS loves to see killed at every opportunity) or breeds of dogs that are in high demand from the public.

What would YOU do if the HSUS came-a-knockin' on your door? Would you let them in?

Would you fall victim to their coersion tactics of signing over your dogs so "it won't be as hard on you later"? What would you do? Do you know what YOUR rights are?

Monday, January 12, 2009

URGENT:All Dog Clubs and Owners BSL TEXAS CA Residents: MSN Riverside County CA

I cannot stress the importance of unity among ALL dog owners, breeders, and dog clubs when it comes to standing up to BAD laws.  No matter where we live, we will all eventually be faced with laws that will threaten our choices in the breeds of dogs we may own, when or if to spay or neuter, both of which often deny us of our RIGHT to due process under law.

The following alert is from the Texas Responsible Pet Owners Alliance and they need help from dog clubs, training clubs, registries, parent clubs, etc from ALL of us.  Please take a moment, and if you are your club's Legislative Liaison or an officer in a club duly authorized to do so, JOIN onto the brief being filed with the Texas Attorney General...
Please EMAIL Zandra Anderson  if your organization is willing to help !!!

TX-RPOA E-News

From RPOA Texas Outreach and
Responsible Pet Owners Alliance
"Animal welfare, not animal 'rights'
and, yes, there is a difference."
Permission granted to crosspost.

January 12, 2009

Urgent request from Responsible Pet Owners Alliance (RPOA)

NEEDS IMMEDIATE ACTION!

In late November Greg Abbott, Texas attorney general, wrote a letter to
Responsible Pet Owners Alliance in regard to his office issuing an opinion on
whether existing state law prohibiting breed specific legislation applies
"only" to dogs already declared dangerous or whether it prohibits
"any" ordinance specific to one breed of dog in Texas.

This opinion was requested by Rep. Tony Goolsby who is no longer in office.
RPOA was asked by the attorney general's office if we wanted to submit a
brief and has hired Zandra Anderson, Houston attorney, to do this for us.

We immediately contacted all our friends on the national level and others who
helped us at the state legislature during the last session regarding the
Dangerous Dog Law to ask if they would submit a brief also. RPOA requested an
extension of the deadline due to the holidays and received an extension until
January 20th.

There's no time to contact everyone again individually so please see that
your state or national club has either already submitted a brief or would they
like to take advantage of a new opportunity to sign on to the RPOA brief being
prepared by Zandra for RPOA -- much less time consuming! Zandra says no
signatures are needed.


Zandra needs an email saying it is okay to add your group and only needs:


1. Name of group
2. Name of person with group
3. Title of person (e.g. pres, founder, officer, legislative liaison, etc.)
Zandra needs this information BY JANUARY 15TH in order to meet the deadline set
by the AG's office. We're seeking the support of all registries' kennel clubs, breed clubs or performance event clubs, rescues, search & rescue teams, therapy groups, etc.


This must be a unified effort to preserve our right to own the dog breed of our
choice. I'm sure you're aware that breed specific legislation in other
areas now encompasses more and more dog breeds. Texas Municipal League and
Texas cities individually are urging legislators to change state law during
every legislative session to allow breed specific legislation. We need your
help.


RPOA Texas Outreach (501 C4)
Responsible Pet Owners Alliance (501 C3)
900 NE Loop 410 #311-D
San Antonio, TX 78209
Website: http://www.responsiblepetowners.org/

URGENT ACTION:  FROM AKC, RIVERSIDE CO, CALIFORNIA SPAY/NEUTER/MICROCHIPPING   JANUARY 13, 2009

Attend the Board of Supervisors Meeting January 13th

9 am, Tuesday January 13th
Board Chambers
4080 Lemon Street
Riverside, CA 92501




Monday, January 12, 2009]


The Riverside County Board of Supervisors will hold a hearing tomorrow morning at 9 am to discuss an ordinance that would require the spaying/neutering of any dog or cat for even a minor violation of the animal control ordinance and would force pet owners to microchip all their animals and register the microchips with the county. It is vital that responsible dog owners and breeders attend the hearing to oppose this measure.



Provisions of the Proposed Ordinance



Requires that all dogs and cats be spayed or neutered unless the owner has purchased an intact animal license. Current law requires owners to license their pets and mandates that the license fee for an intact animal be twice that for a sterilized animal. This will not change under the new ordinance. However, keeping that license would become much tougher.

Any animal that is picked up at-large will be required to be spayed/neutered prior to being returned to the owner. Any violation of the animal control ordinance can trigger a requirement that the animal(s) be sterilized. A few of the examples used in the ordinance include failure to posses a current rabies vaccination, failure to license, leash law violations, animals left unattended in a car and failure to provide adequate care.

A dog would have to be spayed/neutered if there are 2 complaints, verified by the department that the dog has run at-large, or the owner is found to be neglectful. (AKC staff is concerned at the vagueness of this language. It does not appear to require that the owners be cited for the alleged violations or that the owner is convicted of animal cruelty charges.)

If an owner has one intact license revoked, they can have all their intact licenses revoked. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume if one dog was picked up at-large and sterilized, then all dogs owned by this person would be required to be sterilized.

There is no exemption for dogs picked up at-large that do not reside in Riverside County. If a fancier were in town for an event and their dog somehow got loose, it would only be returned after being spayed/neutered.

Requires that any advertisement for the sale of an unaltered dog or cat include the intact license number for that animal. Since animals are not required to be licensed until they are 4 months old, it is unclear how this would impact the sale of puppies younger than four months.

Requires that all dogs and cats be implanted with a microchip and that the microchip be registered with the county. Exemptions are provided if a veterinarian states in writing that it is dangerous to the animals health or would negatively impact the animal’s athletic abilities. Animals that are kenneled or trained in Riverside, but whose owners do not live in the jurisdiction are not required to implant microchips.

This ordinance would require the sterilization of any animal that was picked up by animal control, even on a first offense. This is unreasonable as even responsible owners can have an animal escape due to a mistake by a meter reader, gardener, friend or relative leaving a gate open. We agree that steps should be taken to address owners who habitually allow their animals to run at-large, but such a severe response is not justified by a single incident.


This issue is one of utmost importance to those who participate in our dog shows and events. In 2008, almost 14,000 responsible dog owners participated in 75 AKC-approved events held in Riverside County. When you take into account what these participants spend on hotel rooms, gasoline, food, souvenirs and entertainment, the revenue generated by these events is easily over $7 million annually. Clubs will be reluctant to hold events in an area where an escaped dog would be sterilized on a first offense. Passage of a mandatory spay/neuter ordinance in Riverside County would send a clear message that AKC events are not welcome in the community.


The AKC opposes the concept of mandatory spay/neuter of purebred dogs. Instead, we support reasonable and enforceable laws that protect the welfare and health of purebred dogs and do not restrict the right of responsible breeders and owners. Mandatory spay/neuter is an ineffective solution to animal control problems because it fails to address the heart of the issue—irresponsible ownership. These laws are extremely difficult to enforce and can be evaded by irresponsible animal owners who won’t licensing their pets. This proposed ordinance will unfairly punish responsible owners who are already complying with local animal control laws, while irresponsible owners continue to make problems for the community and local shelters.


The American Kennel Club also opposes mandatory microchipping. As part of our ongoing efforts to promote responsible dog ownership, the AKC encourages dog owners to properly identify their pets. We believe, however, that the final decision about identification—whether by collar, tattoo or microchip—should be made by the owner, not the government.


What You Can Do    Please click the "what you can do" link for addresses of supervisors and telephone numbers.




Saturday, January 10, 2009

Interview: My Dog My Choice.com Taking a Stand Against MSN

Since I started this blog, I have come in contact with some really great people and learned about new grassroots organizations/groups all over the country.  A question I get frequently is:  "How/where can all dog owners and breeders unite?  Is there a particular group? " 

My answer to that question is this:  When I talk about untiy, it is in the sense of coming together for a common goal:  To dispel the myths put forth by the Animal Rights groups and to preserve our rights to breed and own animals now and in the future.  We all must learn to work together; breeders, pet owners, veterinarians, farmers, kennel clubs, everyone who loves animals and wants to make sure that the Animal Rights groups do not end up taking away our choices through Mandatory Spay/Neuter Laws (MSN), Breed Specific Legislation (BSL), breeder permits, and other restrictive types of legislation.
(I will post at another time my personal choice among the bigger groups.)

There are many fine groups out there fighting for the rights of pet owners and breeders.  Some groups have the clout at all levels of government, with paid lobbyists.  Others, like "My Dog My Choice" are getting their feet wet in grassroots level activism by educating the public and welcoming ALL who want to join the fight for our rights.  I asked for an interview so that it would give them some much needed exposure...and hopefully inspire others to follow their lead.  Here it is, from one of the members:

My Dog My Choice
By:  Margaret Byrd

My Dog My Choice began when some dog lovers became alarmed by the number of cities all over the US facing mandatory spay neuter legislation. It was especially disturbing as many locations were in out of the way places - not just in big cities on the West coast.  I think at that point it finally slapped us in the face that this wasn't just isolated “nut job stuff” but rather an organized attempt to end our rights of animal use and ownership.  Even more distressing it was successful in some areas.  We realized these things were possible because animal rights individuals had worked on long term goals for decades like groundhogs creating layers of tunnels set up to collapse. 

 During one of our doggie forum conversations, someone said we should try to develop a group to create advertising to counter the advertising and misinformation being promoted by animal rights individuals.  We needed to start giving responsible breeders a voice.  We needed billboards and magazine articles.  Folks turned and said, “Ideas are great, but action is greater. Let’s do it!”  At first a handful of folks participated and our web site was "Responsible Breeders of the US" .  We tried to explain what breeders were doing that was right.

 We found there was resistance because the term “breeder" limited our appeal.  Even folks that bred a few hunting dogs didn't see themselves as "breeders" oddly enough.  We began to realize we'd all been drinking the Kool-Aide and had separated ourselves from the concept of being "breeders".  We were speaking the language created by animal rights to divide and conquer. It had filtered into the dog community and even poisoned the views of our fellow dog lovers! So we brain stormed and morphed into "My Dog My Choice" . My Dog My Choice has enjoyed a wider appeal.


As a group, our objective is to be a positive voice for animal owners and breeders.  We help write letters when asked by other groups.  We share our ideas, advertising material and articles for use by other areas under attack.  We try to stay abreast of current threats to let others know of them via forums and networking emails.  We try to get more involved in our own areas helping to educate our lawmakers.  But our primary objective is to take back our culture with words and advertising to counter the inroads created by the animal rights agenda.


We are working on ideas to provide education to schools via an art & photography contest for older students and some coloring books to give to grade school students that explain the animal human bond.  I wish to see pages in the coloring book on milk cows and how the farmers care for them.  Pages on the chicken farmers, hunters, dog breeders etc.  Each page or series of pages will show what is good and right about these individuals and their care of their animals.  This may be as close as many children will ever get to farm animals and animal husbandry.


For too long we've let animal rights individuals define us and ignored them, but now we're mad as hell and we're not going to take it any more.  When anyone, anywhere is victimized because of their love of animals we are all victimized. Now is the time to take back the culture with advertising and the written word.  We need to make animal rights agendas “like drunk driving and smoking" – politically incorrect - just as they've tried to do with us.  They have hijacked our culture and created the language that undermines our rights. We must find our own voices before it is too late.  If the only ones speaking are animal rights individuals, they will be the only ones heard.


Our true location is on the Internet.  We do not have a single location that houses all our efforts.  We utilize a forum to archive our activities and to post information.  Important calls to action go out as emails.  No one member is more important than any other member.  We are all dedicated volunteers.  We ask new members to give a short bio so we know something about their interests as we grow in numbers.  We send them an email if they come from PayPal so we can be sure the email provided isn't an old one that no longer works.  If anyone has joined and has not gotten confirmation from us they need to send an email to info@mydogmychoice.com so we can confirm your email address.


Our group exists all over the US from one end of the country to the other.  We have members in many different cities and states.  We also have a few contacts in other countries that fight against animal rights’ agendas.

We believe that “A journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step”. Slowly we gather additional members and financial support. We will never give up. We will never give in. And failure is not an option.


In my opinion, pet owners don't understand that mandatory spay neuter laws are targeting them.  They see it as taking care of "bad breeders", or "irresponsible owners", or "puppy mills".  They see it as a "solution to over population" because this is what they are being told.  Even some of my intelligent dog loving friends fail to see the probable outcomes of these kinds of laws.  They don't understand that THEY and THEIR DOGS are in the cross hairs.  Even groups fighting the good fight against animal activism sometimes seem to be spinning their wheels because they are preaching to the choir.  That won't take the culture back.  Only education, publicity and articles can begin to turn the tide. It has to be stuff that gets out to the John Q. Public and it has to be unremitting. We need film, TV, press, newspapers. And we can get them on a shoe string if we pool our talents and brainstorm.

 I was taught that if you want to get someone to do what you want them to do; you have to tell them why it is TO THEIR ADVANTAGE to do what you want them to do.  What that means to me, in this context, is that in order to explain these destructive agendas to the average dog owner we must educate them.  We have to make them aware that it is their animals that are threatened.  It is their fourth and fifth amendment rights that are under the gun.

 I have surfed any number of animal rights sites.  It is very sobering when they are so bold they post their agendas in black and white unvarnished where anyone can see it. 

 Many of the My Dog My Choice group are part of a National Breed club and we have published notices in the breed magazine as well as articles.  We bought space in the National Trial flyer.  We have posted signs at different trials.  We have not contacted all AKC groups except we post on one of the AKC chat rooms.  Some of our members are AKC members and some are vendors that attend AKC shows.  They take information when they go to these events.  We ripple out into our community where ever we are located and in whatever venue we participate. We talk to our friends and try to get them to understand. And if at first we don’t succeed, we try, try again.

 We receive legislative alerts from as many groups as possible and join as many groups working against animal rights agendas as funds allow.  We get the AKC alerts.  As far as we're concerned there is no AKC, UKC, CKC, XYZ registries, puppy mills or back yard breeders, there are only animal owners and lovers that must bridge the gap between our differences to unite in this effort to defeat the threat to our animals. 

 For over 100 years my breed of choice has been handed down from breeder to breeder and I won't let it be thrown away on my watch.  Since man came out of caves and hunted with wolves as a mutual survival strategy, animals that displayed a talent have been bred for a function.  Those functions developed into breeds.  Under mandatory spay neuter legislation animals bred for a function would become illegal.  No new breeds would ever be developed.  The diversity of the genetics and the talents of thousands of years of development in dogs would be lost forever - "one generation and out".  Gene pools would narrow as folks gave up because of increased costs and loss of privacy. Then animal rights would meet the demand for companion animals by selling mixed breed animals to folks wanting a companion.  Companion animals would become so expensive that many poorer people would never know the joy of one in their life.  When that happens, the number of animal owners would drop tremendously.  As each group is eliminated, that leaves one less group, one less person, to help preserve and protect our companions.  We are uniquely posed to take back our culture while the numbers of animal lovers are still large but we can not falter. In order to win we must lose the language that divides us and find the language that unites us for the love of our animals. Join us. Together we can find the way.


L.A. Times Blog: HSUS Is On the Defensive

While checking the L.A. Times blog earlier today, I noticed that not only my comment had been published, but the leader of the HSLF (Humane Society Legislative Fund) had chimed in defending the HSUS begging for dollars during the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe. 

If you will recall, the Louisiana Attorney General launched an investigation into the HSUS "fundraising" activities in relation to their campaign to "help the Katrina dogs".  Very little of those millions of dollars raised went to actually HELP the shelters down there, or the dogs.

I have to wonder just how many good-hearted people donated their hard earned money thinking they were directly helping shelters/animals in need, only to find out they had been duped. 

It is time to get angry, folks.  Get angry at the fact that the public has been misled one too many times by the fundraising antics of the HSUS...Get angry at the fact that the public has been misled into believing that the HSUS collected money under the guise of "helping the Vick dogs", when in truth, the HSUS stated that the Vick dogs should be killed.

We have the truth on our side and no matter what kind of P.R. "spin" the HSUS wants to put out there, it does not change a thing.

Friday, January 9, 2009

L.A. Times Blog: Does Everyone Hate PETA?


Answer: YES! (any sane, rational person with two good brain cells to rub together does!)


The L.A. Times blog has a follow up regarding PETA's letter to USA Network.


The comments from readers are pretty good, more against the lunatic fringe than FOR it. That's great!


If you have not sent in your comments of support to USA Network, please do so. If you have not posted a brief comment on the L.A. Times blog, go on by and do some public education.


Be brief, be factual...this is a great opportunity to connect the dots between PETA and their Rolex wearing cousin, the HSUS.


I Am A Proud Student at SEA KITTEN High School

Kids have a tough time as it is nowadays: peer pressure, picking a college...you know, truly important decisions that will have an impact on the rest of their lives. Teachers, superintendents and school boards are responsible in making sure those kids have the best, safest environment in which to achieve their education...you know, truly important stuff.
However, the lunatic fringe known as PETA, seems to think that changing the name of Spearfish High School in Spearfish, SD, to Sea Kitten High School, ranks right up there with SATs and the other truly important stuff.

Thankfully, high school principal, Steve Morford is not taking them seriously.

Kudos, to you, Principal Morford, for standing up to the lunatic fringe bullies known as PETA. And I am sure your students are thanking you too. Can you just imagine a student having to tell someone, "I am a student at Sea Kitten High School?" (Yeah, actually, I can, after same student has written a tell-all book on the torment endured during his high school years ...or maybe sitting on the couch of his shrink.)

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Dog Show Fans to PETA: Leave Westminster ALONE!

One thing all dog owners can do is use the media to our advantage.  When online polls show up, go and VOTE!  The ARs do this all the time; now it's OUR TURN.  Things like polls and commenting on media forums may seem like a trivial thing, but John Q Public READS these things...and that's who we need to reach with our message.  Wherever the ARs show up spouting their lies, WE need to be there too, pointing out their lunatic agenda with facts and TRUTH.

There is a poll available on the L.A. Times site regarding PeTA's attack on USA Network and Westminster, plus this follow up article:

Back in December, the BBC  announced that it wouldn't air the Crufts dog show because of concerns over purebred dogs' health.  Earlier this week, we told you that PETA is asking the USA Network, which broadcasts the Westminster Dog Show every February, to follow the BBC's lead and discontinue coverage of America's most prestigious dog show.


We suspected a lot of you would take issue with PETA's premise: that breeding dogs for the show ring locks in genetic defects that, it argues, plague "as many as one in four purebred dogs ... with a serious genetic problem."  But we were surprised by just how vocal you were:


More than 300 of you have commented on the story so far.  Some of you agreed with PETA. Christine said, "I think it would be great if the USA Network dropped this show. Let's do a special on the USA Network about all the adorable shelter dogs available!" And Carl S chimed in, "PETA is spot on. The AKC is about money and human arrogance, not about what's in the best interest of dogs."


Most of you, though, said the show must go on. "It is a total misconception that mixed breeds are more healthy than purebreds. Responsible breeders routinely screen for health problems. A mixed breed dog has no such testing and can inherit problems from many ancestors," said Janet. And Purebred dog lover mused, "We are now in an era with the animal rightists trying to destroy and discredit breeders of purebred dogs. It must be duly noted that there are no health statistics kept on mixed breeds, just on purebred dogs. Who knows how many mixed breeds die of disease or breed problems gotten genetically from their mixed parentage?"


Do you agree with PETA that the USA Network should refrain from airing Westminster?


Yes -- breeding dogs for the show ring is unethical and shouldn't be supported


No -- dog breeders promote responsible pet ownership and dog shows are fun to watch

Don't know
Don't sit there and do nothing!  Cross-post this message and GO VOTE at the poll!  As of this moment, Thursday, January 8, 2:05 pm. cst, WE ARE AHEAD in the poll...87% to 13% !!!  Let's make it a BIGGER LEAD! 

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

PETA Bullying USA Network: Don't Air Westminster

PETA president, Ingrid Newkirk, sent a letter to USA Network urging them to not air the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show this year.  In part, Newkirk writes:
"Since dog breeders routinely use incestuous inbreeding and genetic manipulation...it's not surprising that as many as one in four purebred dogs is plagued with a serious genetic problem." ...


 Visit the L.A. Times blog to read Newkirk's drivel in full.
This latest round of PETA bullying should come as no surprise to anyone.  The Kennel Club (the UK's version of the AKC) and purebred dog breeders were slammed in the BBC's "bash-the-breeder-fest", in Pedigree Dogs Exposed.  As a result, the BBC will not broadcast the Crufts Dog Show.  In the last year, PETA has stepped up its agenda against purebred dog breeders...ESPECIALLY those of us that show dogs.  I refuse to give the link to PETA's blog where they trashed last year's WKC winner, but if you can stomach it, go take a look at their archives.  Bullying USA Network to drop Westminster was the next logical step.

Like Billy pointed out over at Dog Show Poop, what all of us must do now is write letters of SUPPORT to USA Network.    Let them hear from the purebred dog community...there are THOUSANDS more of us than there are Animal Rights fruitcakes in this country.  Tell them how much you love watching, tell them that Westminster is a glorious celebration of the purebred dog and a testiment to the many dedicated breeders.  Just send your letters of support!  And watch the show!

Monday, January 5, 2009

Twelve Step Plan To a No Animal Nation: The Animal Rights Agenda

When PETA first came on the scene in the 1980's, the general concensus was "what a bunch of fruitcakes!" The overwhelming majority of animal owners laughed at their nude antics and talk of "Animal Liberation" and "Animal Rights"...INSANE!
We ignored them. We continued on our merry way, going about our day-to-day routines and enjoying our animals and animal related activities. Hunters hunted, fishermen fished, pet owners bought/sold/bred/showed/trained...great advances were made in human and animal medicine. No worries. Life was good. For now.

The ARs told "us" of their plan, their goals...we didn't listen. A nation as great as ours could NEVER allow such lunacy to prevail, right??? NO animal use?, c'mon! NO pets?, "no way!" If only more of us had paid attention to what they were saying...changing the language and playing on human emotion...using "us" to push their socialist agenda : "Guardianship" instead of 'ownership', "don't breed or buy while shelter animals die!", "animals have a right NOT to be eaten!"... Laws were passed while we slept, making it more and more difficult/expensive to own pets...laws were passed villifying hunters...scientists were (and continue to be) ATTACKED for doing important animal medical testing, corporations such as KFC, have been the victims of media- terrorist- tactics aimed at destroying honest businesses...

Honestly, if anyone reading this STILL thinks groups like the HSUS are in it for the welfare of the animals, you need a labotomy. The HSUS is in it FOR THE MONEY. The HSUS and the rest of their ilk are human-haters when you get right down to it. The laws they propose ARE NOT for the benefit of the animals, they are proposed solely for the purpose of promoting their NO ANIMAL USE / VEGAN AGENDA.

So, unless, dear readers, you want to become a nation of tofu burgers on the grill on the 4th of July, unless you DO NOT want a choice as to where your next purebred dog comes from...it is way past time to wake up and JOIN THE CRUSADE.

The following 12 Step plan was published in 1987, when the concept of Animal Rights was as foreign as fuzz on a frog's ass. Look at this list VERY CAREFULLY. ( Over the coming weeks, The Endangered Owner will look at each of these steps individually, so check back.)

Each and every item on that list is being attacked by PETA and the HSUS. And for all of you pet owners out there that STILL do not believe the Animal Rightists want to end ALL PET BREEDING, read item number 10.

From “Politics of Animal Liberation”

by Kim Bartlett,

published in ANIMAL AGENDA, November 1987


1. Abolish by law all animal research

2. Outlaw the use of animals for cosmetic and product testing, classroom demonstration and in weapons development

3. Vegetarian meals should be made available at all public institutions, including schools

4. Eliminate all animal agriculture

5. No herbicides, pesticides or other agricultural chemicals. Outlaw predator control.

6. Transfer enforcement of animal welfare legislation away from the Department of Agriculture

7. Eliminate fur ranching and the use of furs.

8. Prohibit hunting, trapping and fishing.

9. End the international trade in wildlife goods

10. Stop any further breeding of companion animals, including purebred dogs and cats. Spaying and neutering should be subsidized by state and municipal governments. Abolish commerce in animals for the pet trade.

11. End the use of animals in entertainment and sports.

12. Prohibit the genetic manipulation of species.

NOTE: This was written in 1987, long before genetic engineering and cloning. In this context, “genetic manipulation” means selective breeding”

**Cross-posting notice**

Cross posting is highly encouraged and welcomed. Post this message anyplace that it will be read by those folks still unaware of what is happening to our rights and to our culture.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Deadly Disease Killing Dog Owners and Breeders

In the midst of the battle for dog owner and breeder rights, a disease has been emerging that is GUARANTEED to kill off dog owners (INCLUDING members of the 'show fancy') and breeders (INCLUDING 'show-only breeders') from all walks of life.
This disease, at present, seems to be rearing it's ugly head primarily within the 'showing fancy', but remember that no one who owns, breeds, or loves animals is immune. Symptoms include, but are not limited to:
  • Not being able to realize that ALL dog breeders (commercial, hobby, show, et al) are under attack by the Animal Rightists, such as PeTA and HSUS ("Well, I'm not one of those.....breeders", known as "Throw-The-Other-Breeders-Under-The-Bus syndrome)
  • Mistakingly thinking their breeding program is above reproach and scrutiny from same Animal Rightists (the "I only breed for myself/once-every-few years..yadda, yadda, so I am OK", syndrome
  • In-ability and down-right refusal, to recognize bad legislation when it is staring them in the face ("I don't mind paying an extortionate fee for a breeder's permit if it will help get rid of the bad/greedy{insert choice word du`jour} breeders"...known as "it's for the greater good" syndrome.
  • Refusal to stand in unity with dog owners/breeders from other areas when BSL, Mandatory Spay/Neuter, breeder restriction type laws come up ("WHEW! I'm glad that law doesn't apply to my little safe bubble world",( known as "it's not my problem, and who am I to stick my nose in other state's/city's business..", syndrome)
There are other symptoms, but these are the most prevalent. The first thing to do if you realize you are suffering from any of these symptoms is DO NOT PANIC and realize that you have been used as a pawn in the most common strategy by the Animal Rightists: divide and conquer.

For the first 14 1/2 to 15 years of my own involvement in the sport of purebred dogs, I exhibited the same exact symptoms as described above, so if you are just now realizing your are afflicted, I know how you feel!. Thankfully, I found THE CURE! And you can too!

It involves truth-seeking into the Animal Rights' agenda of no animal use. It means to stop using AR-speak (words like 'guardian', 'puppymill', etc). It means realizing that YOU (yes, 'you' reading this right now), are NOT superior or any better than the Mom-and-Pop breeders down the street, because EVERYONE who breeds dogs is worse than the scum-of-the-earth in the Animal Rightists' view.

The cure, most importantly, involves joining with pet owners of all types, whether they show or not...breeders...whether you agree with their practices or not...We are all in this fight together, but if any of us hope to survive to be able to continue to enjoy, breed and/or show our dogs, WE MUST get rid of this terrible disease...

Apathy.

Friday, January 2, 2009

Relationships: Vets and Breeders

Veterinarians are a breeders best friend.  They used to be; they should be still.  As was mentioned in the post The Power of Language,  the past two decades have brought about changes in the ways people treat and think about animals, vets included.  The following was written by "Lottadogs", a long-time dog owner, breeder and member of the showing fancy.  Read it, then go have a serious conversation with your veterinarian.

Vets and Breeders
by "Lottadogs"

The new vet is staring at my rather thick folder with an unhappy expression. “Are you some kind of breeder or something?” she asks as my heart sinks.

“Why yes” I answer with a smile, “I’m a breeder and I also do breed rescue making my folder extra thick. I like to say I’m a responsible breeder and that I care about more than just the puppies I produce.” She looks at me in disbelief and then examines my dog.

“How many litters has she had?” the vet asks. “None,” I reply, “she’s just getting old enough to have completed her health testing and I’m thinking about maybe doing a litter next spring.” Again the look of skepticism appears. We leave it at that and once the dog is cared for I leave.

Next time I’m at the office I ask for the senior vet and discuss the conversation I had with his new intern. He tells me the vet is very good but that the new vets are coming out of school thinking that breeding is bad as they don’t have a farm background like the vets used to when he was young. Back then most who studied veterinary science went into school from a background of animal care. Now they are people ‘who love animals’ and that is bringing in a new view of the animal owning world.

I do see more of the young vet as she is gentle with the animals and a good diagnostician plus her schedule is more open than the more senior vet’s may be. Over time she decides I actually am what I say I am, a careful and concerned breeder.

I know I’ve changed her view when she unexpectedly calls me one day for advice to help a client who needs to hand raise a litter. At one point during I conversation she tells me “This person shouldn’t even be a breeder as she’s not the least bit like YOU!” So I know the anti breeding prejudice is still there but at least now allows for there to be exceptions.

What is going on here that veterinarians are coming out of their studies disliking breeders? How could this happen that the professions that need each other should be so at odds? If there are no breeders there are no animals and no need for veterinarians. If there are no veterinarians who are familiar with breeding issues and the care of breeding animals then the breeders and their animals are going to be out on a limb alone with urgent or specialized care needs. People new to breeding will not get good advice or be guided into responsible practices by their veterinarian if the veterinarian is anti breeding.

What are the vets learning in school that makes them anti breeders and breeding? Here’s an example from one curriculum seen here .
“A small animal veterinarian has to decide what procedures he/she is unwilling to do for ethical reasons (e.g. ear crops, tail docs, de-claws, convenience euthanasia, etc.) and be equipped to deal with clients and colleagues who may disagree with your ethical values.”
The implication being that objecting is the correct and ethical stand.

In the early 1980’s,  Bernard E Rollin  who is now widely recognized as the father of veterinary ethics published a book Animal Rights and Human Morality which is and has been used in the study of veterinary ethics.
Veterinary Ethics: Animal Welfare, Client Relations, Competition and Collegiality by Jerrold Tannenbaum is another book used to teach veterinary ethics.

Previously ethics was considered to be about the ethics of running a practice, abiding by rules on advertising and dealing with fellow veterinarians etc. More recently it’s become about whether or not a vet should do a medical procedure depending on how they feel about it.

Starting in elementary school students today are presented with information on animal rights and encouraged to not eat meat, not wear leather, and to consider breeding and owning animals as immoral and cruel. By the time they get to a vet school they have years of images about greedy breeders, puppy mills, and animal cruelty firmly in mind.

Then at veterinary school these attitudes are reinforced with more training that comes straight from the animal rights agenda including peer pressure from those students who are ardently animal rights oriented. Some of it works to short term financial advantages for practices such as promotion of spay neuter surgeries.

There is the push for alternate sources of study rather than using real animals such as is seen here on the veterinarians for animal rights website  .   Not working on live animals is considered ‘good’ and working on living animals or dead animals is considered ‘bad’. Yet do we really want veterinarians who have not worked on the actual animal tissue working on our pets?

According to this site  :

“There are approximately 80,000 veterinarians in the United States, and 11,000 of them are already supporters of The HSUS.”
With HSUS being an animal rights group that supports the ending of all animal ownership or interaction between humans and animals it seems a bit strange to find any veterinarians supporting them at all, but they do.

So what are the results of the new age of veterinary science for the animal owner? Well in the new age lexicon Breeder = Greedy Evil Animal Torturing Person. Not quite how I view myself considering the thousands in dollars and thousands in hours I spend tending to my animals’ welfare!

This extends to the person with that new show puppy who will be encouraged to spay or neuter, not show or breed; perhaps the given opinion will even be based on faulty knowledge of a breed by a vet. I remember one vet who told me to spay my show puppy as she had an undershot jaw – which fortunately I knew was perfectly correct in my breed!

This also impacts the pet owner who might consider becoming a breeder as a definite effort to get the dogs altered is shown.

Extremely high prices for needed medical services come into play. $3500 for a c-section but only $150 for a spay with some vets refusing to do a c-section at all! When a beloved pet dies horrifically as the owner cannot afford to get needed medical care at staggering prices, how many will continue on thinking breeding is OK to do?

If you have a dog that is elderly but in good health, or young but dangerously aggressive or fearful, some veterinarians will refuse to euthanize if the animal is not untreatably ill. This leaves owners open to lawsuits if they rehome a dangerous animal because a vet will not euthanize it, puts more stress on the shelters who may end up taking in these animals, or in the case of a senior animal may mean the pet will be bounced in and out of shelters or foster care until it becomes too ill to rehome as so few adopt a senior dog. Is it kinder to keep the animal alive when the owner wants to euthanize? – some vets now think so.

Then there are surgical issues. Surgery is surgery and always has risks and is only ever done for the owner’s convenience and is never done at the request of the animal. So if it comes down to rights, how is it a vet can decide this surgery is OK and that is not? I’m pretty sure that if my dogs could discuss this, they would be happy to sacrifice a bit of ear or tail in exchange for sex and that their vote would be to retain the ability to reproduce.

In the new way of thinking,  it is OK to do surgical sterilization (NOTE: this is a .pdf file) of an animal with all the far reaching impact this may have due to the change in hormones this causes, but its not OK to snip off a length of tail before a pup can feel that surgery, or take off excess ear so that the ear can stand as is normal in dogs (a drop ear is a mutation seen only in tame canines). It is considered reasonable to mention only the positive effects of alter surgery but not to mention the negatives. Now how can it be OK to ‘sexually mutilate’ a dog without its agreement, but not be OK to prevent tail injury or fix an ear or remove a dewclaw? Do the vets not realize that if they alter the last animals they will be out of work?

I think one of the things the dog fancy perhaps even the AKC should be doing is ensuring the new vets coming along in the world are familiar with the positive side of breeding, and that ethical and responsible breeders not only exist but can be encouraged into existence by a vet with a good attitude towards breeding and the ability to guide a new breeder along the path of becoming a caring responsible breeder. Get them to be an educational resource for breeders rather than a card carrying breeder hating animal rights person. It all starts in their courses in veterinary science and they should be hearing from more than just the animal rights groups on the topics near and dear to us!