It is great that President Obama chose a pure bred dog from a breeder for his family’s personal dog.  I am sure that the animal rightists will be attacking President Obama for his choice of a purebred just as they have blatantly attached Vice President Biden for choosing a German Shepherd from a breeder. The campaign of the HSUS that everytime one gets a purebred dog, it causes the death of a shelter dog is shameful.  With a purebred dog, one has an idea of development, temperament, personality, and possible genetic problems.  One has no idea with a shelter dog.  I have a rescue dog and would not trade him for the world.  I will certainly adopt another rescue dog when the time is right, but do not take away my right to chose to own purebreds!!! 

Since Proposition 2 passed in California, HSUS has now targeted Ohio as its next state to overturn traditional ways of livestock farming.  Have there been abusive situations of raising livestock, absolutely!  Should livestock be treated humanely and slaughtered humanely, absolutely.  Should livestock farming be targeted by those who know nothing about raising livestock with the intent of changing how we raise livestock, absolutely NOT!  Do you remember a couple of winters ago when Colorado cattle where starving in severe blizzards because the snow was too deep to get to grass?  The Governor of Colorado asked the HSUS to help with airlifts of hay to the starving cattle. The HSUS refused, responding better the cattle starve than be enslaved in ownership.  So much for caring about the welfare of animals. The HSUS, which by the way is not affiliated with local humane societies;  It is not the NATIONAL Humane Society.  It does nothing with animal welfare, just animal rights.

An update on what is going on right now in the country from the Sportsmen and Animal Owners Voting Alliance:

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.
Prop2 Coming to Ohio; Rallying against animal rightist bills

Ohio cattlemen hear what’s hot: HSUS, OSU Extension cuts
by Susan Mykrantz, Farm and Dairy News Monday, April 6, 2009

ASHLAND, Ohio — Just when livestock producers are finding ways to clear the murky waters of low commodity prices and high input prices, comes another deluge of challenges in the form of steep funding cuts to the Ohio State University Extension and assaults from the Humane Society of the United States.

Producers are being targeted by groups determined to either change the way animal agriculture does business or put it out of business altogether, according to John Fitzpatrick, organization director for Ashland/Medina/Wayne County Farm Bureaus.

Following a preview of a multimedia presentation, Veal Calves and Cull Cows, Fitzpatrick told producers and industry representatives attending the Ashland County Cattlemen’s annual meeting that the Humane Society of the United States has targeted Ohio as their next state to pass legislation similar to Proposition 2 that was passed in California.

Fitzpatrick told the cattlemen that the HSUS is not connected with the local humane society in any way.

What you can do
All of agriculture needs to band together and tell its story to the public. “Don’t be afraid to speak up on behalf of agriculture,” he said. “You need to be willing to speak to the media, we all need to tell the same story.”

Full story at the link:
http://www.farmanddairy.com/news/ohio-cattlemen-hear-whats-hot-hsus-osu-extension-cuts/11659.html
http://tinyurl.com/d2pbzk

UPDATES ON CURRENT STATE LEGISLATION

ALABAMA
OPPOSE. SB 554 Sterilization of private dogs, cats required.
Requires the sterilization of all privately owned dogs and cats within the state with certain specified exceptions. This bill would also provide that the owner of a dog or cat over 6 months of age that has not been sterilized and that is the subject of a complaint to a local animal control agency, as specified, may be cited and, if cited, must pay a civil penalty to the local animal agency within 30 days.

Talking points:
* The proposed legislation allows for complaints from the general public to be included in the process toward mandated spay/neuter. Complaints can be for anything other than noise and do not need to be verified. The complaint-driven section is totally flawed.
* Spay/Neuter is an important medical decision that should be made for each individual pet only after careful consultation with the pet’s veterinarian, not mandated by the government
* Imposes state-mandated one-size-fits-all solution thereby removing any discretion from local officials, who know better than state officials how to handle problems in their community
* Exemptions for hunting, herding, detection or service dogs while working off their owner’s property are not included

Additional talking points are posted on the SAOVA website along with bill information, tracking, and contact information for Judiciary Committee members. http://saova.org/alabama.html

CALIFORNIA ACTION ALERT
OPPOSE. SB 250 Spaying and Neutering makes it illegal to own, keep or harbor a dog with intact sexual organs, except as specified. Makes it illegal to have an intact cat remain outdoors. Requires certificate of sterility as proof. Requires reporting of the sale of an unaltered cat or dog. Requires sterilization of any cat or dog impounded for any reason – even on first offense; or for violation of this law if cited for violation of other law.
A hearing is scheduled in Senate Local Government Committee for April 15, 2009 in Sacramento. Phone or fax your opposition now.
Committee Members:
Senator Patricia Wiggins, Chair
Phone: (916) 651-4002 Fax: (916) 323-6958 Senator.Wiggins@senate.ca.gov
Senator Dave Cox, Vice-Chair
Phone: (916) 651-4001 Fax: (916) 324-2680 Senator.Cox@senate.ca.gov
Senator Samuel Aanestad
Phone: (916) 651-4004 Fax: (916) 445-7750 Senator.Aanestad@senate.ca.gov
Senator Christine Kehoe
Phone: (916) 651-4039 Fax: (916) 327-2188 Senator.Kehoe@senate.ca.gov
Senator Lois Wolk Phone: 
(916) 651-4005 Fax:  (916) 323-2304 Senator.Wolk@senate.ca.gov

* Spay/Neuter is an important medical decision that should be made for each individual pet only after careful consultation with the pet’s veterinarian, not mandated by the government
* Imposes state-mandated one-size-fits-all solution thereby removing any discretion from local officials, who know better than state officials how to handle problems in their community
* Forced sterilization adds more costs to pet owners and already overburdened local governments.
* Areas which have passed this type of legislation have failed to see success in lessening animal abandonment

CALIFORNIA ACTION ALERT
OPPOSE. AB 241 Dogs and cats: breeders. AB 241 makes illegal to have more than a combined total of 50 dogs and cats with intact sexual organs. Authorizes certain officers to investigate a violation of such provisions, and to lawfully take possession of an animal kept in violation of existing law. Hearing scheduled April 14 in  Committee on Public Safety
http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/newcomframeset.asp?committee=57

Committee Fax (916) 319-3745
Jose Solorio, Chair (916) 319-2069 Assemblymember.solorio@assembly.ca.gov
Curt Hagman, Vice Chair (916) 319-2060 Assemblymember.Hagman@assembly.ca.gov
Warren Furutani (916) 319-2055 Assemblymember.Furutani@assembly.ca.gov
Danny Gilmore (916) 319-2030 Assemblymember.Gilmore@assembly.ca.gov
Jerry Hill (916) 319-2019 Assemblymember.Hill@assembly.ca.gov
Fiona Ma (916) 319-2012 Assemblymember.Ma@assembly.ca.gov
Nancy Skinner (916) 319-2014 Assemblymember.Skinner@assembly.ca.gov

MAINE ACTION ALERT
OPPOSE LD 964. Proposes unnecessary over-regulation of dog breeders establishing 3 categories of kennels with excessive kennel fees. The bill amends the definition of “breeding kennel” to specify that 5 or more female dogs capable of breeding are the threshold for needing a breeding kennel license. Adds new requirement that veterinarian must examine animal prior to sale. Creates a conditional license and fee before kennel license can be issued.  Allows the Department of Agriculture to charge a fee up to 50% of the kennel license for follow-up inspections.  Hearing is scheduled Apr 15, 2009, 0100PM by the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.  Contact the Committee: http://maine.gov/legis/house/jt_com/acf.htm.

ACTION NEEDED. LD 186 Possession of Animal Fighting Paraphernalia.
LD 186 is being heavily lobbied by HSUS and the animal rights forces in Maine. Criminal Justice Committee members discussed the merits of the bill.  Representative Hanley (D-Gardiner) and Representative Sykes (R-Harrison) both expressed serious reservations that this bill was attempting to solve a problem that didn’t exist.  Representative Hanley reported that according to the Department of Public Safety there have been no convictions for animal fighting in the state in more than 40 years, and only one report (never confirmed) of such activity.  

Senator Stan Gerzofsky (D- Brunswick), who is the Committee chair, then spoke.  He stated that as a former dog trainer he is very familiar with dog ownership, dog training and the sport of Schutzhund, as well as AKC standards governing these activities.  Many of the items that might otherwise be characterized as animal fighting paraphernalia are also appropriately used in training dogs.  While he finds dog fighting abhorrent, he noted that there are already laws in existence that can sufficiently address the issue.  Further, given his familiarity with the subject, he is adamantly opposed to any legislation that would in any way limit the lawful activities of dog trainers. The Committee vote was 9-2 Ought Not To Pass, with Senator Davis and Representative Schatz opposed. 

The animal rights movement in Maine has continued to lobby for the minority ought to pass amended bill.  LD 186 was presented to the House April 8 where the Ought Not To Pass Report was accepted by a vote of 122-20.  April 9 it was heard by the Senate; Senator Gerzofsky motioned to accept the majority Ought Not To Pass Report and Senator Nutting motioned to table the bill for further discussion.
What you can do:
Contact Senator Gerzofsky and support his stand on LD 186 Ought Not To Pass
http://www.mainesenate.org/gerzofsky/email.htm  Senate President’s Office: 207-287-1500

Contact Senator Nutting and express your concern about his continued support of LD 186. http://www.mainesenate.org/nutting/email.htm
Senate Democratic Office: 207-287-1515

Contact members of the Maine Senate and urge them to vote Ought Not To Pass. http://www.maine.gov/legis/senate/senators/email/maillst.htm

Find additional information at http://saova.org/Maine.html

VICTORY IN MINNESOTA: HF 253 defining as a commercial breeder anyone owning or having interest in 20 intact dogs has been tabled indefinitely.

VICTORY IN MONTANNA: HB 548 defining as commercial anyone selling 20 dogs annually has been defeated.

NORTH CAROLINA
OPPOSE. HB733/SB460 Regulate Commercial Dog Breeding.  Defines as Commercial Breeder anyone maintaining or having control of 15 intact females within a 12 month period.  The bills are based on numerous emotional assumptions that breeder/owners with 15 females are keeping them in crowded, unsanitary conditions for mass-production.  The bill also assumes that an owner of this number of dogs isn’t capable of managing a kennel and maintaining dogs in good health without state intervention. Mandates veterinary health certificate prior to breeding.  Mandates facilities, record keeping; allows inspection of kennel and private property.

OPPOSE. HB626/SB695 Restraining Of Dogs. Limits tethering to 9 hours in 24; exemption only while dogs are actively hunting or herding. Allows local government to reduce time limit.

OPPOSE. SB515/SB739 Prohibit Penning of Wildlife.  Will close fox pens in North Carolina. Eliminates safe training for hounds and eliminates the need for the many small businesses across the state of North Carolina that provide hound hunters with supplies.

For additional talking points, contact information and downloadable form letters visit http://www.saova.org/northcarolina.html

TENNESSEE ACTION ALERT:
OPPOSE. HB 386 introduced by Rep. Janis Sontany (D, Nashville) will classify a Commercial Breeder as any person who possesses or maintains twenty (20) or more adult female dogs in whole or in part for the purpose of the sale of their offspring as companion animals. HB 386 will allow the state to outsource some animal control work to HSUS or other outside animal organizations. The bill was passed by the House Subcommittee on Civil Practice & Procedure. Recommended for passage w/amendments – refer to: Judiciary Committee 4/7/2009. Voice Vote – Ayes Prevail Rep(s). Representatives Dennis and Kelsey requested to be recorded as voting No.  The Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hear HB 386 on 4/15.
Go to http://www.saova.org/Tennessee.html for Judiciary Committee contact information.

TEXAS
Texas dog owners have been exceptionally hard hit this year with animal rightist legislation.  RPOA Texas Outreach has all bills linked along with talking points.
http://www.rpoatexasoutreach.org/Texas_Bills_Filled_Summary.htm
Lone Star State American Pit Bull Terrier Club website also maintains a list of bills and update information: http://lsspbc.com/blog/2009/03/13/txbills/

VICTORY IN WEST VIRGINIA:  HB2843 defining as a commercial breeder anyone who maintains interest in 20 intact dogs did not pass out of committee before the April 1st deadline.

Watch the SAOVA website for continued updates.

Please share this message widely.

Susan Wolf
Sportsmen’s and Animal Owners’ Voting Alliance – http://saova.org
Issue lobbying and working to identify and elect supportive legislators

The message above was posted to West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri residents by the Sportsmen’s and Animal Owners’ Voting Alliance (SAOVA) on one of ten regional read only elists.

SAOVA is a nonpartisan volunteer group working to protect Americans from the legislative and political threats of radical animal rightists. It is the only national organization fighting this struggle for both sportsmen and animal owners, natural allies, in these arenas. Visit our website at http://saova.org for this program’s goals, methodology and list signup details.

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