postheadericon From Susan Wolf, Sportsmen’s & Animal Owners’ Voting Alliance


We should never underestimate the resolve of animal rights organizations to bring an end to animal ownership and breeding as we know it today.  I trust all our readers have been following the progress of the APHIS proposed rule for regulating retail pet sellers.  The rule is widely promoted by HSUS, ASPCA, PETA, ALDF and others as merely closing a loophole in the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and a means to run puppy mills out of business.  Never forget that in the eyes of these radical groups and their brainwashed followers we are all irresponsible puppy mills.  More than two decades ago, HSUS developed campaign materials promoting a moratorium on breeding cats and dogs and guidelines for mandatory spay/neuter laws. PETA stated long ago, “There is no such thing as a responsible breeder”; and went on to say, “Simply put, for every puppy or kitten who is deliberately produced by any breeder, an animal in an animal shelter dies.”   

This week the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) weighed in on the APHIS rule.  Their submitted comment should be a wakeup call to anyone who holds the illusion that any part of this rule is necessary or that a compromise should be negotiated.  

After the tried and true AR-speak statement that “puppy mills produce an estimated two to four million puppies each year often in deplorable and inhumane conditions”, ALDF proceeds to support the rule as a beginning and highlight their ideas for additional steps needed.  To summarize, ALDF opposed any expanded exemption from three to four breeding females for dog, cat, and small animal breeders; requested automatic license suspensions for repeat offenders; requested automatic confiscation of distressed animals. 

Finally, ALDF requests the AWA be amended by Congress to allow private right of action for enforcement with fee shifting provision. ALDF suggests to APHIS that allowing third parties to file suit against violators would enhance enforcement process and at the same time remove some of the agency’s cost burden.  The ALDF comment can be viewed online at the Federal Register.

The comment period for the proposed APHIS rule regulating retail sellers has been extended until August 15.  If you value your right to own and breed dogs without federal restrictions, please continue to submit comments and encourage clubs and businesses to do the same. 

Again, encourage organizations and businesses to join the SAOVA Opposition List. To add your organization’s name, send an email signed by an officer of the organization stating opposition to: Susan Wolf cubhill@earthlink.net.  Please include organization’s address.   http://www.saova.org/APHIS_Opposition.List.html

Cross posting is encouraged. 

Susan Wolf
Sportsmen’s & Animal Owners’ Voting Alliance
Working to Identify and Elect Supportive Legislators
saova@earthlink.net

postheadericon USDA/APHIS RULE REMINDER: ONLY DAYS LEFT TO COMMENT!

A reminder to help stop the pending legislation (USDA/APHIS) which will badly affect all small and hobby breeders.  You can help:

**By August 13, please sign the AKC petition by control+click to follow link www.AKC.org/petition

**By August 15, 2012 Submit Written Comments to APHIS at:   control+click to follow link below

http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2011-0003-0001

ACTION NEEDED IMMEDIATELY: PLEASE HELP SMALL AND HOBBY BREEDERS

To my friends especially those who have enjoyed our Cavaliers over the years:

There is a ruling being considered to lump small and hobby breeders who do not make any living from breeding dogs with commercial breeders.  This r**By August 13, please sign the AKC petition by control+click www.AKC.org/petition

**By August 15, 2012 Submit Written Comments to APHIS at:   control+click to follow link below

http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2011-0003-0001ule, if adopted by the USDA, would in effect stop ethical and reputable breeders like me from breeding and/or you from purchasing a purebred dog. It would not help stop the commercial and very substandard breeders from operating as there would not be enough USDA manpower to inspect and control.  The rule would limit a small and hobby breeder to keeping only four breeding bitches where they be just puppies, retired unsprayed girls, co owned girls not even living on the property, and girls currently in the breeding program.  At this point, Rattlebridge has only two girls to breed with three puppies waiting to hopefully be shown and/or bred but with no firm plans to do so.  Show breeders “run on” or keep puppies up to two years or more waiting to see if they will make the show ring, pass all health checks, and be worthy of breeding.  Puppies will count in the total of four. I am facing the end of my breeding/showing passion, but I would hate to see younger and very ethical breeders stopped from breeding. The Humane Society of the United States is pushing USDA/APHIS (the name of the actual legislation); the bottom line of the HSUS agenda is the elimination of all pet ownership. Please look at my blog to see entries concerning HSUS and animal rights activists. http://www.rattlebridge.com/blog Please help:

As usual I am late getting the word out but action is needed, but in short:

**By August 13, please sign the AKC petition by control+click www.AKC.org/petition

**By August 15, 2012 Submit Written Comments to APHIS at:   control+click to follow link below

http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2011-0003-0001

Explanation of United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA)/ Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS):

LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT USDA/APHIS

COMMENT PERIOD FOR APHIS PROPOSED

RULE EXTENDED TO AUGUST 15, 2012

Submit Written Comments to APHIS by August 15, 2012 at:   control+click to follow link below

http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2011-0003-0001

The newly proposed rule of USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) jeopardizes your right to breed, sell and purchase purebred dogs.  If adopted, it will adversely affect, directly or indirectly, virtually all breeders, show exhibitors and purchasers of purebred dogs.

Under the proposed Rule, all pet breeders with as few as five “breeding females” who sell an animal over the Internet or by phone or mail will be subject to rigorous federal licensing, inspection and animal care requirements under the Animal Welfare Act.  Non-commercialized “hobby” breeders of purebred dogs were never intended to be regulated by this federal statute.  APHIS’ proposed Rule will strip hobby breeders of their current exemption from stringent federal licensing requirements on the pretext of closing an alleged “loophole” for Internet pet sales.

Contrary to APHIS’ claim, the proposed Rule will not eliminate unscrupulous breeders or “puppy mills” with abusive practices who are driven by financial profit.  Instead, it will force many responsible breeders, such as show or hobby breeders of purebred dogs who turn no profit, to downsize their breeding programs or close shop. 

The federal animal care standards imposed by the APHIS  Rules, which were originally designed for laboratory animals, are virtually impossible to meet in a home-based kennel environment.  If adopted, the proposed Rule will subject hobby breeders to unreasonable costs and invasive home inspection requirements which ultimately will drive many responsible hobby breeders out of business.  Do we need more Governmental regulation because of actual abuses, or is the APHIS proposal another veiled attempt by animal rights’ activists to eliminate pet breeding entirely?

View the proposed APHIS Rule at:  control+click to follow link

http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;dct=FR%252BPR%252BN%252BO%252BSR%252BPS;rpp=25;po=0;D=APHIS-2011-0003

AKC CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSED RULE—Please Read:

The AKC shares the USDA’s concerns about substandard internet pet retailers. However, the current proposal is overly broad, difficult to enforce, and does little to address the actual wellbeing of animals sold.

The AKC believes that the USDA’s “one size fits all” proposal is not in the best interest of all dogs, responsible breeders, or puppy buyers. It is unreasonable and virtually impossible for many small hobby breeders to comply with the strict kennel engineering standards that were designed for large commercial operations. It would create unreasonable hardships that could threaten genetic diversity, the future of a vast number of responsible small hobby breeders, and the very existence of some rare breeds.

It would require all who own more than four “breeding females” and sell even one animal “sight unseen” to be regulated as a commercial breeder and be subject to federal commercial breeder licensing, regulation and inspections. The term “breeding female” is not defined, so it is unclear how USDA or even breeders themselves would determine who falls under these regulations. The term also includes multiple species (including cats, dogs, and other small mammals). This means, for example, that a person would not have to own more than four intact female dogs to be regulated for the sale of a single puppy sight unseen.

In many cases, geographic distance makes it difficult for a purchaser to personally visit or pick up a puppy at a breeder’s facility. Such scenarios are particularly common for breeders and fanciers of rare breeds and others who may be purchasing a second pet from the same breeder or already have an established relationship with a breeder. Requiring such individuals to comply with regulations designed for large commercial breeder/dealer facilities may not be appropriate.

The Regulatory Impact Analysis provided in the proposed rule vastly underestimates both the number of individuals who will be impacted and the expense to occasional breeders to establish commercial-level facilities. The comment period for the U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed rule that would categorize many small/hobby breeders as commercial breeders and subject them to unnecessary licensing, regulation and inspections will close on August 15.

It is imperative that any breeder or owner who is concerned about this proposal provide comments to the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) before August 15.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

STOP THE PROPOSED APHIS RULE IN FOUR EASY STEPS:

Step 1:   Submit Written Comments to APHIS by August 15, 2012 at:   control+click to follow link below

Docket No. APHIS–2011–0003

Regulatory Analysis and Development

PPD, APHIS, Station 3A–03.8

4700 River Road, Unit 118

Riverdale, MD 20737–1238

**Your written Comments are an important step to stop the proposed APHIS Rule.

APHIS is required to accept and respond to all timely submitted comments.  Multiple comments on different points may be submitted.  All comments should urge APHIS to withdraw its proposed Rule.

Note:  When the rulemaking portal is opened, there are two options for electronic  comment submission:

(1) Typing of comments in the box – which imposes a 20-minute time limit/

2,000 character limit.  If this option is used to submit comments of less than 2,000 characters, we recommend that you paste comments prepared in separate draft form into the box to avoid the time limit; or

(2) Attachment of comments prepared in separate document format via

the “upload” option.

The “attachment of document” option is recommended, as there

Is no time or character limitation.

Suggestions for comments and sample letters can be found at:

http://saova.org/APHIS_comments.html

http://www.thecavalrygroup.com/letter1.php

http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/4064127/the-cavalry-group-guidelines-for-making-comments-377k?da=y

Step 2:  Sign the AKC Petition opposing the proposed APHIS Rule by  August 13, 2012. (see below for AKC Concerns)

Signing AKC’s Petition is quick and easy.  Read more here and sign the AKC Petition at www.AKC.org/petition

Step 3:  Contact Your Federal Legislators

Congress determines the levels of funding for USDA and APHIS.  Let your Congressional Representatives know that you oppose APHIS’ proposed Rule and that the proposal would drive many responsible hobby breeders out of business, without solving the problem of unregulated rogue, unscrupulous breeders.  The proposed Rule would also adversely affect the economy and result in loss of job opportunities.  Breeders of purebred dogs and related dog events  substantially contribute to the economy and create jobs.  For example, in 2011, AKC sanctioned dog events alone generated over $1 Billion dollars in national revenue.

“The Cavalry Group,” activists to alert the public against unnecessary and downright bad legislation has developed a sample letter and contact form to simply this process.  Follow these links and take action with your federal legislators now:

http://the-cavalry-group.rallycongress.com/6980/urge-congress-take-action-to-support-cavalry-group-mission/

To contact your congressional representatives clink here:

http://the-cavalry-group.rallycongress.com/6980/urge-congress-take-action-to-support-cavalry-group-mission/

Step 4: Contact USDA Secretary Vilsack

2012 is a major election year.  The head of USDA, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, who is appointed by the President, should be informed that putting pet breeders out of business is not the way to turn this economy around.  The Cavalry Group has prepared a sample letter and contact form to assist with submission of your comments to Secretary Vilsack.  Follow this link and send a letter today:

http://www.thecavalrygroup.com/letter1php

We also urge you to sign AKC’s petition to Protect Responsible Small Breeders.

Further questions may be directed to AKC GR at (919) 816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org

postheadericon Humane Society of the US-Their Philosophy Explained

An Animal Welfare Advocate and an HSUS executive (an unlikely pair, I agree; but bear with me) were walking down the street when they came upon a homeless person and his dog. The Animal Welfare Advocate gave the homeless person his business card and told him to come to his business for a job so he could earn a living. Then he could afford food & shelter for himself and the dog. He then took twenty dollars out of his pocket and gave it to the homeless person and a coupon for dog food so they could get by till the homeless person could start that job.

The HSUS person was very impressed, and when they came to another homeless person with a dog, he decided to help out as only he could. He walked over to the homeless person and gave him directions to the local animal "shelter" and a coupon for euthanasia, because he knew the homeless person would be better off without the dog; and besides, dogs are better dead than in the company of humans. He then reached into the Animal Welfare Advocate’s pocket and got out twenty dollars. He kept $19.50 for administrative fees and gave the homeless person 50 cents.
If the homeless man refused this kind offer, the HSUS executive would make sure that he was cited for failure to license, failure to sterilize, and failure to provide food and shelter for the dog. And then he would take it to the "shelter" himself.

Now you understand the difference between Animal Welfare Advocates & the Humane Society of the US

postheadericon This is the HSUS we know!

 

The Real Truth about This “Beloved” Organization—NOT!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTrhQd9GHlE