I have been really, really busy since my last post.  I keep meaning to write every day, but always seem to be become involved in so many things.  I barely get email done.  I do have puppies available, mostly really pretty rubies who will go to pet homes once decisions about selecting show dogs is done.  Both litters are from our wonderful Ch. Rattlebridge Code Red. 

I am very involved in the pending legislation in Ohio.  Beside SB 173/HB 223, we also have SB 71 concerning the legitimate breeders.  This Bill would allow dogs living in abusive situations, such as dog fighting kennels, to be confiscated by law officials without due process being observed.  No one wants to see dogs living in abuse or neglect, but the worry is that owners’ individual rights may be at stake.  Walt Bebout, Director of Legislation, at AKC gave a very informative talk this past Saturday during the Lima Kennel Club show in Columbus.  We are forming an Ohio Federation of Dog Clubs to get clubs in Ohio to band together for political strength as we fight legislation which would seriously affect us legitimate show breeders who try our best to do right by the dogs we breed and own.  We have formed a steering committee to form the Federation.  I do hope we have enough club involvement to make the Federation go. 

This past weekend was the fall cluster of Columbus, Ohio shows.   I judged on Friday: Dobermans, Mastiffs, Rottweilers, Samoyeds, Portuguese Water Dogs.  I had a full day’s work and enjoyed every minute of it.  I cannot take as many judging assignments as in the past because of Al’s need to have me home, but I do so like to judge.  I saw some very good dogs.  My wonderful friend and co owner, Margaret Valentine, flew up from Texas to spend five days.  As always when together, we had a great time watching the show the days that I did not judge and operating as the fashion police, very quietly and respectfully  of course.  We also had the chance to spend time with our great friend and co owner Sherri Meyer and her daughter Nicole Newkirk.  Sherri and Nicole finished the championship of their black Italian Greyhound “Walker,”  a really lovely IG.  Margaret and Sherri co owned our last two Best in Show  and number one Cavaliers with me.  Margaret is the co breeder and co owner of Ch. Rattlebridge From Dusk ‘Til Dawn and his sisters except for Ch.  Delta Dawn who is co owned with Sherri Meyer. 

Meanwhile back at the farm, we have recently housed a few Humane Society dogs in the back kennel.  We also have a young and very pretty stud pony that was picked up running the roads of our county.  One of our mares is totally in love and in flaming heat with this pony and cannot understand why we will not let her have access to her boyfriend.  We want no unplanned breedings here!  We are running a “found pony” ad with absolutely no calls to claim him.  How can someone not notice the loss of a pony?!!He is not staying as cute as he is.  I am presently doing all the horse chores since Al has had his shoulder surgery and another equine body is one too many. We need homes for the Humane Society dogs and the pony. I do hope they all can find wonderful forever homes.  We have our own rescue dog and there is no more room in our house since the Cavaliers are still hanging from the chandeliers!  Want a beagle mix or two, we have it.  Want a border collie mix, we have it.  We have designer dogs whom no one created on purpose, but I believe that all of these dogs deserve the same wonderful homes as my Cavaliers get.  I am on the Humane Society of Morrow County Board and am the public relations director.  The Humane Society takes many hours of time from the whole board.  We do not have a shelter and do not have the money to fund a shelter in the near future.  We depend on foster homes which have been very scarce lately, hence the gang of dogs in our back kennel.  Working for the Humane Society is hard as it is difficult to see so many animals in trouble. If you wish to help animals, volunteer at your local humane society.

One of the very odd things happening in shelters around the country is the importation of puppies from other countries.  Our country is really making a effort to spay and neuter actually reducing the number of animals in shelters in different parts of the country.  So now certain shelters, which depend on adoption fees, are actually bringing in puppies and dogs, sometimes from other countries, to make available for adoption.  Our humane society has a voucher program to help people neuter their cats and dogs and we do not make any animal available for adoption which has not been spayed or neutered.

My Clooney is back from Canada and on my lap once more.  I keep being asked if we are going to send him out to be shown to be ranked in this country, but I do not think that I can bear to have him gone from me.  He is the best little companion.  His sister Delta Dawn is back home from Sherri Meyer to be bred. She is so beautiful.  I am so excited to do this breeding with Sherri. 

 

In our rural county, dog fighting has been a long time concern. It is barbaric to be sure and goes on in many venues from rural areas like ours, to deep country, in well to do areas hidden by security fences, and of course in urban areas.  Dog fighting, like cock fighting, is barbaric and in fact goes back to less civilized times. Dogs have been used to bait bulls, bait bear, and fight each other since very early times.  In fact some breeds were developed from these earlier uses of dogs.  One would think that in our society today, such horrible games would not be taking place, but then one would think that mankind would no longer be practicing genocide and waging war.  The veneer of civilization is indeed thin.

We all know how our country seems to revere celebrities and watch and sometimes copy every thing a celebrity does.  I feel celebrities have a real responsibility especially to our youth to set examples for moral and lawful behavior.  Many celebrities fail in setting a rightful example; headlines center around drugs and rehab, public fights and disturbances, outlandish behavior and so forth. For Michael Vick, a big time NFL celebrity, hero and role model to our sports crazy youth, to be brought up on charges on a felony so heinous as dog fighting, is not to be condoned in any fashion.  In this country, one is innocent until proven guilty; Michael Vick may be innocent, but dog fighting is so horrific and ugly, that Mr. Vick should be suspended from the NFL until his innocence is proven.  The case against Mr. Vick seems solid. Other athletes have been suspended pending investigations and so should Mr. Vick.  If you feel the same way as I do, let the NFL know how you feel.  Dog fighting is immoral.

Please read the following letters to the NFL (permission to cross post has been given)from the Doberman Pinscher Club of America at    http://dpca.org/Legisltv/documents/Roger_Goodell_Letter_July_20.pdf

and the American Kennel Club letter which I applaud is below:

RONALD H. MENAKER                            DENNIS B. SPRUNG

Chairman of the Board president and chief executive officer

July 20, 2007

Roger Goodell

Commissioner, National Football League

280 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10017

Dear Commissioner Goodell:

As the Board Chairman and President & CEO of a 123-year-old sport-governing body, we are very much aware of the conflicting pressures you face in the matter of the Michael Vick indictment.

Michael Vick is not only a nationally known superstar, but he is also the face of the National Football League?s Atlanta franchise. The Atlanta Falcons will not take any unilateral action on the matter because of the negative impact both in their financial liability and their on-field performance.
The buck thus stops with you as NFL Commissioner.

It is easy to take the position that you will just let the legal process play out, and that he is innocent until proven guilty, which is what the NFL and the Falcons, as well as the players association, have done to date. However, the nature of the crimes described in detail in the indictment in this case are so heinous and repulsive that they should be strongly condemned by any civilized person. This activity is anathema to everything the American Kennel Club stands for, and the millions of AKC registrants and competitors, many of whom have been NFL fans, unilaterally condemn it and those who perpetrated it.

It is common for state laws to recommend the immediate suspension of a teacher when charged with certain crimes. To acknowledge the severity of Mr. Vick?s charges, we urge his immediate suspension.

Respectfully,

Ronald H. Menaker Dennis B. Sprung

Chairman President & Chief Executive Officer

“When it rains, it pours the old adage goes.” At this point the adage would not be referring to the drought in Ohio, but to the amount of anti breeding legislation being introduced in our country. Ohio Senate Bill 173, the puppymill bill, will have a formal hearing this coming Tuesday with bill sponsors and opposition giving testimony. This bill is an awful bill. Written to shut down the Amish puppymills, the bill will effectively stop the small reputable show breeders from breeding. Commercial breeders will really not be affected; they will get their vendors’ licenses, pay the fees to do high volume breeding, and raise their dogs like livestock under the regulations of the Ohio Department of Agriculture. While the spirit of requiring better housing and care for the puppy mill dogs, the bill lumps all breeders together who have over a certain number of breeding animals which includes brood bitches and stud dogs. If one would have a stud dog, that dog could not be bred more than once a year. So a healthy dog could effectively not be used by other breeders to improve their dogs. We presently have four dogs who have been MRI’d clear of Syringomlyelia who really could not be used as I read the bill. I am attaching the link to the bill and to the list of senators. PLEASE, THOSE OF YOU IN OHIO, AND THOSE IN OTHER STATES, CONTACT YOUR SENATOR OR ALL SENATORS NOW IN OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL. Just look on the link to the Ohio Government website to read the bill and find the list of senators. Please become involved.

The site for SB 173:

http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=127_SB_173

And don’t forget AB 1634 in California. Thank you!

Welcome to my WordPress Blog. Please bookmark this page and checkback often!

Meredith

I had a great time judging in England and visiting friends. I was delighted to be able to bring home Harana Star Appeal, a young ruby girl, who really “appealed” to me. When I returned from England, I went to San Antonio to judge and then to Houston to put on a comparison seminar on English Toys and Cavaliers. Home then to celebrate my husband’s 75th birthday!!! and the arrival of my new and last horse who is a stunning two year old black Tennessee Walker. He and I are learning to adjust to each other; he is a dear, sweet horse and I look forward to wonderful rides with him. On the dog scene, my friends and I went up to the Canfield shows where we won classes and put two five point majors on our lovely black and tan girl, Rattlebridge Spring Song handled by Sunni Dunn who co owned and showed the now retired number 1 Cavalier, Ch. Rattlebridge Adagio. Spring Song, “Robin.” now needs only one point to finish her championship. Our lovely ruby boy, Ch. Rattlebridge Code Red, who is co owned with Bonnie Watts, finished his championship in June as did our tri girl, Ch. Rattlebridge Trick or Treat. Trick or Treat’s sister, Ch. Rattlebridge Costume Party has won Best of Breeds in California and a group placement, handled by her co owner Tami Doniere Byroads. We have exciting puppies coming along. Our young ruby boy, Rattlebridge Up In Lights! continues to look most promising as he grows up. We have a couple of lovely wholecolor puppies by our import Harana Spencer Tracy. Sherri Meyer now co owns and will show Rattlebridge Hit the Spot who is an absolutely delightful young blenheim girl, while Sunni Dunn is growing up Rattlebridge Shopping Spree, “Macy,” who is a young ruby girl. Rachel Stanton, who finished the championships on several of our dogs, has taken home a couple of promising black and tans as well as Rattlebridge In Wonderland, a young tricolor girl. While I stay home and take care of horses and puppies for awhile and recover from knee surgery, my friends will be out showing our dogs. We also have a couple of pet puppies who will be available in the near future. As always, we welcome visitors by appointment. Meredith

The battle in California continues to heat up. The latest news from Susan Van Luchene follows. If you live in California please help oppose AB 1634 by reading below and contacting your Assembly Member in opposition. Please.

Susan Van Luchene:

Here is the list of Assembly Members that are still undecided. The good news is that several of these have made up their mind to oppose this draconian piece of legislation!! In calling this morning I discovered that Assembly Member Anna Marie Caballero will OPPOSE, Assembly Member Cathleen Galgiani will OPPOSE, Assembly Member Fiona MA is opposed at present (this means we cannot let up on her!!), ad Assembly Member Nicole Parra will OPPOSE!

This means we are having an IMACT and we CAN DEFEAT AB 1634 — Please.
Please, EVERYONE get on the phone and call every one of these Assembly
Members today to let them know You OPPOSE AB1634 as Amended 5-31-07. (new
amendment date, used to be 5-9) to make sure you get the point across you
READ the amendments and STILL oppose this.

My gut tells me a few of the Assembly Members WE STILL NEED TO CONVINCE are
Julia Brownley, Charles Calderon, Mike Davis,, Betty Karnette and Tony
Mendoza — make these your SPECIAL TARGETS!!

Please don’t forget to register you opposition, as well as your thanks for
their opposition, with Assembly Members, Marie Caballero, Cathleen Galgiani,
Fiona Ma, and Nicole Parra
Many thanks!
Susan Van Luchene

Permission to cross post — cross posting is strongly encouraged!!
Here is the list:

ASSEMBLYMEMBER JULIA BROWNLEY
Phone: 916-319-2041 and 818-596-4141
Fax: 916-319-2141 and 818-596-4150

ASSEMBLYMEMBER ANNA MARIE CABALLERO
Phone: 916-319-2028 and 831-759-8676
Fax: 916-319-2128 and 831-759-2961

ASSEMBLYMEMBER CHARLES CALDERON
Phone: 916-319-2058 and 562-692-5858
Fax: 916-319-2158 and 562-695-5852

ASSEMBLYMEMBER MIKE DAVIS
Phone: 916-319-2048 and 213-744-2111
Fax: 916-319-2148 and 213-744-2122

ASSEMBLYMEMBER CATHLEEN GALGIANI
Phone: 916-319-2017 and 209-948-7479 and 209-726-5465
Fax: 916-319-2117

ASSEMBLYMEMBER BETTY KARNETTE
Phone: 916-319-2054 and 562-997-0794 and 310-548-6420
Fax: 916-319-2154 and 562-997-0799

ASSEMBLYMEMBER FIONA MA
Phone: 916-319-2012 and 415-557-2312
Fax: 916-319-2112 and 415-557-1178

ASSEMBLYMEMBER TONY MENDOZA
Phone: 916-319-2056 and 562-864-5600
Fax: 916-319-2156 and 562-863-7466

ASSEMBLYMEMBER NICOLE PARRA
Phone: 916-319-2030 and 661-334-3745 and 559-585-7170
Fax: 916-319-2130 and 661-334-3796 and 559-585-7175

ASSEMBLYMEMBER ANTHONY PORTANTINO
Phone: 916-319-2044 and 626-577-9944
Fax: 916-319-2144 and 626-577-2868

ASSEMBLYMEMBER LAURA RICHARDSON
Phone: 916-319-2055 and 562-989-2919
Fax: 916-319-2155 and 562-989-5494

There are two organizations that need money to continue the fight against anti breeding: the Concerned Dog Owners of California (see address in Ted Crawford’s email to me below) and PetPac (the political action committee formed to protect the rights of pets and owners through public awareness and education http://www.petpac.net/ )

From my friend and president of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club of Southern California:

We are in a critical time this week. If this bill does not get passed
this week it is dead. We believe he is having a hard time finding the
votes to get it passed. Some of us also feel that he would like to get
away from this bill that will likely be the end of his political career.
The overwhelming numbers of CA. residents do not want this bill (80%
oppose to 20% support). One would have to realize that the people that
vote you into office can just as easily vote you out.

As for any donations, please make checks payable to; CDOC (Concerned Dog
Owners of California) you can send to me and I will hand deliver.

Ted Crawford,
446 E. Jefferson Ave.
Pomona, CA 91767

Thank you for all your support and please know that everything we are
doing will be helpful to everyone who may face the same problem.

We are fighting legisative battles on so many fronts. Today was a big hearing in Sacremento on AB 1364. Have not heard what happened yet. For those living in New Jersey, please read the following and act upon the information:

From my friend Peggy who keeps us abreast of the battles being fought . .

All you NJ folks, please start calling Senator Sweeney’s office. He has three offices, but the
number at the main office is 856-251-9801.
If you bug the staff long enough and keep them from doing other work because they have to answer the phone, they will let him know, for sure. Of course, you are calling to OPPOSE Senate Bill 1064–
I can’t find a fax number, but if you can find one, fax away… Get your friends and neighbors, and relatives and co-workers, to call in opposition, also.

Also…if you google NJ Legislature, you can go to the state’s website and find the name of your own State Senator there… you should also call/fax, or write your own Senator, too…and ask them to oppose the bill.
The California fight isn’t over, nor is the fight in Texas, or
Ohio…but there are equally noxious bills popping up everywhere. We
have to fight them, and fight them hard…if we don’t win these battles,
folks, it won’t matter what club you’re in, or who your friends
are…none of us will have dogs much longer. And don’t think I’m
exaggerating…I’m not. That is, after all, the aim of the ARistas who
are constantly badgering these legislators and convincing them these
onerous laws are necessary…while we all sit around and say “no, it
won’t bother ME and MY dogs.” Uh huh…………..believe me…it
will. Maybe not your state right now…
but every battle we lose brings the war closer to each and everyone else.

Don’t just sit there….make a phone call to Sweeney’s office
first thing tomorrow…and keep calling until you get through. Make
sure they know you are
vehemently opposed to State Bill 1064.

We just got back from our National. Clooney finished his championship a couple of weeks ago from the bred by exhibitor class despite my handling. Although, he was entered at the National, I did not show him as he is not quite ready for the Best of Breed or Champion class. He did take a fourth in stud dog with two of his barely six month old puppies. As the judge said, the Clooney puppies were too young to really evaluate in the class. Clooney’s mother, Ch. Emjo Arriere did win the brood bitch class and we retired our second brood bitch trophy which must be won three times for permanent possession. The trophies are different LLardo figurines of a young girl with a Cavalier. Beautiful. The girls who have won brood bitch are: Ch. and Can. Ch. Rattlebridge Make Believe, ROM (two times); Ch. Rattlebridge Dutch Treat (two times); and Ch. Emjo Arriere (two times). We are so proud of our girls and of all of our nine ROM titles.

The puppies, Rattlebridge True Spirit and her brother Rattlebridge Truth or Dare conducted themselves very well despite their young age. Truth or Dare took a fourth in Sweepstakes and a second in his regular class. We had a couple of other placements, but did not go this year with anything really ready.

My young friend, Melissa Charbonneau, went with me. We had fun meeting friends and socializing. Melissa lives in Florida and has been coming us to visit us since she was twelve. She is now sixteen, brilliant student, and very pretty with a great sense of humor. After waiting for the right puppy to come along, she now owns and is going to show Clooney’s adorable first daughter, R. True Spirit.

Ted Crawford and I addressed everybody before the Best of Breed competition. We reminded all about the danger of California Bill 1634 and how it could spread throughout the country. The animal rights and anti breeding activists are well organized and doing their fanatic best to push this bill through. Below are some interesting things for you to read and act upon to help us stem the spread of anti dog legislation which will really affect our civil right to own dogs. Read the Pet Data material in the Blue Dog State newsletter; it will frighten you to think that our rights can be taken away even in the United States:

http://bluedogstate.blogspot.com/

——————————————————————————–

——————————————————————————–
PLEASE CHECK UPCOMING LEGISLATION IN YOUR COMMUNITIES AND CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS. PLEASE WRITE THE LEGISLATORS IN CALIFORNIA NOW TO REGISTER YOUR OPPOSITION TO AB1634. IF YOU GO TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WEBSITE, YOU WILL FIND LISTED ALL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

——————————————————————————–

——————————————————————————–

AND MORE AND VERY IMPORTANT FROM THE AKC CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD:

Following, please find the May Chairman’s Report.

Regards,

AKC Communications

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: May 8, 2007

Contact: Daisy Okas

Phone: 212-696-8343

MAY CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

New York, NY – Since February we have been waging a legislative battle
against California Assembly Bill 1634 which would require mandatory
spaying/neutering for all dogs over 4 months of age unless the owner
qualifies for and purchases an intact dog permit through the local
authorities.

This would mean that those wishing to keep their dogs intact would be at
the whim of municipalities, who, under the bill’s provisions, can set
the fees for such permits.

So, what appears as an “exception” for purebred dog owners and breeders,
will result in higher fees for responsible dog owners and breeders.
California state law already requires that dog licenses for intact
animals cost twice as much as those for spayed or neutered animals.

Immediately after this bill was introduced AKC began an aggressive,
pro-active grassroots effort to get the word out about our opposition to
this bill. We have continually posted updated legislative alerts on our
web site and provided resources such as fliers, sample letters and
talking points via our “CA Spay/Neuter Action Center” on the home page.
We have also rung the alarm far and wide by individually contacting
2,000 California club officers, legislative liaisons, judges, and
Delegates as well as alerting 90,000 AKC-registrants in addition to more
than 14,750 who recently registered a litter urging them to oppose this
bill.

AKC President and CEO Dennis Sprung and I each sent a letter to
Assemblyman Mike Eng, Chairman of the Business and Professions Committee
where the bill was scheduled for a hearing detailing our opposition. I
also sent a letter to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger,
reiterating the damage this bill could inflict on responsible dog owners
and breeders and the revenue that would be lost to the state should he
sign this bill into law.

Our early efforts helped to secure a postponement on a vote to move the
bill out of committee on April 10. I believe our unified voice of
opposition from the fancy directly affected this action.

Because we understood the importance of the bill and the far-reaching
effect it might have on other states, AKC sent staff member Sarah
Sprouse from AKC’s Canine Legislation department and AKC legislative
consultant Stephanie Lane to the April 24 hearing in Sacramento. In
addition, we hired a California lobbyist to help us navigate the
political waters.

Despite our efforts, the bill was kept alive and voted out of committee.
We did, however, retain support from lawmakers who understood our
position as was evidenced in the committee vote down party lines.
Immediately after the hearing, our staff members met with more than 200
dedicated fanciers, supplied them with materials and instructed them how
to approach their assembly members to voice continued opposition. I want
to thank the several hundred fanciers who turned out for the April 10th
and 24th hearings, and the thousands of dog owners who sent letters and
e-mails to legislators. Their collective voice and strong numbers
strengthened our opposition.

According to the sponsor of AB 1634, the bill is intended to reduce
shelter populations and costs. AKC opposition to the bill is predicated
on the reality that the bill wrongly targets responsible dog owners and
breeders while failing to address the real reasons animals are
surrendered. National research organizations have reported that the
majority of unwanted dogs in the United States come from owners who are
unable or unwilling to train, socialize and care for their dog.

While AKC opposes mandatory spaying and neutering of purebred dogs, we
have always encouraged pet owners to spay or neuter their dogs if they
do not want to participate in AKC conformation events or engage in
responsible breeding programs. In fact, the American Pet Products
Manufacturers Association 2005-2006 National Pet Owners Survey reports
that more than 70 percent of owned dogs are spayed or neutered. Seven
out of 10 dog owners chose spaying or neutering as the right decision
for their pet. This is an individual choice best made by pet owners in
consultation with their veterinarian.

Since the majority of owned dogs in this country are already spayed and
neutered, we need to address the reasons dogs are relinquished. I
believe educating the public about responsible dog ownership, coupled
with enforcement of existing leash laws, best addresses shelter
population issues.

AKC proactively developed several education programs, including AKC
Responsible Dog Ownership Day, dedicated to teaching the pet-buying
public how to make well-informed decisions when acquiring a pet. Such
programs help to ensure that pet purchasers find a puppy or dog that is
a good match for their lifestyle, thereby decreasing the chance that the
animal will be relinquished to a shelter. In addition, our AKC Canine
Good Citizen(r) program, AKC Obedience trials, and our nearly 5,000 AKC
affiliated clubs offer ongoing training opportunities for owners to curb
potential behavior problems through training. Our education programs are
in schools and libraries and at shows, club meetings and community
events nationwide.

AKC Clubs also routinely donate money raised at their events back into
the community in the form of scholarships, bullet proof vests for law
enforcement K-9s, and other civic minded endeavors. Club members and
breeders who engage in this high level of volunteerism are in no way
irresponsibly breeding dogs, in fact, if a dog they breed does need to
be re-homed they are the first to step up and take responsibility for
it, giving it a foster home until a new owner can be found.

We know education is the best way to influence responsible dog ownership
and since our programs have been implemented there has actually been a
decrease in shelter populations. What some lawmakers fail to realize is
that with our mission to promote responsible dog ownership through
public education, we are a significant part of the solution. We strive
to help dog owners have a successful and rewarding experience with their
pet, making it more likely the dog will remain a valued member of the
family for its entire lifetime. Lawmakers must end the debate of
mandatory spay and neuter and embrace the concept of public education.

Additionally, AKC breed parent clubs and local affiliates participate in
breed rescue which further reduces the number of dogs in municipal and
private shelters across the United States. More than 280 AKC affiliated
rescue organizations are committed to assisting shelters with adoption
and placement of purebred dogs identified within the shelter
populations. These organizations rehabilitate dogs in foster homes and
permanently place them with loving and responsible families.

We will continue to be vigilant in our opposition and keep you informed
of developments. It is imperative that all of you join us in defeating
California AB 1634. Please visit our website for sample letters, talking
points and contact information for California Assemblymembers. (Visit
the AKC website at:
http://www.akc.org/canine_legislation/CA_action_center.cfm
to learn
more.)

By staying involved we can make sure our right to decide what is best
for our animals is preserved.

We are actively investigating the possibility of establishing an AKC
Political Action Committee (PAC).

Sincerely,

Ron Menaker

AKC Communications

——————————————————————————–

——————————————————————————–

AND MORE:

At this link http://agriculture.house.gov.hearings/index.html
you can read the testimony of Congressman Charles W. Stenholm to the House
Committee on Agriculture. This is a piece to read, print out, and save
for anyone who is trying to educate others about the AR movement.
This is a United States Congressman testifying before the Congress on
the agenda of the animal rights movement. FINALLY – they are beginning
to get it!

Just click on “witness opening statements,” then click on Stenholm’s
name. Don’t bother with the 52 pages of drivel from Wayne Pacelle of
HSUS…that’s the same old same old from him…….not what he said,
since the Committee apparently mounted an immediate attack against him!
One of the “good ole boys” even called Pacelle “son.” Bet that got his
dander up! The Members were not amused or interested in listening to
Pacelle! Hooray!

From Peggy…and permission to crosspost is given (various sources
provided the background here)

And More:

The Doberman Pinscher Club of America has a new flyer available for
>> distribution regarding Assembly Bill 1634. Since AB1634 will be heard
>> by the Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 16th, this flyer
>> addresses the fiscal side of the bill. Please print this flyer with the
>> Committee Members’ contact information on the back and distribute it far
>> and wide. The general public needs to be aware of the impact this bill
>> would have on their communities and businesses. Pass it out at the
>> malls, your church, your neighborhood center – anywhere and everywhere.
>> If each of us does this, the public will become aware of this unfair
>> and costly legislation and will contact the Appropriations Committee.
>> Many vets and most of the general public are not even aware of this
>> bill. We need public awareness of this attempt to govern our
>> relationship with our pets.
>>
>> This is the direct link to the flyer:
>> http://www.dpca.org/Legisltv/documents/Cost_to_CA.pdf
>>
>> It can also be accessed from this page:
>>
>> http://www.dpca.org/Legisltv/bills/CA1634.htmLook for the flashing
>> “NEW” sign.
>>
>> Thank you for your help in educating the public about AB 1634.
>> Dana Johnson
>> DPCA Legislative Committee

I have promised to write about the forces working against the show breeders and small reputable breeders in this country in the name of animal welfare; if the anti breeding and anti dog activists have their way, dog ownership and dog breeding will become a thing of the past. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the American Humane Society (ASA), and PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) are all zealousy campaigning for anti breeding legislation in many of our communities, cities, and states. Do your own research into manifestos of these groups and see how very dangerous they really are to our American way of life.

I am currently serving on the board of the local Humane Society and have worked hard to help all the dogs in our county. Most of us show breeders care about all dogs.Those who have visited us will have met our Snoop who is a much beloved rescue dog of mixed heritage. Ther purpose of some of the proposed or active legislation is to cut down on shelter dogs which will not happen as most of the shelter dogs do not come from reputable breeders and this legislation will hit us the hardest. For your information, I will address some of the legislation being proposed throughout the country in future “Latest News.”

For now, below are some of the trends across the country as compiled by Walt Hutchens, Whippet breeder:

From left to right across the country we have:

In New Mexico they’re facing the ‘Pet Owner Responsibility Act,’

mandatory spay/neuter for the state; there’s talk that a brain-dead

negotiation by the Sangre de Cristo Kennel Club (Santa Fe) got partial

exemptions for fanciers inserted making this one harder to beat. This

one is expected to be introduced not later than Feb. 15th.

The District of Columbia has the just introduced ‘Animal Protection

Amendment Act of 2007.’ Said to be mandatory spay/neuter and more,

this was introduced on February 6th. I posted the bill to the pet-law

files section (DC_B_89.txt) last night but haven’t had time to read it

yet.

In Pennsylvania they have an administrative rulemaking process that

would extend the no-home-breeding standards of the federal AWA to many

if not most show dog breeders. I believe the extended comment period

closes March 15th.

In Virginia we’ve just beaten the fourth annual breeder licensing

bill. However we lost (our state federation of dog clubs withdrew) our own

bill to remove hobby breeders from the definition of pet ‘dealer’ in

our state law — a major vulnerability.

I wouldn’t want to swear that there isn’t another state or two with a

major threat to hobby breeding that I’ve missed. And of course we are

promised a replay this year of PAWS with support from the

fresh-cookies-fresh-cookfresh-cookies-and-spray-starch Stepford

Various measures that would lead to mandatory national microchipping

are tuning up, offstage.

Albuquerque and Louisville are already lost. Maybe they’ll win their

court fights and get back part or all … and maybe not.

The most deadly piece of legtislation is California AB 1634 which has just gotten out of committee and is now going to appropriations before it goes to the full Assembly. This bill calls for a mandatory spay and neuter throughout the state. The commercial breeders will not be stopped and the unsavory internet breeders will just go underground meeting buyers in rest stops or across state lines or just shipping poor very young puppies across the country not even know to whom they are really going. We breeders who do the testing, socialize our puppies, and breed to the breed standard will be stopped.

Please, please go to the website for the California Federation of Dog Clubs and read about dog genocide and how you can help. cfodconline.org Please join. cfodconline.org

ALSO the AKC has put together some sample letters to be used to write legislators in California to fight AB 1634. There are letters for California residents, letters for non-residents that may show there, one for local breed clubs, and one for breed parent clubs. Of course you may use your own words, too.

Please follow the link and send letters to the CA Assembly Members to
help fight this terrible bill.

http://www.akc.org:80/canine_legislation/CA_action_center.cfm

As my friend Peggy has been warning:

CA AB 1634 has passed out of committee. It will now go on to the appropriations committee. If it passes there, the next stop is the full assembly for a vote into law. If it becomes law, there will effectively be no more breeding in California. The people who believe we should “work with” the fanatics who want these bills passed should read The Future of Dogs at http://www.pet-law.com/future/forward.html It can also be ordered as a booklet from that site. These laws are not intended to lower euthanasia rate — the DOG euthanasia rate has been dropping steadily for 30 years. They are intended to STOP BREEDING ALTOGETHER.Unless you understand the animal rights agenda, you will never be able to protect your rights. When California develops a dog deficit, which is already happening in many parts of the state, when people cannot buy a quality purebred, guess where the puppies will come from? Over the border, as many are now. They are raised in uninspected, often filthy places that make the breeders we call “puppy mills” look like doggie heaven. Do you think the people who are already supplying puppies illegally (“Meet me in the Walmart parking lot at midnight. Bring cash.”) are going to stop doing it when their market doubles and triples? Since many of those pups will end up in shelters due to health or temperament problems, the ARS will be back in three or four years saying “The law isn’t tough enough.” And those Responsible Breeders who decided that since the laws would only apply to those Irresponsible Breeders, we should work on a compromise will find themselves caught in the web next. And guess who will NOT be there to help us? Remember those commercial breeders we threw to the lions?? The statistics cited as “horrific euthanasia rates” include: 1) Cats — there is still a cat overpopulation problem, largely due to feral & “barn cats.” Forcing purebred cat breeders to spay and neuter will not touch this problem. How many “excess euthanasias” do you think there are of, say, Abyssinians or even Persians? How many people with purebred cats allow them to roam and breed freely? Purebred cats account for one percent of the overall cat population. 2) Dogs brought to shelters FOR euthanasia. Many people cannot afford to have a vet euthanize an old, even very much loved, pet. Their only choice may be shelter euthanasia, where the perhaps 16-year-old chihuhahua is counted as “ANOTHER UNWANTED PET!!!!” 3) Dogs with no chance of being safe, happy or healthy pets. It’s not true that there are no bad dogs, just bad owners. Just like some people, some dogs are just plain wired wrong. Yes, unfortunately they may bounce through a few homes before arriving at the shelter, but they too — even though no one could call them pets — are counted in the “SKYROCKETING EUTHANASIA NUMBERS.”If California goes mandatory spay/neuter, we will lose possibly ten percent of the gene pool of many of our breeds. What will that do for purebred dogs? Folks, this is war. We are county by county and now state by state losing our right to not only breed, but to even OWN more than two or three dogs. Compromising is not the answer. Education is. I am amazed at the number of inquiries I get from people who already KNOW not to buy from pet shops, know what questions to ask, are prepared to pay a fair price for a good puppy. It will not help us to win the education war if we have meanwhile been legislated out of existence. There will always be shelter euthanasia and it ill always include some dogs that could have been good pets. There will also always be child abuse, homelessness, and cancer. It happens. Life is not perfect. Passing laws to wipe out breeding as an approach to shelter euthanasia is like limiting couples to two children to prevent child abuse. The issues are not even related except that they both involve children. We do not have a pet overpopulation problem. We have a pet retention problem, and the answer to that is education. Help people KEEP their pets by offering support and being open to questions. Many people who turn their dogs in to shelters do so because they don’t understand the basics of housetraining or dog behavior. And yes, they may turn in their next dog too unless there is intervention. When your neighbor gripes about her Labradoodle peeing in the house, don’t roll your eyes and preach about the folly of “designer dogs.” Give her a copy of the housetraining paper you send home with puppies. Talk to her about what exactly is going on. Is he marking? Is he confined for too long and just can’t hold it? Has he just never been housetrained? As breeders, we have a responsibility to address the owner turn-in part of euthanasia, but it is not fulfilled by cutting back on breeding or supporting laws against “those other guys.” It is hands-on, one-on-one education provided in a friendly — not condescending and bossy, which we all excel in! — manner. We need to be making friends in the community and doing something to fight the “snobby dog breeder” image we’ve built over the years.

Okay. Enough. Next time you see something about AB1634 or another bill in someone else’s community, find out what you can do to help. Today it’s California. Tomorrow it will be your state. You may not think you have time to help. You’d better make time or no one will be left to help you when it’s your turn.

again from Peggy:

If you don’t do anything else today, go to the following URL and read the interview SATYA conducted with Wayne Pacelle, CEO of the Humane Society of the United States … read every word of it, and then print it out and share it with everyone you know … this is clearly a social/political/spiritual manifesto and it is being implemented under the guise of “animal welfare.” In this interview, Pacelle offers up his personal philosophical position and his belief that it is “OK” to use money and power to manipulate the legal and legislative system in order to change the face of American Culture and rewrite the social value system. This is truly a method for pushing and conditioning people to believe and behave in certain ways using covert mind control and thought manipulation. The law is the tool they are attempting to use to fabricate a false ideology and morality on all of us … Read this little manifesto, understand that this man believes he is qualified, competent and justified in using any means at his disposal to change who we are … this is operant and behavioral conditioning at a level that is right up there with everything I’ve read in “Brave New World” and other science fiction fantasies about the future. The question is this – What are Wayne Pacelle’s political ambitions, and why does he think he is qualified to manipulate the “way we ought to live,” and by what authority does he justify his attempts to restructure the fabric and texture of American culture and society? He has raised the practice of deception and thought manipulation to a new level … never mind that most of us were raised to believe that we live in a free country which offers us the opportunity to research the facts and truth about issues and make our own deformed decisions about the way we “should be living.” Folks, we need to get serious about telling people who this man is and what he is *really* about and what his political ambitions are.

http://www.satyamag.com/jun05/pacelle.html

More next time. Kiss your Cavalier and your other pets.

I am leaving for the Louisville shows where the warnings are out about PETA disrupting the dog shows. When I come back I would like to address what is going on with the anti breeding activists threatening the show and hobby breeders’ right to breed dogs and the right to dog ownership. There are many city, county and state ordinances being passed. But for now and in advance:

Happy St. Patrick’s Day