09.02.10
Posted in Animal Activists at 12:05 am by Administrator
Here is an interesting message regarding the HSUS’s policy to NOT meet with local agriculture folks when they have their activist meetings, even when those folks were INVITED. Be sure to read the comment from the gentleman who worked on the set of the movie City Slickers and see how out of touch the HSUS is with common concepts of animal husbandry.
Permalink
08.20.10
Posted in AKC, Showing and Owner Handling at 10:07 pm by Administrator
AKC has forgotten the primary constituents of its member clubs. That would be we, the breeders, owners, and exhibitors. AKC has forgotten us in so many ways.
Most of us don’t make nice six-figure salaries. In this economy, many of us are lucky to even have a job. We allocate our resources so that we may feed ourselves and our dogs, provide care for ourselves and our dogs, and hopefully have cash enough left over to show or trial our dogs.
We have kids, or grandkids, or elderly parents who require our care and our time. We juggle our jobs, our kids, our parents, and our dogs, and hopefully have enough time left over to show or trial our dogs.
A recent AKC survey questioned selected recipients about an associate membership in AKC. Apparently, one would have to “belong” to AKC in order to show in AKC events. Most of us cannot afford additional fees. We already belong to breed clubs (who, in turn, are AKC members) and local clubs. We already have to carve entry fees, club membership fees, litter registration fees, licensing fees, and kennel permit fees out of our every-day incomes. Worse, with the increasingly restrictive legislation, our licensing, intact dog, and kennel permit fees grow every day. We cannot afford another fee just to be able to enter our dogs in AKC shows.
Many of us are spending what little extra income we have actively fighting the ever-expanding breeder licensing and regulation legislation.
AKC is also trying to implement a sort of judge’s tax or fee, whereby judges would have to pay for the privilege of being a judge. Since judges don’t generally make money from judging, they would have to pass this fee onto the clubs…thereby increasing the cost to exhibitors.
Even the rapid explosion of “cluster” shows can work against the hobbyist. The hobbyist often cannot attend all shows during a cluster. We have responsibilities to our day jobs. Yet, it seems difficult, if not impossible, to get a dog noticed if it is not exhibited all four (or five) days of a cluster. Judges seem to increasingly give the nod to dogs on handlers that are seen more often than owner-handled dogs who are only out on occasion, even though the owner-handled dog may be a better dog.
Is it any wonder we don’t have a lot of young faces in the fancy? Is it any wonder we don’t have more judging applicants? What young person, in their twenties or early thirties, with a child or two, a mortgage, a car payment, and little seniority in their job, could possibly afford to enter the fancy? Who would want to even try to finish a dog, knowing that since they can only attend a few shows their chances of winning are stacked high against them?
Most of us have had to cut back on our luxuries during this economic recession. Perhaps it is time that AKC recognized this as well. Cut back on some of the extravagances. Remind your judges that every exhibitor deserves equal attention, and that just because a dog isn’t at a show every weekend, it still might be a good – or even great – dog. Remind your obedience judges that some people compete more for companionship than perfection. Get more involved in the fight against bad legislation.
Help us, the little guys, continue to do what we do – breed, exhibit, and trial our chosen and beloved breeds, and provide healthy, sound puppies for future owners to do the same.
Permalink
08.17.10
Posted in Uncategorized at 4:04 pm by Administrator
This topic was discussed on Pet-Law list and it is amazing how people have had to change their lives because of the Animal Rights Idiots who wish to take our rights to own and breed animals away from us. Here’s a sample.
We never leave town together. One of us is always home. And we have a list of instructions on our refrigerator to remind us what to do if someone comes knocking.
We don’t hire dogsitters anymore.
We don’t discuss future show plans with anyone but other exhibitors who might help us make points.
We don’t use Petco rewards cards anymore; or any other rewards cards for dog food purchases. Big Brother does not need to know how much dog food we buy.
When the cashier asks us for our zip code, we give the zip of a neighboring town. Big Brother doesn’t need to know where my dog food is going.
When we have to have a service person come to our home (gas & electric, etc) we shut the dogs in the kennel building (even though they are house dogs). We don’t know if they are AR-friendly, and we certainly don’t want to find out the hard way.
We don’t invite prospective buyers into our homes anymore. We used to. Now we only do if they are well-referenced and have been referred to us by someone we know, and someone who really knows them.
Unfortunately, this is what the AR’s want. They want to stop us from engaging in our passions and hobbies. And they are winning.
And we aren’t even doing anything wrong.
Permalink
Posted in Animal Ownership, On the National Front, Pet Laws at 3:37 pm by Administrator
THANK YOU FRANK LOSEY FOR THE FOLLOWING FEDERAL PUPS UPDATE: * *
Written by Frank Losey: PUPS – - THE “PERFECT STORM” FOR AN HSUS “SNEAK ATTACK”
Based on my 20 years of Lobbying Experience in Washington DC , I believe that the HSUS is methodically executing a “Behind-the-Scenes Strategy,” with the help of several Members of Congress, to ensure that the PUPS Bill is enacted this year for the following reasons:
1. The number of co-sponsors of the PUPS Bill (H.R. 5434) in the House of Representatives continues to grow each week. As of July 23, 2010 the number of sponsors and co-sponsors in the House of Representatives is 83.
2. HSUS is “beating the drum,” behind the scenes, to Congressional Members and their respective Staffs about the scathing USDA IG Report with regards to APHIS Inspection Procedures, and is citing that Report as a reason for House Congressional Members to co-sponsor the PUPS Bill.
3. HSUS has ballyhooed the Animal Crush Video Bill (H.R 5566), which passed the House on July 21, 2010 by a vote of 416 to only three votes in opposition. Significantly, nearly 300 House Members had co-sponsored this Bill. That is why House Rules on voting for this Bill were suspended. The horrific images used to gather Congressional support for this Animal Crush Video Bill will consciously and subliminally carry over in the minds of many Members of Congress and their respective staffs.
4. HSUS is masterful with its use of subliminal messages and resonating, horrific images that have framed the Public’s “misperceptions” about all breeders.
5. HSUS has spent millions of dollars on advertising on the FOX Network. These ads on FOX raise the following question: Why would HSUS not run the same ads on other major networks, unless there was an ulterior motive? Unquestionably, HSUS is seeking donations as part of its “Factory Fundraising” efforts. However, a secondary and major subliminal purpose of using the FOX Network is to reach out to conservative Republicans, who historically have not scored well on the HSUS Congressional Scorecard. HSUS is politically streetwise and savvy, and it knows that Conservative Republicans are more apt to watch FOX, and “coincidentally” see the HSUS ads, which contain gut-wrenching” images of dogs and puppies. This is done not only to try and gather support for more co-sponsors on the PUPS Bill, but more importantly, to reduce and mute opposition to the inevitable efforts of the HSUS to orchestrate a “Sneak Attack” amendment to a “Must Pass Bill,” such as an Appropriations Bill for funding the USDA.
6. “Sneak Attacks” are by their very nature sneaky and designed to use the element of surprise to one’s advantage. In short, you do not publicly tell your potential opposition of your plan of attack against responsible breeders until it is too late to stop the orchestrated “attack!!!!”
7. Why would the HSUS use a “Sneak Attack” for the PUPS Bill????????? In March of 2009, during a Workshop sponsored by the Georgetown Law School and the HSUS, Congressman Moran from VA, who was a Congressional Panelist at the Workshop, was asked the following question: “Why is it so hard for us to amend the Animal Welfare Act, and how can we do it? His response was chilling, and the gist of what he said is as follows: The best way to overcome opposition is to wait until the eleventh hour and add a late night, last minute amendment to a “Must Pass Bill,” such as an Appropriations Bill, so that there will be no time for opposition to kill the amendment. Significantly, Congressman Moran is on the Appropriations Committee!
8. I respectfully submit that the reason why HSUS recently has been eerily “silent” on the PUPS Bill, and has not been repeatedly and publicly urging its “11 Million Members” to contact their respective Members of Congress and ask them to support the PUPS Bill is because the HSUS is executing a “Sneak Attack” in the following sequence:
- Continue to work behind-the-scenes, and “under the radar” to gather co-sponsors for the PUPS Bill by following up with the nearly 300 U.S. Representatives who co-sponsored the Animal Crush Video Bill, and literally “take a license” with these unsuspecting Members of Congress by simply implying that their support is needed for the same reason as was their support for the Animal Crush Video Bill.
- HSUS will continue to “recruit” more Representatives to co-sponsor the PUPS Bill, and once the number crosses the 100 threshold, HSUS will employ the “herd mentality” approach to persuade more and more Representatives to jump on the bandwagon. HSUS will claim that this will “protect those dogs and puppies that need your help.”
- When the USDA Appropriations Bill comes up for a vote, as Members of Congress are scrambling to wrap up outstanding issues in a hurry so that they may return to their States and Districts to run for re-election, the PUPS Bill will be added, “at the last minute,” and the justification for “expediency” will be that since the PUPS Bill has well in excess of 100 co-sponsors, it “obviously” is not a controversial amendment, and it will become part of a “Must Pass Bill,” and there will be no time to mount opposition to it.
9. Why is this suggested “Sneak Attack” Scenario not only feasible, but likely, you ask?
- The Congressman who suggested a “Sneak Attack” Approach is Congressman Moran.
- Congressman Moran co-founded and is the Co-Chair of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus in the House of Representatives. This Caucus has 84 Members.
- The Website for the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus lists 40 different animal related Bills “currently under consideration by Congress.” Conspicuous by its absence is the PUPS Bill, which currently is being sponsored and co-sponsored by 83 Members of the House – - that is nearly 20% of the House of Representatives. Could that “omission” be yet another tell-tale indication that a coordinated “Sneak Attack” is on-going, especially since Congressman Moran is the Co-Chair of this Caucus?!?!?!?!?!?
- Congressman Moran has introduced and sponsored Bills championed by the HSUS.
- Congressman Moran has been a featured speaker at HSUS Events.
- Congressman Moran is a Member of the House Appropriations Committee which will be considering the Appropriations Bill for the USDA.
- And in the Senate, which must also pass the Appropriations Bill for USDA, you have Senator Durbin, who could smooth the way for Senate passage of the PUPS Bill as an Amendment to the USDA Appropriations Bill in the Senate because:
o Senator Durbin is in a Democrat Leadership Position in the Senate.
o Senator Durbin introduced an identical version of the PUPS Bill in the Senate.
o Senator Durbin is on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
- The HSUS Annual Lobbying Event in Washington DC (Taking Action for Animals) concluded on July 26, 2010 with a Major Lobby Day Campaign, which was totally scripted by the HSUS, and resulted in hundreds of HSUS supporters descending upon the U.S. Capitol to personally tell their respective Members of Congress to support every Bill that HSUS wishes to have Congress enact – - this includes the PUPS Bill!
For all of the reasons set out above, I believe the “Perfect Storm” exists for the HSUS to successfully orchestrate the enactment of the PUPS Bill.
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
Follow the HSUS Lobbying Play Book, and send E-Mails to your respective Members of Congress that politely ask that they suspend judgment and action on the PUPS Bill (H.R. 5434 and S. 3424) until the following questions are fully vetted in a Committee Hearing:
1. Is the “perceived problem” and “need” for the PUPS Bill caused by the so-called internet sales “loophole,” or by simply an inability of APHIS to enforce existing laws and regulations? In short, would the “perceived problem” and “need” be best addressed by more strictly enforcing the existing laws and regulations, rather than adding new laws and regulations onto the existing laws and regulations that may not have been strictly enforced?
2. Is it the intent of Congress to mandate that if someone has as few as one intact female dog that is capable of being used for breeding, then that person may be subject to the expanded coverage of the PUPS Bill?
3. Is it appropriate for Congress to define a four-month-old puppy to be an adult dog?
4. Would the existing language in the PUPS Bill have the unintended consequence of dramatically reducing the number of available dogs that are specifically bred and trained for use by special needs organizations that support the handicapped and the blind?
5. Would the existing language in the PUPS Bill have the unintended consequence of dramatically reducing the number of available dogs that that are specifically bred and trained for use by law enforcement throughout the U.S. , the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Defense, such as bomb sniffing dogs?
6. Why has the Humane Society of the U.S. , for the last three years, repeatedly refused to tell the American Public and the U.S. Congress that major Pet Breeder Organizations in 10 States have publicly condemned substandard kennels? Significantly, over 85% of all Federally licensed and inspected kennels are located in those 10 States.
- If you live in Arkansas , Colorado , Indiana , Iowa , Kansas , Missouri , Ohio , Oklahoma , Pennsylvania or South Dakota , you may wish to add the following sentence. “Our State is one of the 10 States.”
If enough breeders send E-Mails to their respective Members of Congress, such a collective effort may derail and stop the HSUS PUPS Bill Freight Train that is picking up steam.
Frank Losey
Permalink
Posted in Animal Ownership at 3:33 pm by Administrator
http://news.discovery.com/animals/pets-humans-evolution.html
http://tinyurl.com/28emqvj
Pets Vital to Human Evolution
Without cats, dogs, cows and chickens, we may not have made it this
far.
By Larry O’Hanlon
Tue Aug 10, 2010 07:00 AM ET
10 Comments | Leave a Comment
THE GIST
* Meat-eating and animal domestication separated humans from other
apes.
* Taking in animals is uniquely human and seems counterproductive
at first.
* Hunting and caring for animals drove the development of
technology and languages.
Dogs, cats, cows and other domesticated animals played a key role in
human evolution, according to a theory being published by
paleoanthropologist Pat Shipman of Penn State University.
The uniquely human habit of taking in and employing animals — even
competitors like wolves — spurred on human tool-making and language,
which have both driven humanity’s success, Shipman says.
“Wherever you go in the world, whatever ecosystem, whatever culture,
people live with animals,” Shipman told Discovery News……
NAIA News
National Animal Interest Alliance
Permalink
Posted in On the National Front, Pet Laws, What is HSUS? at 3:18 pm by Administrator
WE ARE NOW IN…
…THE “HOME STRETCH” OF THE SPAY AND NEUTER THE HSUS CAMPAIGN
Please share – cross post – forward – to all groups and lists…public and private…
Thank you Frank Losey, for the following report and instructions.
Earlier this year the IRS received over 6,000 letters from concerned citizens in all 50 States who asked that the IRS audit the excessive lobbying activities of the HSUS. Those letters were not in vain as they laid the foundation for “FOLLOW-UPS” by me. One of the “FOLLOW-UPS” was to the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of the Treasury (IG Office). Most significantly, that Office has assigned a case file number to my first submission to that Office that was dated April 15, 2010. That means that the IG OFFICE is aware of the more than 1,200 pages of incriminating, “smoking gun” documents that were provided to the IRS in 12 sequential submissions. These documents establish that the HSUS has EXCEEDED the IRS “TOO MUCH LOBBYING” prohibition for all tax-exempt, public charities.
Hundreds of lobbying activities of the HSUS are well documented in the above referenced 1,200+ pages. However, I believe that the following seven issues will be jaw-dropping “showstoppers” for the IG Office.
1. 6000+ letters to the IRS.
2. At least nine Members of Congress from seven different States have asked the IRS, on behalf of their constituents, to address their concerns about the excessive lobbying activities of the HSUS.
3. One of those Members of Congress has sent at least two letters to the IRS, and in his last letter he described activities of the HSUS to be “a clear and direct violation of section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.”
4. HSUS claims that it was responsible for the enactment of more than 525 Federal and State Statutes and the passage of more than 25 State Ballot Initiatives.
5. Federal Election Commission documents that reference over 2,300 pages of lobbying activities of an HSUS affiliate that is managed by the two most senior HSUS Officers.
6. Missouri Ethics Commission documents that show that the HSUS has contributed over $700,000, to date, in support of a Ballot Initiative. These documents also raise an issue as to whether the HSUS has “laundered” other financial support of lobbying activities through surrogate organizations to conceal the magnitude of its lobbying activities.
7. Documentation that supports the assertion that in the last four years the HSUS has generated over 1.6 Billion “Take Action” lobbying-related E-Mails. If these “Take Action” lobbying-related E-Mails were stacked on top of one another, the stack would be over 100 MILES HIGH!
WHAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE?:
1. Take the time to download the attached letter; add your name and address, and mail it to the Office of the Inspector General (See Address at the top of the attached letter.)
2. Mail it by regular mail. No need to send it by Certified Mail.
3. Encourage your friends, relatives and acquaintances to do the same.
NUMBERS DO MATTER: If the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of the Treasury receives thousands of letters that reference the above seven issues, IT WILL INCREASE THE PRESSURE ON THE IRS TO EXPEDITE, A THOROUGH, “WALL-TO-WALL” AUDIT OF THE LOBBYING ACTIVITIES OF THE HSUS. The “Clock” is ticking towards midnight for the HSUS! PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS NOW.
Frank Losey
*** *** *** *** ***
*******************************************************************************
Department of the Treasury
Office of the Inspector General for Tax Administration
ATTN: Scott Sanders, Complaint Management Team
1125 15th Street, NW
Washington DC 20005
RE: The Excessive Lobbying Activities of the Humane Society of the U.S. (EIN: 53 – - 0225390)
IG Complaint Number 55-1005-0025-C
Dear Mr. Sanders:
I respectfully ask that the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of the Treasury ensure that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) conducts a timely and thorough audit of the excessive lobbying activities of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), which apparently has been allowed to ignore the IRS limitations on “TOO MUCH LOBBYING” by a tax-exempt, public charity. The following are but a few reasons why I am making this request:
Earlier this year the IRS received over 6,000 letters from concerned citizens who live in all 50 States. These letters requested that the IRS audit the excessive lobbying activities of the HSUS.
At least nine Members of Congress from seven different States have asked the IRS, on behalf of their constituents, to address their concerns about the excessive lobbying activities of the HSUS.
One Member of Congress has sent at least two letters to the IRS, and in his last letter he stated: “The attached information unquestionably demonstrates that HSUS invests a substantial amount of time and money in political campaigns and attempts to influence specific legislation, a clear and direct violation of section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.”
The IRS has received over 1,200 pages of incriminating documents that detail the more than 200 different types of lobbying activities conducted by the HSUS. Illustrative examples include:
Claiming credit for the enactment of more than 525 Federal and State Statutes and the passage of more than 25 State Ballot Initiatives.
Federal Election Commission documents that reference over 2,300 pages of lobbying activities of an HSUS affiliate that is managed by the two most senior HSUS Officers.
Missouri Ethics Commission documents that show that the HSUS has contributed over $700,000, to date, in support of a Ballot Initiative. These documents also raise an issue as to whether the HSUS has “laundered” other financial support of lobbying activities through surrogate organizations to conceal the magnitude of its lobbying activities.
Extracts from the HSUS 2008 Tax Return (“the HSUS assisted in sending constituent EMAILS and FAXES to lawmakers through a functionality on the Society’s website.”), and supporting examples of E-Mails that, when considered in their entirety, will establish that just this one example of lobbying activity has generated over 1.6 Billion “TAKE ACTION” lobbying-related E-Mails. Significantly, a stack of 1.6 Billion E-Mails would be over 100 Miles High! Is not that, by itself, “TOO MUCH LOBBYING”?!?!?
Respectfully submitted,
(Signature)
TYPE OR PRINT YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS)
Permalink
08.09.10
Posted in Animal Activists, Animal Ownership, On the National Front, Pet Laws, Pet Owner Bill of Rights, What is HSUS? at 7:00 pm by Administrator
Memories will be all that’s left
by Amy Peterson
Each morning, at the crack of dawn, my canine companions leap joyfully onto my bed, wrestling for a place next to me. They wriggle and giggle as they cuddle down next to me. I make time to snuggle with each of them. It’s a moment that brings me – and them – great joy.
Laughter freely bubbles from me as I watch a puppy fall fast asleep in a comical lump against the air conditioning vent on a hot day, with the adult dogs circling and wondering how to get him to move so that they, too, may experience the cold air blast.
Nighttime thunderstorms bring the canine pack huddling under the covers with me, seeking my support and leadership through the loud bangs and bright lightning.
Mutual joy abounds when one of my canine partners and I master a difficult training exercise.
My heart melts when one of my older companions gazes at me with aging brown eyes and graying muzzle, tail thumping and mouth smiling in recognition of our years together.
I never tire of the unrestrained joy with which my companions greet me as I come in the door – even if I have only been gone five minutes.
I even enjoy poop patrol, because I can spend time with my companions in the yard. They don’t need me to entertain them – they just want me to be with them.
Hearing the joyful stories and trials and tribulations of owners who have bought a puppy from me can leave me smiling for days.
And in my darkest time, these creatures, who love me unconditionally, gave me a reason to get up in the morning. They needed me, and I needed them.
Lately, these special moments are fewer and farther between. Instead, I often feel the nudge of a cold, wet nose as I spend my time on the computer and phone, fighting the ogres who would take these moments away from me. I take the time to look up, and my gentle pack is surrounding me, supportive, but really hoping I will come outside and play. I speak to them quietly, sigh, and continue with my mission – to protect my rights to continue to own and breed dogs.
Certain wealthy, radical animal rights organizations, including the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have become determined to eliminate the human-animal bond. Under the guise of eliminating “puppy mills”, these organizations have at heart just one goal: to end the human-animal connection that dates back centuries.
“Puppy mill” is an abhorrent terminology that lumps all breeders together and criminalizes even responsible breeders. A better term might be substandard breeders. We do know these entities exist, but the powerful animal rights organizations will have you believe that all breeders are bad. They are not. There are responsible breeders, and there are substandard breeders.
We who breed responsibly know that there are substandard breeders in existence. We abhor the fact. We don’t do business with them. We don’t refer people to them. But we also know that there are current animal welfare laws in existence that simply need to be enforced. The new legislation that has been sweeping the states, and now the nation with the Federal PUPS act, encroaches on the rights and privacy of the dedicated hobby breeder – who is the best source of well-bred pets. And with each piece of legislation considered, the Animal Rights Radicals, with their highly-paid (six-figure) staff of attorneys and almost unlimited supply of cash (coming from donations from people who believe they are really helping animals), the noose gets tighter. The dog fancy has limited income. Most of us work day jobs to support our dogs – we’re not “in business.” We can fight the radicals for so long, and only so long. But the radicals come back the next year, or the next, and, having learned from experience, put in place new wording, and lobby our legislators with their very deep pockets in order to get the legislation passed – whether or not it is what we want.
How the American public has allowed these radicals to wield their way into our federal, state, and local legislation is beyond comprehension. The President and CEO of HSUS (Wayne Pacelle), for example, does not own a single animal and has, in fact, indicated that he has no particular fondness for animals, as quoted below:
We have no ethical obligation to preserve the different breeds of livestock produced through selective breeding. One generation and out. We have no problem with the extinction of domestic animals…” Wayne Pacelle, HSUS, formerly of Friends of Animals and Fund for Animals, Animal People, May, 1993
When asked if he envisioned a future without pets, “If I had my personal view, perhaps that might take hold. In fact, I don’t want to see another dog or cat born.” Wayne Pacelle quoted in Bloodties: Nature, Culture and the Hunt by Ted Kerasote,
And, according the PETA’s National Director, “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.
HSUS has captured the interest of the Treasury Department and may be investigated for misuse of its 501c3 status, and has been involved in a federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) lawsuit. PETA is being watched by the FBI as an ecoterrorist group. HSUS does not operate any shelters. They are not an umbrella group for our local shelters or humane societies, and they do not support our local humane societies. PETA euthanizes 97 percent of the animals is takes into its shelter.
These organizations, and those like them, are not friends of our animals. Their goal is to eliminate all used of animals, including companionship.
Why is the American public willing to allow these radical ideas to dictate their legislatures? These people who deny the human-animal bond – these people who have never even experienced that magical bond we share with our pets? Who have no experience with animals whatsoever?
If you value your relationship with your dog (or cat, or bird, or bunny, or hamster), please do not support these organizations. Study any pending legislation. While it might not affect you directly, it could affect your ability to obtain and own an animal companion in the future. Rescuing an animal from a shelter is, of course, wonderful, but some people wish to have certain characteristics that are only a given with a purebred dog. Their right to choose should remain just that – a right.
If searching for a companion animal, you must also do some research. Make sure you understand the breed of dog (or cat, or bird, or bunny…) that you are getting. What are its activity levels? Temperament? Health problems? Your breeder should be happy to discuss these issues with you. Make sure the parents have been tested for any known hereditary health problems. If not, find another breeder. Avoid buying from a pet store. A good breeder will also have a sales contract – stating that if you are unable to keep the dog during its lifetime, the dog must be returned to the breeder and not dumped in a shelter.
Many hobby breeders now live in fear – even though we are doing nothing against the law, and provide excellent care for our animal friends, we fear that we’ll miss a pile of poop, or a puppy will upturn a water bowl, or a dog will get a scratch (dogs do get scratched – just being dogs!), and HSUS will show up at our door with their law-enforcement-looking badges and seize our dogs…
It’s important that the dog-owning public be aware of these laws – before our companions are no longer companions, but memories – and memories are all we have left.
Permalink
08.07.10
Posted in On the National Front, Pet Laws at 1:11 am by Administrator
A new legislative alert has been posted at http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=4167.
The Memphis City Council Services & Neighborhood Committee will consider four ordinances amending the city’s animal control laws on Tuesday, August 10th. The proposal will require mandatory spay/neuter of all dogs over 29 pounds, define any dog that has “bitten once and been at-large twice” as a dangerous dog, increase fees for owners of intact dogs and limit tethering. It is vital that responsible dog owners and breeders attend this meeting to oppose these changes.
Memphis City Council Public Services & Neighborhood Committee Meeting
Tuesday, August 10th
10:15am
City Council Conference Room
5th floor of City Hall
125 N. Main
Memphis, TN 38103
Provisions of the Ordinances
- Require dogs over 29 pounds to be spayed/neutered
- Exemptions
- Dogs trained and used as law enforcement dogs.
- Dogs trained and used as a guide dog, hearing dog, assistance dog, therapy dog, seizure alert dog or designated as breeding stock by an agency approved by the director.
- Dogs trained and used as search and rescue dogs or designated as breeding stock by an agency approved by the director.
- Dogs trained and used as herding or livestock guardian dogs, or designated as breeding stock by an agency approved by the director.
- Dogs unable to be sterilized for a medical reason.
- Dogs boarded in a licensed kennel.
- Dogs registered with AKC or other recognized registry or trained and kept for the purpose of show, field or agility trials. However, these owners must comply with the following:
- Must apply for a Fertile Animal Permit
- Must purchase a one-time $200 intact animal permit (It is not truly an exemption if you have to buy an expensive license).
- Owners are allowed only one litter per residence per 12-months.
- Defines dogs that have “bitten once and been at-large twice” as dangerous dogs, but does not define “bitten.” Does this mean bitten a person and inflicted injury? Bitten another domestic animal? What if the bite does not cause injury or is provoked?
- Requires a dog that has bitten or attacked to be sterilized.
- Again, it is not clear what would happen if the bite was provoked or if there was no injury resulting from the bite. If the intent is to require sterilization of dogs that have been adjudicated to be dangerous or vicious, then that should be specified.
- Sets the license fee for intact dogs weighing 29 pounds or less at $35 annually and removes the license fee and requirement for sterilized dogs.
-
- It is unreasonable for intact animal owners to be solely responsible for funding animal control operations. Licensing was originally established to ensure that dogs were vaccinated for rabies – this will significantly undermine that goal if the majority of dogs no longer need to be licensed. If this ordinance is adopted, it becomes solely a tax on owners of intact dogs. Additionally, one wonders why intact dogs weighing less than 29 pounds are licensed annually and intact dogs weighing more than 29 pounds are offered a lifetime license.
- Requires that dogs restrained by tie-outs or overhead cable runs also be restrained by a traditional or invisible fence. This will mean that many owners will have to construct a traditional fence or install an invisible fence; likely costing thousands of dollars.
- Requires that dogs restrained by tie-outs or overhead cable runs for more than 2 hours be sterilized.
What You Can Do
- Attend the Memphis City Council Public Services & Neighborhood Committee meeting on August 10th to oppose the ordinance. Our AKC Federation, The Responsible Animal Owners of Tennessee will be coordinating speakers and can be reached at raotinc@aol.com.
- Write a letter, email, or call the city council members and ask them to oppose the ordinance.
Mailing Address
125 N. Main, Room 514
Memphis, TN 38103
Public Services & Neighborhood Committee Members
District 7 - Barbara Swearengen Ware (Chair)
(901) 458-9406
Swearengen.Ware@memphistn.gov
District 2 - William C. Boyd (Vice-Chair)
(901) 576-6786
Bill.Boyd@memphistn.gov
Super District 8 – Myron Lowery
(901) 576-7012
Myron.Lowery@memphistn.gov
Super District 9 - Kemp Conrad
Office (901) 576-6786
Kemp.Conrad@memphistn.gov
Super District 9 - Shea Flinn
(901) 576-6786
Shea.Flinn@memphistn.gov
Super District 9 - Reid Hedgepeth
(901) 576-6786
Reid.Hedgepeth@memphistn.gov
City Council Members
District 1- Bill Morrison
(901) 576-6786
Bill.Morrison@memphistn.gov
District 3 - Harold Collins
(901) 576-6786
Harold.Collins@memphistn.gov
District 4 - Wanda Halbert
(901) 576-6786
Wanda.Halbert@memphistn.gov
District 5 - Jim Strickland
(901) 576-6786
Jim.Strickland@memphistn.gov
District 6 - Edmund Ford Jr.
(901) 576-6786
Edmund.Fordjr@memphistn.gov
Super District 8 - Joe Brown
(901) 274-4724
Joe.Brown@memphistn.gov
Super District 8 – Janis Fullilove
(901) 576-6786
Janis.Fullilove@memphistn.gov
AKC Government Relations
8051 Arco Corporate Drive, Suite 100
Raleigh, NC 27617
919-816-3720 (office)
919-816-4275 (fax)
Permalink
Posted in Animal Activists, Animal Ownership, What is HSUS? at 12:56 am by Administrator
Is this REALLY what we want WAYNE?
OK, we (the responsible breeders) are now spending our lives at the computer rather than attending to our dogs. We are forced to defend our right to own and bear dogs. Rather than sitting here typing this, I COULD be working with my dogs. When I am NOT defending my constitutional rights, I am cleaning and cleaning dog hairs and cobwebs in case I get raided and they – heaven forbid – find a cobweb in my home (where my dogs are kept).
I work a day job for a WHOLE lot less money than you make, just to support my dogs. Now, thanks to YOU, WAYNE, my precious time with my dogs is usurped by my attempts to maintain my own rights.
Buddy, do you have dust? Cobwebs? doG knows you don’t have pet hairs because YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE A PET.
What gives your megabucks company the right to intrude on my life? You admit you have “no fondness for animals”. So give me a break – I DO. I enjoy my dogs, I enjoy training them, I enjoy providing happy, healthy puppies who are looking for the characteristics of my breed.
Get out of my house. Let me raise my puppies to be well-socialized. Give me a damned break so that I can do so instead of worrying about cobwebs or dog hair or god forbid, urine smell because of a litter of pups.
Permalink
07.28.10
Posted in Animal Ownership at 4:57 pm by Administrator
Taking Responsibility – by Amy Peterson
The right to breed dogs (or cats, or hamsters, or bunnies, even!) continues to be under attack, spearheaded primarily by the extreme animals-rights activist groups who seek to eliminate the owner-pet bond.
Dedicated hobby breeders generally belong to their National breed club and as such, agree to adhere to a very strict code of ethics regarding the breeding and selling of their dogs. As such, the vast majority of responsible breeders will agree to take an unwanted dog back, at any time during its life, no questions asked.
So why are there pets in shelters? The radical animal rights groups like Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) would like you to think it is because of breeders. But how can this be? It is not the breeder who is turning these pets into shelters or dumping them on back roads to be picked up later by animal control. It is the irresponsible owner who chooses to do so.
If we buy a car, we research make, model, mileage, and performance. If we buy a house, we research the neighborhood, taxes, schools, and so forth. We make informed decisions as consumers. It would make sense, therefore, that we should research potential pets as well. We should understand their activity levels, potential health problems, relative shedding quotient, dander levels, etc.
There is no valid reason to dump a pet at a shelter. Certainly living circumstances can change, necessitating rehoming of a dog, but there are many options other than dumping it at a shelter. Breeders and breed rescue groups are dedicated to the rehoming of unwanted animals. Dumping a dog at a shelter is the owner’s decision. Choosing not to spay/neuter a pet thus producing an unwanted litter is the owner’s decision. Allowing a dog to roam is the owner’s decision. Choosing to purchase a dog from a puppy mill rather than a responsible breeder is the owner’s decision. Making an informed decision regarding the purchase of a puppy is the owner’s decision.
Perhaps it is time to stop bashing responsible breeders, whose sole goal is to preserve the history of their chosen breed and to provide happy, healthy, well adjusted pets, and start putting some of the onus on the people who purchase them. Research your potential breed. Talk to other people who own the same breed. Visit your breeder. Your breeder will be happy to tell you the good as well as the bad points of the breed. Take responsibility for your purchase. And if you find you cannot keep your pet, please contact your breeder or your breed rescue group. Explore the options available before sending your pet to a shelter.
Permalink
« Previous entries Next Page » Next Page »
