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.

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.

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.

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.

The Power of Language

I am pleased to offer for the first post of the new year an article written by Elizabeth Brinkley, which is copyrighted and will be published in 4 breed magazines over the next few months by Reporter Publications.

Elizabeth has graciously given The Endangered Owner permission to post it here, with all attributions to Elizabeth Brinkley and Reporter Publications.

The Power of Language

What's in a word? A lot of power for good or bad. When did being a breeder become a "bad" thing? When I first got into Shelties, my mentors proudly had a sign out front proclaiming _______ Kennels. They knew they sold (yes I said SOLD - not placed or adopted) quality show dogs and healthy pets. They were proud of their dogs and their hobby. I was so looking forward to the day when I could have a couple of acres out in the country and do the same. Now I feel cheated. I have a sign out front - in very small letters it says my kennel name but ONLY the name not the word "kennel". There's another sign nearby.

It says "Posted - No trespassing" . Guess that's a sign of the times.


Friends tell me they don't have a "kennel". Their dogs are kept in "dog rooms" not kennel rooms. Others say "ALL my dogs are house dogs". When did keeping dogs in a kennel become a bad thing? When did keeping multiple dogs become bad? Several of our founders made a substantial part of their income from the sale of pet puppies. Now people hide their numbers and won't even tell other breeders exactly how many dogs they have. Others say "I only breed for myself". When did it become a hateful thing to breed a pet or two? Or even (horrors - gasp) make a profit from puppy sales? I know I am always proud when I sell a puppy to someone who will show it but that's not because I am ashamed that I may have produced a "pet quality" puppy but because I am proud that my pups are going to a home where they will be active mentally and physically in breed and performance rings. I am proud that someone who shows would want a puppy I produced. I am equally pleased and proud when I place a healthy pet with someone who will cherish and spoil it for a lifetime.

In the last twenty years, there has been a gradual mind change in our country. Part of it is simply that we are becoming a more urban/suburban country and far less rural. People don't grow up on farms working with animals on a daily basis. Pets have become the replacement for children for many upwardly mobile people who spoil them and treat them as "furkids" and "furbabies". I cringe every time I hear those words - especially from a breeder. The pet industry is a multimillion dollar money machine with clothes, and soft crates and designer treats for pampered pooches. Celebrities use them as accessories. And the fact that they are ANIMALS is forgotten. No wonder people raise such a fuss when a dog "bites" someone. An animal did what animals do and most likely somewhere a human made a mistake with that animal either the owner in training it or the person who approached it. When I was a child it was drilled into us - NEVER approach a strange animal. Wonder how many kids get any training in that today? If you want to know the true facts on the "dog bite" epidemic in our country read "Dogs Bite But Balloons and Slippers Are More Dangerous" by Janis Bradley. You are more likely to get hit by lightening or slip and fall in a bathtub than you are to be killed by a dog attack. But people have forgotten they are animals. They think of their dogs as their "fur child" and they feel a sense of betrayal and rejection when they get bitten by their dog or it bites someone else.

The other part of this equation is far more insidious. The animal rights cult has grown and spread and is fast becoming part of our mainstream thinking. With them comes the use of words such as "puppy mill". Every time I hear some breeder pointing at another breeder and calling them a puppy mill I want to smack heads and take numbers. I don't feel a need to go into depth on this issue since Charlotte Clem McGowan has done a fabulous job covering the subject in her recent article. I will simply say that in thirty four years in this breed, I have NEVER gone to visit a so-called "puppy mill" breeder in Shelties that actually turned out to be a "puppy mill". Sometimes they had more dogs than some people approved of and sometimes they didn't "keep" their dogs the way others think they should, but never have they turned out to be "puppy mills" such as the AR groups love to show on TV with the filthy wire cages and sad-eyed dogs wallowing in their own filth. In fact two breeders that someone called a "puppy mill" have ended up being among my best friends.

Jealousy was the reason for those accusations. I have visited horrible breeding situations with rescue but never was it someone who was actually a Sheltie show breeder. Maybe I have just been lucky - or maybe it's not as common a situation as the AR groups would have us believe.

The Humane Society of the United States has just announced to the media that there are 900 puppy mills in the state of Virginia, many of them "unlicensed commercial kennels" and selling puppies through the Internet. You couldn't hide 900 unlicensed puppy mills in the entire state of Virginia. Most likely some of those "unlicensed and selling through Internet" breeders they are referring to are US - show breeders who keep our numbers down so we don't have to be licensed as commercial and have fancy web sites to show off our dogs. The animal rights fanatics consider ANYONE who breeds even ONE litter to be a puppy mill. Their motto is "don't breed while others die" meaning the dogs put down in shelters. You can read Nathan Winograd's excellent new book "Redemption, The Myth of Pet Overpopulation"  for a commonsense approach to this "problem" that the shelters and AR groups are using as a weapon to attack breeders.


Other word changes brought into common usage by the AR groups is that of "rescue" and "adoption" and "placement" and home visits. It has become harder to take in a stray than to adopt a human child. I wonder how many people have gotten turned off by some of the attitudes found in the more radical "rescue" groups and gone away when they would have been an excellent home for an animal but didn't feel like being subjected to an inspection process that requires a life history before they can have a pet. I was refused an "adoption" on a cat a few years ago. The reason - I had intact dogs! What did they think - the dogs are going to breed the cat? Or I am a bad person because I have intact dogs that I show? This goes hand in hand with the move among the AR groups to change the language of the law from animal "owners" to animal "guardians".

I am sure a lawyer could address this in far better detail than I but I do know that the word "guardian" has well established limits and definitions under current law. Do you really want some AR slanted animal control officer able to come into your home at anytime without a warrant and tell you that you can't remove dew claws or write you a ticket because your dogs don't have water bowls in their crates 24/7? That could be our future if we become the "guardians" of our dogs instead of proud owners.

There comes a point where we have to start drawing lines in the sand and refusing to give in to the politically correct language that has infiltrated society from the far out AR groups who really don't seem to like animals
all that much. Mostly they just seem to hate people. To Ingrid Newkirk of PeTA "A rat is a pig is a boy." To me "a dog is a dog is an animal". I am proud to say that I am a breeder of purebred Shetland Sheepdogs. Shakespeare said "that which we call a rose, by any other word would smell as sweet." And dog poop is still just as stinky.

I own dogs who live in a kennel and I am a breeder. And that's my final word.

Elizabeth Brinkley
Legislative Liaison
Three Rivers SSC of Greater Pittsburgh

This Is WHY I Fight...

At the request of some of my readers (Thanks, all!), I decided to include some pics of my dogs.

Hopefully, this will give ya'll some insight as to why I'm such an opponent of the animal rights agenda...and why we must all join together to banish the notion of animals having "rights".

If animals had "rights", I wouldn't be able to herd with my dogs, 'cause, you know, it's sooo mean to make a dog chase those poor wittle sheep.

Newsflash: Rottweilers, along with the traditional herding breeds, are BRED to herd (among other things). The instinct to herd is either "there" or not...you can't force a dog to herd, any more than you can... a cat. (now I'm envisioning a cat "herding" a bunch of mice..hehehe)

Purebred dogs are bred for a purpose. Each breed having a specific set of traits, both physical and instinctual. These physical traits such as size, weight, color, markings, etc., are what set the Rottweiler (for example) apart from other breeds. Dogs bred to work with man such as the working and herding breeds have been selectively bred for generations to do what they do. It's no accident.

The ARs, such as PeTA and the H$U$, don't believe anyone should breed dogs. Period. Not for any reason. Hmmm, excuse me, but, I for one want to continue to own a PUREBRED dog (not a mutt)...if for no other reason than I want to, and who died and made Ingrid Newkirk and Wayne Pacelle the end-all-be-all "dictators" when it comes to what *I* can and can't do???

This is why I fight the Animal Rightists and their foot-soldiers and the legislation they try to force down my throat. I don't want to own a mutt. I want my purebreds, my Rottweilers. I don't want decisions regarding my dogs' care being put in the hands of the government, as in mandatory spay/neuter laws.

I love my dogs and I love my chosen breed, the Rottweiler. I want to make sure I have the choice in the future and for future generations to come....to own and/or breed the dog of our choosing.

I love dog shows and being able to exhibit my dogs in conformation and herding and obedience and rally events. My dogs love it...they love the attention, they love to travel, and they thrive on the mental stimulation the events bring.

Dogs are animals...not humans in "fur suits", no matter how the ARs want to word it. And contrary to their propaganda, those of us that choose to work and / or show our dogs aren't evil animal abusers, either.

If you have never had the pleasure of watching a dog herd or lure course, or hunt...if you have never sat in awe, watching that "light bulb" go off , switching on that natural instinct...you should. It's a beautiful and amazing thing.

And that's why I fight the Animal Rightists...

Louisville, KY: Look Out, Here Comes Animal Control!

Look out you criminal dog breeders! Animal Control is on the prowl and, evidentally, they don't need a warrant to come onto your property and take your animals....nor do they have to allow you due process! Isn't there something in this country called the Constitution?

I have heard rumors that there were dirty deeds being commited by Animal Control...and now this story as covered by WHAS11, "Man's Puppies Taken After Undercover Sting"

In my opinion, this is abuse of power: Taking one's property without a warrant...demanding entry into someone's home....scaring the daylights out of property owners and their children....what is going on???

The last time I checked, Louisville has REAL problems with REAL crime....I guess now being an "unlicensed dog breeder" puts you in the same category as the rapists and murderers. Sad.

Oh, did I mention that the puppies taken were "pitbulls"? Interesting, since the draconian Louisville dog ordinance was originally written as BSL (breed specific legislation) against the "breed", but was amended to remove breed specific language. I guess the Animal Rightists will wipe out the "breed" in that city no matter what....even if it means denying people their Constitutional Rights.

Wonder if the dogs would have been confiscated if they were, say Dachshunds? Hmmmm....

Why I Started This Blog...

I started this blog to educate the public on the radical Animal Rights Agenda and their goal of total animal liberation. Which led to the title of this blog: The Endangered Owner. You see, if groups such as PeTA and The Humane Society of the United States have their way, the concept of "owning" or "using" animals, in any form, will become extinct. Ownership and breeding of any animal will become a "fad" of the past. We are fast on our way to becoming "guardians" to our animals rather than "owners". The words "owners" and "breeders" have been added to the list of dirty words not fit for civilized conversation.

We, as dog owners and breeders, are under constant fire from Animal Rights groups (ARs). By pushing for legislation such as mandatory spay/neuter (MSN), breed specific legislation (BSL), and breeder permits and the like, our RIGHTS to own, breed, and use animals are being stripped away little by little. With the recent passing of Proposition 2 in California, the ARs are seeing to it that Americans will have to pay through the nose for staples such as eggs and chicken. But, hey, as long as the chickens are happy, that's all that matters, right? To hell with us evil humans!

Using the guise of "animal welfare", The Humane Society of the United States (H$U$) has grown into the wealthiest and most powerful Animal Rights group in the world. Their very name invokes confusion among its many donors. The H$U$ is NOT an animal shelter. The H$U$ does NOT operate shelters around the country. The H$U$ does NOT use it's millions and millions of dollars to help feed animals, nor does it give money to shelters for day to day operations in caring for these animals.

So, what DO they DO with all of that dough??? The H$U$ lobbies. The H$U$ pushes for more and more restrictive laws concerning pets, breeders, and livestock used for food. The H$U$ would like nothing more than to make the United States of America a vegan country: no more animals used in ANY way. NOT for food, NOT for entertainment (circuses, zoos, rodeos), NOT for much needed medical testing for diseases such as AIDS, cancer, Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis....NOT even as pets.

Of course, no one in their right mind would donate to such a group if they were up front from the beginning and explained, "Hey, we want everybody to be a vegan and we want ALL animals to live and die free from their human oppressors"...That kind of agenda doesn't appeal to the millions and millions of us that like a good steak and enjoy our pets, does it? That kind of honesty wouldn't generate millions of dollars in donations now, would it? Of course NOT!

So, to be able to rake in the big bucks, the H$U$ continues to allow the public to believe that all of those millions goes to "help the animals", using the very confusion their name invokes to their advantage. The H$U$ is the master of manipulation. They manipulate our emotions, our sense of decency, manipulate our love and need for animals...and manipulate our dollars out of our wallets and into their war chest: all to be used to further their own sick, socialist agenda.

What can we do to STOP THE MADNESS and take back OUR RIGHTS and become the voice of REASON? It's very elementary: STOP GIVING THEM MONEY! STOP GIVING THEM POWER BY USING THEIR LANGUAGE! These are two very basic things EVERYONE can do and MUST do if us sane folk are to take back our animals and our rights to own and breed them.

What do I mean by "stop giving them power by using their language"? The Animal Rightists (ARs) are masters of manipulation. They use words that make us "feel good", especially when it comes to our pets. The following list of words should be removed from our vocabularies immediately, as each time we utter them, we yield more power and control to the enemy:

1. "Guardian": This term has a completely different legal meaning than "owner". "Guardians" do not "own" what they are "overseeing". Dogs are property, therefore, we OWN them. We are responsible for their care and we are responsible for their actions. If the word "guardian" is replaced in current laws, who will make the decisions concerning their care? Who will be financially responsible for any damages they may do? The "idea" behind using this fuzzy wuzzy term is that by labeling us "guardians", it will "make" people be more kind and treat their animals more "humane".

2. "Backyard Breeder": A derogatory term used to describe someone who "doesn't breed the way WE think they should", on a small scale, with a small number of dogs.....Used among the dog showing community to separate "us" from "them"...."good" from "bad"....(the whole divide and conquer thing)

3. "Puppy Mill": This term could fill a website all on it's own. Like it's cousin, the "backyard breeder", a "puppy mill" is reserved for anyone who "doesn't breed the way WE think they should" as well, except it's original intent was to describe the "filthy deplorable conditions of commercial breeders" and for breeders that "have hundreds of dogs and dozens of breeds and breeds every bitch every time they come in heat" (aka, USDA licensed breeders, you know, the ones that sell all of those sick/psychotic puppies to pet shops). Also used among breeders to separate "us" from "them" and "good" from "bad". The H$U$ has used this one to its advantage big time, lobbying for laws in several states (carefully worded, mind you) to "stop the puppy mills"...But what is a "puppy mill"? There is no legal definition. The H$U$ is quickly changing its meaning to cover anyone that sells over the internet, or thru classified ads. How many "show breeders" do you know that have websites? The gap is closing....more on this subject later.

4. "Adopt/Adoption": Another emotionally charged "feel good" term. Since we've already established the fact that dogs are property, any time money is exchanged for goods, that means you "buy" something under the law: whether the animal comes from a shelter, rescue or breeder, you are giving money in exchange for something. "Adopt" is another divide and conquer word. By using mottos such as "save a life, adopt" and "don't breed or buy while shelter animals die", it gives people the feeling of "doing good"...while at the same time saying that "buying from a breeder" is bad. (very clever on the ARs part, divide the rescue/shelter community from the "evil breeders") (Important note: there are great shelters and rescues out there, there are some that are not so great...just like there are great and not so great breeders)

There are others, but these are the "Big 4" in my book. If we are going to win the war for our animals and our rights to own them, the simple act of NOT using their language is a valuable tool. It's way past time to stop the madness. The time to UNITE is NOW. ALL breeders, ALL animal owners and livestock farmers are in danger of losing our constitutional rights to our property (i.e, our animals).

Which side will YOU be on? Remember: The "US" in the war of "us vs them", is "US" means all breeders and animal owners from all walks of life, the "THEM" are the Animal Rights groups.

Will you become one of US? Or will you continue to allow the AR groups to use YOU (and your hard earned dollars) against us?