postheadericon Federal Legislative Alert: Problematic PUPS Bill Reintroduced for 2013

The following information concerns a very serious piece of legislation totally backed by the animal rightists, HSUS, to control breeding so that breeders such as I will be regulated out of breeding.  None of my top breeder friends will go on with the restrictions which will be imposed on them by the USDA which should be regulating only the commercial kennels.  Please take a moment to read through and then write your congressmen/women.  Meredith

[Friday, March 1, 2013]

http://www.akc.org/press_center/article.cfm?article_id=4867

Federal “PUPS” legislation (S 395/HR 847), sponsored by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Rep. Jim Gerlach has been reintroduced in the U.S. Congress and assigned to the House and Senate Agriculture committees. The bill is substantially the same as previous versions introduced in 2011 and 2010, which never received committee hearings.

The AKC continues to express grave concerns about this measure. The AKC believes that all dog breeding programs should be undertaken responsibly and does not oppose the concept of regulating high volume breeder-retailers.  However, as currently written, the definitions proposed in this bill are misleading, overly broad, and potentially damaging to small responsible breeders who individually maintain and breed only a few dogs in their homes.

Although the stated purpose of PUPS is to regulate internet sales of puppies, S 395/HR 847 as currently written would require anyone who owns or co-owns even a few female dogs that collectively produce 50 or more puppies offered for sale in a year to be regulated under existing USDA dog "dealer" regulations. These regulations are designed for high-volume commercial kennels that produce puppies for wholesale or research, and require a USDA commercial license, maintenance of specified commercial kennel engineering standards and regular inspections. These requirements are not appropriate for small breeders who may keep only a few dogs in their homes.

AKC’s specific concerns with PUPS include the following:

• Defines “high volume retail breeder” as someone with “an ownership interest in or custody of one or more breeding female dogs”. This definition is overly broad and does not take into account co- and joint ownerships common among dog owners, dog show participants, hunting club members, sporting dog trainers and other hobbyists. This would hurt many small hobby breeders who keep or breed only a few dogs in their homes by subjecting them to commercial standards of regulation as a result of agreements they maintain with other small breeders.

• Defines “high volume retail breeder” as someone with “an ownership interest in or custody of one or more breeding female dogs”.  Because the threshold for regulation is based on the number of dogs bred and sold, any reference to the number of dogs owned or in custody is unnecessary and potentially misleading.

• Defines “breeding female” as an intact female dog aged 4 months or older. This is misleading and implies that a female dog may be bred at 4 months. Female dogs are not sufficiently mature at 4 months of age to be bred and should not be deemed “breeding females”.

• Exercise language should be clarified with respect to the terms “solitary and goal oriented” to ensure that the daily exercise requirements do not preclude training that involves other types of wholesome activity that could fall under this definition (e.g.,  playing fetch, field training for hunting dogs, or the responsible use of treadmills for keeping canine athletes in top physical condition).

• PUPS would exponentially expand the pool of breeders regulated and inspected by the Animal Care Division of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal, Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS).  However, a May 2010 audit of this program by the USDA’s own Inspector General demonstrated that the existing inspections program is insufficient to carry out current responsibilities. AKC believes these issues and full funding for the current program and enforcement of current laws should be addressed before attempting to exponentially expand the program’s responsibilities and workload.

AKC encourages you to respectfully share these reasonable concerns about the potential damaging consequences of this bill with your member of Congress.
To contact your Congressional representative, visit www.house.gov and enter your zip code in the “Find Your Representative” box at the top of the page.

To contact your two Senators, visit www.senate.gov and select your state in the “Find Your Senators” box at the top of the page.

AKC and AKC’s federal representatives will continue to closely monitor and keep you up to date on this measure.

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 This is the HSUS we know!

 

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

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

postheadericon HSUS USES DONATIONS TO FEATHER ITS OWN NEST

 

Just read this article to see how the HSUS really operates.  Does the HSUS really directly benefit animals:  I think NOT.  The HSUS is a political machine with its own very specific agenda. 

http://www.charlesadler.com/2011/02/humane-society-of-the-united-states-fraud.html

postheadericon I RESCUED A HUMAN TODAY

 

My beloved Snoop is a rescue dog.  I joke that he came for two days and stayed nine years.  He is a big black lab mix,

my constant shadow.  He is very obedient and smart as a whip.  His favorite illegal pastimes, though, are rooting through waste

baskets and garbage cans so he can eat any goodies he finds or chew up any tissues he finds.  He is an expert at clearing

the kitchen cabinets of anything that entices him including very recently my lovely T Bone steak.  I call him my gypsy lurcher.

He knows that he is wrong for after he gets into the garbage, skilled as he is at opening garbage cans, or surfs the counter

tops as he then slinks guiltily off with guilt written on his lowered face avoiding me completely.  I was so mad at him one day

for his usual counter surfing that I chased him around the house with a fly swatter!  Snoop really knows

what he is doing and he knows the repercussions; I think that perhaps he should join Tiger or now Jesse James in going to

a rehab center for his addiction!

Having Snoop in my life has been a blessing. Totally loyal to me, I have no doubt that he would protect me if needed. 

He is a great watch dog, but sometimes gets carried away in his zeal. I will adopt another rescue when the time is right,

but do not support Peta and HSUS in their campaign to end the breeding of purebred dogs as their motto in advertising

now seems to be  ”buy a purebred and sentence a shelter dog to death.”  If HSUS and Peta are so concerned about the

fate of shelter animals, why are they not running shelters or supporting shelters to help dogs directly instead of using

all the millions in donations they receive on advertising their cause and big salaries.  While I am on a roll, I will stop

as the following vignette is so sweet I wanted to race to the Delaware Humane Society shelter to be rescued.

                              snoop and me 3 21 10                                                                   HORRORS! SNOOP AND ME ON A NO MAKE UP DAY!                          

                                                                                                           

I rescued a human today. 

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively  into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her.  I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly,  so she wouldn’t be afraid. As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I  didn’t want her to know that I hadn’t been walked  today.  Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn’t want her to think poorly of them.

As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn’t feel sad about my past. I only have the future
to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone’s  life. She got down on her knees and made little
kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her.

Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I raised 
my paw to assure her that all would be well. Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly
jumped into her arms.

I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do everything I could to 
see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes. I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor.

So many more are out there who haven’t walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one. 

I rescued a human today. 

postheadericon MORE ON HSUS AND THE ANIMAL RIGHTS AGENDA

 

The HSUS continues to attempt to advance its agenda, but hopefully more and more of us are catching on to the fact that do not have the best interest of dogs or any other animals at heart, just its own pocketbooks and its animal rights, not welfare mind you, but rights agenda. The HSUS claims it is working to regulate and perhaps close down “puppy mills.”  Instead it is really working to regulate all breeders including the reputable ethical breeders of purebred dogs whether show dogs, service dogs, pilot dogs, working dogs, and field dogs.  The dogs that breeders do not include in their particular breeding purpose, are available to families as wonderful family dogs. All of my show dogs are also my family dogs as are the dogs of most breeders.  I want to close down the substandard breeders more than anyone as I have seen the abuses and neglect that their dogs suffer.  However, the HSUS wishes to shut down all breeders and ultimately, with PETA, end the ownership of animals. The legislation already passed or being introduced in states and communities has brought with it the violation of the civil rights of individual breeders even to impounding their dogs with trumped up charges. Some of these breeders have never been able to get their dogs back.  Please read the following closely:

from the Sportsmen’s and Animal Owners’ Voting Alliance:

A SAOVA message to sportsmen, pet owners and farmers concerned  about protecting their traditions, avocations and livelihoods from anti-hunting, anti-breeding, animal guardianship advocates. Forwarding and cross posting, with attribution, encouraged. It’s all about numbers.

Recently HSUS aired an announcement on their website congratulating
Wisconsin Governor, Jim Doyle, and the state legislature for enacting a law
“to regulate large scale puppy producing operations, known as puppy mills.”
AB 250 regulates anyone who sells more than 25 dogs or 3 litters a year.  In
HSUS language, this separates small-scale breeders from puppy mills.

HSUS continues by stating, “In addition to Wisconsin, bills to regulate
puppy mills were enacted by the 2009 state legislatures in Arizona,
Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Nebraska, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and
Washington.”   WRONG!  In their zeal to pat themselves on the back and keep
the momentum alive for potential success in their multi-million dollar
campaign to regulate dog breeders, HSUS forgot how to count!  It seems they
also forgot to check the results as posted on their own website.  Arizona
bill HB2517, sponsored by Rep. Nancy Young Wright (D, 26), failed as did
Nebraska LB677 sponsored by Sen. Ken Haar (District 21).

In an unprecedented drive, HSUS introduced 33 commercial
breeder/regulation/licensing bills across the country from late 2008 thru
2009.  Of these 21 died, 8 passed; 4 are pending – due to either the
legislatures still in session or bills qualifying to be held over for 2010.

Full listing is available on the SAOVA website
http://www.saova.org/news/StateBreederBills2009.pdf

Numbers played a huge role in the drafting and promotion of the HSUS
commercial breeder/regulation/licensing bills – a long name to use but I am
loathe to call them “puppy mill” bills even long enough to write this
commentary. 

What is the definition of commercial or large scale dog breeding?  The
answer according to HSUS appears to depend on what the region can be
convinced to believe. To crack down on alleged puppy mills in Washington
State, HSUS determined 10 intact females was the magic number; Tennessee,
Montana Minnesota, and others used 20 as the beginning point for licensing;
North Carolina’s commercial breeder bill was set at 15, and in Illinois HSUS
determined that only by licensing breeders beginning with 3 intact females
would the state be saved from being overrun with puppy mills.  One HSUS
state director recently explained – a hobby breeder is someone with 6 who
breeds only one or two litters a year; anything more than that is a
commercial breeder/puppy mill. 

Another strategy in the HSUS legislation is to limit breeders by placing
caps on ownership.  A 25-dog magic number was proposed in legislation this
year as the limit of breedable dogs one could own in Colorado, Delaware,
Oregon, Massachusetts, and Washington. 

There is no logic to the idea that an owner can care for 25 dogs but not 26,
or even 100.  Ownership caps are nothing more than a limitation of personal
rights and the ability to build a breeding program, run a business, or earn
a living. 

USING NUMBERS TO CREATE A CRISIS

To keep legislation moving, it is always useful to have a crisis at hand.

HSUS claims there are more than 10,000 large, puppy mills housing 200,000 to
400,000 breeding dogs producing up to 4 million puppies a year.  If
Americans add approximately 8 million dogs to their households a year and
HSUS also claims nearly 50% of these come from friends, is HSUS saying the
other 50% come from substandard sources?

In Tennessee before the commercial breeder bill was enacted, HSUS claimed
10,000 puppies were for sale every day in the state.  In North Carolina,
HSUS claims their previous estimate of 200 puppy mills was in error – the
number is actually 400 and growing as the state is becoming home to breeders
fleeing states where regulatory laws have been passed.  Illinois voters were
urged to enact Chloe’s Bill to prevent before the onslaught of puppy mills
could become a blight on the State’s reputation.

The same sound bites are distributed in every state with a pending breeder
bill and the proclaimed crisis of abuse or overpopulation is NOT new.

In “The Humane Society of the U.S.: It’s Not about Animal Shelters” Daniel
Oliver writes:

“HSUS promotes restrictions on pet breeding and ownership that would sharply
limit the supply of pets and ultimately deny many responsible pet owners the
pet of their choice. It maintains that there is a ‘raging pet-overpopulation
crisis . . . an appalling overabundance of dogs and cats caused by human
carelessness and irresponsible breeding.’  Because an estimated 4.5 million
dogs and cats are euthanized each year in the U.S., HSUS has called for the
elimination of large dog breeding kennels and the enactment of mandatory pet
sterilization laws.”

Oliver continues that in 1993, HSUS proposed mandatory pet sterilization
laws and high license fees to deal with alleged pet overpopulation.  HSUS
called on local, county, and state legislators to enact either voluntary or
mandatory dog and cat breeding bans and to initiate mandatory pet
sterilization laws, including a two-year moratorium on all breeding.  For
each puppy or kitten born in violation of the moratorium, the owner or
person possessing the animal would pay a penalty of $100.

TAKING BACK THE INITIATIVE

To quote Washington, D.C. analyst Steve Kopperud, “The problem we have has
almost doubled because we have allowed the activists to define us; we have
allowed the activists to tell the public what we do and how we do it and
frankly, we’re sitting back and continuing to allow that to happen.”

We are the experts and must take back that role.  We must get our message
back to the public and to our legislators.  We can no longer afford to have
HSUS and animal rightist philosophers frame the issues, labeling us as
exploiters and legislating away our rights.  The battle will begin again in
2010 and we need to be ready. 

Keep up to date on the issues at SAOVA’s new blog:
http://saovanews.blogspot.com/

Susan Wolf

Sportsmen’s and Animal Owners’ Voting Alliance –  <http://saova.org>
http://saova.org

postheadericon The Real HSUS Agenda

 

From a fellow breeder who is as worried as I am about the animal rights agenda and all the anti dog and anti breeding legislation being introduced or passed:

One generation and out. We have no problems with the extinction of domestic animals. They are creations of human selective breeding.” Wayne Pacelle, CEO, Humane Society of the United States.

Please do not donate money to an organization that aims at eliminating all animal use in our country. They are NOT a Humane Society; they do not own or operate ONE pet shelter in the US, and they are NOT a national organization that “oversees” our hard-working local shelters. 

 

The HSUS has nothing to do with animal welfare except where it must show up to prove that it is all for animal welfare for publicity sake.  The donations sent to the HSUS are spent on lobbying for its own agenda which has to do with, in Pacelle’a own words: “the extinction of domestic animals.”  I don’t know about you, but I do not think I would like to spend my remaining years without the companionship and devotion of my dogs and cat (or my horse now that I am riding again).  I do not know how I would do without a dog to love.   Meredith              

“Freedom  is never more than one generation away from extinction.. We  didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must  be fought  for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our  children and our children’s children what it was once like  in the United States where men were free.” —–Ronald Reagan  
  

postheadericon Big Brother IS Watching. . .

Below is an interesting read re Petdata on how their service is useful to take away more of our privacy:

http://www.petdata.com/company/news/news050204-1.html.

Links:

Humane Society of the United States –
www.hsus.org

National Animal Control Association –
www.nacanet.org

http://bluedogstate.blogspot.com/2007_05_01_archive.html

The Mother of All Databases is already a reality:

PetData Inc., a private corporation in Irving, Texas, already collects information on law-abiding citizens who happen to own pets. They say they have already databanked
information on 2 million residents in
more than 20 U. S. communities, and
four entire counties. Matthews, North Carolina, just joined the ranks of municipalities contracts with PetData.

Your personal privacy on the auction block !

If you live in a community that outsourced animal licensing functions to PetData, you may not even realize it yet. When you vaccinate your cats and dogs for rabies, your vet forwards the details to PetData Inc.

Your name, your address, your contact information. And your dog’s, or cat’s veterinary information–including reproductive status. It all goes into for-profit PetData Inc.’s privately-owned, privately-controlled database.

PetData proudly advertises its membership in the Humane Society of the United States. It has no corporate privacy policy

If breeders stop breeding because of practices that take away their privacy and their rights, where will the general public get their next quality purebred puppy?

California tax officials target breeders via Internet:

June 29, 2009
By: Timothy Kirn
For The VIN News Service

California tax officials are surfing ­ the Internet, that is.

It is not unusual for authorities, potential employers, bankers and others to use the Internet to investigate people.

And now California tax officials are targeting potential breeders that way.

According to a letter from the California Board of Equalization, board officials visited the American Kennel Club Web site and linked to individual dog clubs to identify potential breeders living in the state.

Board officials are not sure if these dog club members are breeders, but they could be.

Tax board spokeswoman Anita Gore confirmed that 361 individuals will receive the letter. She would not say how or why those particular individuals were identified, however.

Below is my prediction of what will happen if reputable breeders stop breeding and many of us are very close with all the legislation hitting us from so many directions:

WHERE WILL YOU GET YOUR NEXT PUREBRED PUPPY???

CHOSE YOUR ANSWER FROM THE FOLLOWING:

____FROM A SHELTER (good luck in finding what you want)

____FROM AN INTERNET BREEDER (picking your puppy up at a gas station or Wal-Mart parking lot at 3:00 A.M. clandestinely because your breeder or better yet dog dealer won’t let you see where the dogs are raised)

____FROM A PET STORE (commercial breeders supply pet stores and may breed their own dogs or get from a puppy mill)

____AT A FLEA MARKET WHERE PUPPIES FROM PUPPY MILLS OR LESS THAN DESIRABLE BREEDERS ARE AVAILABLE ALONG WITH OLD FURNITURE.

____AGAIN FROM THE INTERNET (SEND YOUR PAYMENT AND YOU MAY OR MAY NOT RECEIVE THE PUPPY PROMISED TO ARRIVE BY AIR; ONLY GOD KNOWS WHERE AND HOW THESE POOR PUPPIES ARE RAISED)

YOU WILL NOT BE GETTING YOUR PUPPY FROM A REPUTABLE, CARING BREEDER WHO SIGNS THEIR PARENT CLUB CODE OF ETHICS AND WHO SPECIALIZES IN ONE OR TWO BREEDS BECAUSE OF A PASSION FOR THE BREEDS.

ALL THE LEGISLATION BEING NATIONALLY PROPOSED AND PASSED WILL END THE BREEDING OF DOGS AS WE KNOW IT. THE BOTTOM LINE OF THE ANIMAL RIGHTS MOVEMENT (JUST READ PETA’S MANIFESTO VERY, VERY CAREFULLY) IS THE END OF ANIMAL OWNERSHIP. IT IS VERY SAD AND UNFORTUNATE, THAT THE ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS ARE REALLY TRAMPLING ALL OVER THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF BREEDERS AND DOG OWNERS.

THE ANIMAL RIGHTS MOVEMENT HAS NOT IMPROVED THE PLIGHT OF DOGS BEING BRED IN UNSEEMLY CIRCUMSTANCES AND IT HAS CERTAINLY NOT ADDED TO THE WELFARE OF DOGS WHEN PETA IS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EUTHANSIA OF COUNTLESS DOGS, A FACT THAT HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED BY OUR MEDIA. VOLUNTARY SPAY/NEUTER IS WORKING. MANY SHELTERS NATIONWIDE ARE SUPPORTING THEMSELVES BY BRINGING IN PUPPIES AND DOGS FROM OVERSEAS, MEXICO, OR OTHER SHELTERS. OUR COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY ALONE IS TAKING POUND DOGS SCHEDULED TO BE EUTHANIZED TO UPSTATE NEW YORK SHELTERS WHO DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH ADOPTABLE DOGS FOR THE PUBLIC SEEKING THEM. RESPONSIBLE HOBBY/SHOW BREEDERS ARE NOT THE PROBLEM IN PRODUCING DOGS WHO WIND UP IN SHELTERS, BUT WE WILL BEAR THE BRUNT OF ALL THE LEGISLATION BEING PROPOSED OR PASSED AS THE COMMERCIAL BREEDERS WILL HAVE THE FUNDS TO PAY ALL THE FEES AND THE FINES.

Where will you get your next purebred puppy?

 

  

postheadericon Unbelievable! if it can happen in Kansas . . .

Subject: UNBELIEVABLE!!: from the Kansas City Dog Blog —

Here’s the scoop:
On August 1st, the animal control department in Kansas City, MO, implemented a new policy when it comes to evaluating their field officers. Effective immediately, animal control officers in KCMO will be required to issue a minimum of 15 summonses and impound a minimum of  20 animals per month.

  Read it here:   http://bit.ly/tXJJc