Dear Companion Pet Lovers ~
Learn More on How You Can Support the Campaign to Ban Ohio Dog Auctions!
Voters across the state have been communicating with their fellow citizens to gather a goal of a MINIMUM of 120,700 signatures by December 1, 2010 to place a measure (Ohio Dog Auctions Act) on the November 2011 ballot. Volunteer petitioners are needed to make this initiative a reality in Ohio -we have until December 1, 2010! We need everyone's participation to make this vital effort a success!
SIGNATURE GATHERINGS!
Friday, March 26, 2010 - Greater Cleveland Spring Job Fair
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Cleveland I-X Center - One I-X Center Drive, Cleveland, OH 44135
VOLUNTEER PETITION CIRCULATORS SUCCESSFULLY RECRUITED FOR THIS EVENT!
Friday, March 26 - Sunday, March 28, 2010 - 2010 Columbus Pet Expo
Friday, March 26 (Noon - 9 PM)
Saturday, March 27 (10 AM - 8 PM)
Sunday, March 28 (11 AM - 6 PM)
Franklin County Veterans Memorial Stadium - 300 West Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215-2761
R.S.V.P. by Wednesday, March 24 to info@banohiodogauctions.com
Coalition to Ban Ohio Dog Auctions will be at Booth 801, right next to one of our favorite supporters, Colony Cats!
Help educate the public with fun pet entertainment, pet competition shows and events, seminars and new product sales and demonstrations about the importance of responsible pet ownership! This is a great opportunity to volunteer as an individual, as a family, or as a group and help raise awareness and collect signatures supporting our ballot campaign to end dog auctions in Ohio!
Monday, March 29, 2010 - Ohio Humane Farms Volunteer Meeting
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Community Recreation Center - 701 East State Street, Athens, OH 45701
R.S.V.P. by Saturday, March 27 to info@banohiodogauctions.com
Learn about the campaign to reduce the suffering of millions of farm animals in Ohio and prevent some of the most egregious forms of animal cruelty in our state! Ohio Humane Farms has extended supporters a great opportunity to volunteer as an individual, as a family, or as a group and help raise awareness and collect signatures supporting our ballot campaign to end dog auctions in Ohio!
Monday, March 29, 2010 - Ohio Humane Farms Volunteer Meeting
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
LCNB Bank - 30 West Park Place, Oxford, OH 45056
R.S.V.P. by Saturday, March 27 to info@banohiodogauctions.com
Learn about the campaign to reduce the suffering of millions of farm animals in Ohio and prevent some of the most egregious forms of animal cruelty in our state! Ohio Humane Farms has extended supporters a great opportunity to volunteer as an individual, as a family, or as a group and help raise awareness and collect signatures supporting our ballot campaign to end dog auctions in Ohio!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - Ohio Humane Farms Volunteer Meeting
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Carver Community Center - 165 West 4th Street, Chillicothe, OH 45601
R.S.V.P. by Sunday, March 28 to info@banohiodogauctions.com
Learn about the campaign to reduce the suffering of millions of farm animals in Ohio and prevent some of the most egregious forms of animal cruelty in our state! Ohio Humane Farms has extended supporters a great opportunity to volunteer as an individual, as a family, or as a group and help raise awareness and collect signatures supporting our ballot campaign to end dog auctions in Ohio!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - Ohio Humane Farms Volunteer Meeting
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Kettering Moraine Branch Library - 3496 Far Hills Avenue, Dayton, OH 45429
R.S.V.P. by Sunday, March 28 to info@banohiodogauctions.com
Learn about the campaign to reduce the suffering of millions of farm animals in Ohio and prevent some of the most egregious forms of animal cruelty in our state! Ohio Humane Farms has extended supporters a great opportunity to volunteer as an individual, as a family, or as a group and help raise awareness and collect signatures supporting our ballot campaign to end dog auctions in Ohio!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 - Ohio Humane Farms Volunteer Meeting
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Canton Main Library - 715 Market Avenue North, Canton, OH 44702
R.S.V.P. by Monday, March 29 to info@banohiodogauctions.com
Learn about the campaign to reduce the suffering of millions of farm animals in Ohio and prevent some of the most egregious forms of animal cruelty in our state! Ohio Humane Farms has extended supporters a great opportunity to volunteer as an individual, as a family, or as a group and help raise awareness and collect signatures supporting our ballot campaign to end dog auctions in Ohio!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 - Ohio Humane Farms Volunteer Meeting
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
The Meeting Place on Market - 220 West Market Street, Lima, OH 45801
R.S.V.P. by Monday, March 29 to info@banohiodogauctions.com
Learn about the campaign to reduce the suffering of millions of farm animals in Ohio and prevent some of the most egregious forms of animal cruelty in our state! Ohio Humane Farms has extended supporters a great opportunity to volunteer as an individual, as a family, or as a group and help raise awareness and collect signatures supporting our ballot campaign to end dog auctions in Ohio!
Thursday, April 1, 2010 - Ohio Humane Farms Volunteer Meeting
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Mansfield Public Library, Main Branch (Community Room, 1st Floor) - 43 West Third Street, Mansfield, OH 44902
R.S.V.P. by Tuesday, March 30 to info@banohiodogauctions.com
Learn about the campaign to reduce the suffering of millions of farm animals in Ohio and prevent some of the most egregious forms of animal cruelty in our state! Ohio Humane Farms has extended supporters a great opportunity to volunteer as an individual, as a family, or as a group and help raise awareness and collect signatures supporting our ballot campaign to end dog auctions in Ohio!
Thursday, April 1, 2010 - Ohio Humane Farms Volunteer Meeting
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
YMCA - 1150 Charles Lane, Marysville, OH 43040
R.S.V.P. by Tuesday, March 30 to info@banohiodogauctions.com
Learn about the campaign to reduce the suffering of millions of farm animals in Ohio and prevent some of the most egregious forms of animal cruelty in our state! Ohio Humane Farms has extended supporters a great opportunity to volunteer as an individual, as a family, or as a group and help raise awareness and collect signatures supporting our ballot campaign to end dog auctions in Ohio!
Saturday, April 3, 2010 - The Furry Nation's Spring Fling
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
The Furry Nation - 15800 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood, OH 44107
R.S.V.P. by Friday, April 2 to info@banohiodogauctions.com
Help support All Dog's Heaven while enjoying a visit from Q104's well known morning DJ, Rebecca Wilde, and getting the chance to bid on spectacular raffle prizes for stores and events all over the Cleveland area! This is a great opportunity to volunteer as an individual, as a family, or as a group and help raise awareness and collect signatures supporting our ballot campaign to end dog auctions in Ohio!
Sunday, April 18, 2010 - EarthFest 2010
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo - 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, OH 44109
R.S.V.P. by Friday, April 16 to info@banohiodogauctions.com
Spend a day learning, inspiring leadership and encouraging action for a healthy environment! This is a great opportunity to volunteer as an individual, as a family, or as a group and help raise awareness and collect signatures supporting our ballot campaign to end dog auctions in Ohio!
Saturday, April 24, 2010 - North Coast Nature Festival
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Rocky River Nature Center - 24000 Valley Pkwy., North Olmsted, OH 44070
R.S.V.P. by Thursday, April 22 to info@banohiodogauctions.com
Spend a day participating in two presentations by nationally-acclaimed nature photographer Rod Planck other nature talks, nature programs, demonstrations and exhibits by local nature organizations, artists and vendors! This is a great opportunity to volunteer as an individual, as a family, or as a group and help raise awareness and collect signatures supporting our ballot campaign to end dog auctions in Ohio!
Sunday, April 25, 2010 - Madeira Flea/Treasure Market
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Madeira High School Cafeteria - 7465 Loannes Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45243-1899
R.S.V.P. by Friday, April 23 to info@banohiodogauctions.com
Help support Lexi Pet Therapy and dedicated animal advocates during this fun-filled flea/treasure market! This is a great opportunity to volunteer as an individual, as a family, or as a group and help raise awareness and collect signatures supporting our ballot campaign to end dog auctions in Ohio!
Mary O'Connor-Shaver
Cell: 614-271-8248
Columbus Top Dogs
http://www.ColumbusTopDogs.com
http://www.BanOhioDogAuctions.com
http://www.ThoughtsFurPaws.com
http://petnewsandviews.com
http://tejasanimalrefuge.ca/
http://www.LostPetUSA.net
LEGISLATIVE ALERTS: Please visit our Home page for pending legislation impacting the welfare of OH animals - http://www.columbustopdogs.com/
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
2010 Columbus Pet Expo - Countdown to the Show! (March 26-28)
Dear Companion Pet Lovers ~
Just six days remaining until the start of the 2010 Columbus Pet Expo!
Friday, March 26 (Noon - 9 PM)
Saturday, March 27 (10 AM - 8 PM)
Sunday, March 28 (11 AM - 6 PM)
(To preview the Show Schedule, please click here.)
Since last Wednesday's announcement of Petland's withdrawal from the 2010 Columbus Pet Expo, Columbus Top Dogs has received a flood of e-mail and phone calls (including a $4,000 donation) in support of this year's show!
Working closely with the Expo's organizers, Mythanne, Teresa and Steve, we are confident we will exceed our goal of 200 approved applications for pet adoptions!
For this year's anticipated 20,000 visitors, The Columbus Pet Expo has created a Non Profit Rescue Charity Auction scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 28 at 1:00 PM, with 100% of the proceeds to be divided equally among all participating non-profit rescue groups, shelters and humane societies!
To help raise additional dollars for these groups, friends and supporters can purchase advance tickets online at http://www.columbuspetexpo.com/Pet_Expo_Site/Columbus_Pet_Expo_Tickets.html, print the receipt for their ticket(s) at home and write the name of their non-profit rescue group, shelter or humane society on the back of their receipt. Friends and supporters then present their receipt to the Will Call/Online window at the Expo, and their designated group will receive one dollar for every ticket purchased. It's that easy!
2010 is the year to get political for Ohio's animals!
This year's Columbus Pet Expo will provide an excellent forum to help educate the public on issues and pending legislation impacting Ohio's animals. Because this year's show takes place the same weekend as the March 27 Ohio Dog Auction in Farmerstown Ohio, supporters for the Coalition to Ban Ohio Dog Auctions will be collecting signatures in support of the 2011 ballot initiative (Ohio Dog Auctions Act). Volunteer petitioners are needed to make this initiative a reality in Ohio - we have until December 1, 2010 in which to collect a MINIMUM of 121,00 signatures! We need everyone's participation to make this vital effort a success!
A limited edition of I'm Getting Political for Ohio's Animals in 2010 and I'm Here Because Petland Isn't! t-shirts are available for $5 to any volunteer working this year's Expo on behalf of the Coalition to Ban Ohio Dog Auctions or a participating non-profit rescue, shelter or humane society!
Supplies are limited for these 100% pre-shrunk, cotton t-shirts, so please submit your order via paypal to info@banohiodogauctions.com by Monday, March 22! When placing your order, please click on the "Add special instructions to seller" link and enter your shirt size (S, M, L, XL and XXL), name, shipping address and the name of your participating rescue group, shelter or humane society.
We need your voice to help promote and make this Expo the most successful ever!
Please share details of this year's Expo via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, etc. to friends, family and co-workers, and encourage them to attend one of the largest pet-related events in the country! We also encourage everyone to join the Columbus Pet Expo Facebook group by clicking here.
Thanks everyone! We greatly appreciate everyone's dedication and commitment to serving as a strong voice for the animals!
Mary O'Connor-Shaver
Cell: 614-271-8248
Columbus Top Dogs
http://www.ColumbusTopDogs.com
http://www.BanOhioDogAuctions.com
http://www.ThoughtsFurPaws.com
http://petnewsandviews.com
http://tejasanimalrefuge.ca/
http://www.LostPetUSA.net
Just six days remaining until the start of the 2010 Columbus Pet Expo!
Friday, March 26 (Noon - 9 PM)
Saturday, March 27 (10 AM - 8 PM)
Sunday, March 28 (11 AM - 6 PM)
(To preview the Show Schedule, please click here.)
Since last Wednesday's announcement of Petland's withdrawal from the 2010 Columbus Pet Expo, Columbus Top Dogs has received a flood of e-mail and phone calls (including a $4,000 donation) in support of this year's show!
Working closely with the Expo's organizers, Mythanne, Teresa and Steve, we are confident we will exceed our goal of 200 approved applications for pet adoptions!
For this year's anticipated 20,000 visitors, The Columbus Pet Expo has created a Non Profit Rescue Charity Auction scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 28 at 1:00 PM, with 100% of the proceeds to be divided equally among all participating non-profit rescue groups, shelters and humane societies!
To help raise additional dollars for these groups, friends and supporters can purchase advance tickets online at http://www.columbuspetexpo.com/Pet_Expo_Site/Columbus_Pet_Expo_Tickets.html, print the receipt for their ticket(s) at home and write the name of their non-profit rescue group, shelter or humane society on the back of their receipt. Friends and supporters then present their receipt to the Will Call/Online window at the Expo, and their designated group will receive one dollar for every ticket purchased. It's that easy!
2010 is the year to get political for Ohio's animals!
This year's Columbus Pet Expo will provide an excellent forum to help educate the public on issues and pending legislation impacting Ohio's animals. Because this year's show takes place the same weekend as the March 27 Ohio Dog Auction in Farmerstown Ohio, supporters for the Coalition to Ban Ohio Dog Auctions will be collecting signatures in support of the 2011 ballot initiative (Ohio Dog Auctions Act). Volunteer petitioners are needed to make this initiative a reality in Ohio - we have until December 1, 2010 in which to collect a MINIMUM of 121,00 signatures! We need everyone's participation to make this vital effort a success!
A limited edition of I'm Getting Political for Ohio's Animals in 2010 and I'm Here Because Petland Isn't! t-shirts are available for $5 to any volunteer working this year's Expo on behalf of the Coalition to Ban Ohio Dog Auctions or a participating non-profit rescue, shelter or humane society!
Supplies are limited for these 100% pre-shrunk, cotton t-shirts, so please submit your order via paypal to info@banohiodogauctions.com by Monday, March 22! When placing your order, please click on the "Add special instructions to seller" link and enter your shirt size (S, M, L, XL and XXL), name, shipping address and the name of your participating rescue group, shelter or humane society.
We need your voice to help promote and make this Expo the most successful ever!
Please share details of this year's Expo via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, etc. to friends, family and co-workers, and encourage them to attend one of the largest pet-related events in the country! We also encourage everyone to join the Columbus Pet Expo Facebook group by clicking here.
Thanks everyone! We greatly appreciate everyone's dedication and commitment to serving as a strong voice for the animals!
Mary O'Connor-Shaver
Cell: 614-271-8248
Columbus Top Dogs
http://www.ColumbusTopDogs.com
http://www.BanOhioDogAuctions.com
http://www.ThoughtsFurPaws.com
http://petnewsandviews.com
http://tejasanimalrefuge.ca/
http://www.LostPetUSA.net
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Protecting Your Animals in the Face of "Moral Panic"-Taking a Page from the Biker's Handbook
Forwarded from the AkC-LL, in its entirety:
Protecting Your Animals in the Face of "Moral Panic"-Taking a Page from the Biker's Handbook
by
Margaret Anne Cleek, Ph.D.
A few months ago I attended a meeting in a local community to discuss issues of gang-related crime and attendant problems of graffiti and loitering. As the POP officer (Problem Oriented Policing, designed to be community-friendly and proactively address community concerns) went through his power point presentation, a few red flags went off for me. At one point the officer, who in fact is a smart fellow whom I respect, mentioned some of the actions and procedures being taken to address gang activity in the community. As a 30 year member of the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) I thought, "Whoa, what is wrong with this picture?" I asked the officer if it was in fact a violation of certain constitutional rights to take the actions he described to create an uncomfortable environment for the gangs in our community. The response was, yes, but the folks they are dealing with generally do not know this, and are easily intimidated. Subsequent comments clearly revealed that both the police and the public totally supported violation of the rights of "the bad guys".
The officer went on to comment that this tactic did not work with the outlaw biker gangs. Now these are the real bad folks into heavy-duty stuff like illegal weapon sales, but the officer said they cannot do much about them because they are "older, better organized, and know their rights". He went on to say that the biker gang members generally have audio and video taping devices always available, and access to contact with a lawyer, and unless they have them dead to rights there is no point in confronting them.
This should give us all pause. Laws are being increasingly made which allow government and law enforcement to invade the private affairs of citizens over trivial issues. Further, the perceptions that such laws are necessary often are based on distorted or erroneous data and cognitive biases created by "truisms" or media coverage. It is almost as if such laws are a way to deflect the public focus away from major problems and highlight minor problems which are more easily controlled, or to target a responsive and responsible population more likely to be intimidated or obey the law, while a more dangerous population continues unabated.
As Cicero (42BC) observed, "When people are willing to give up rights for security, they will, in the end, lose both." In a society where the media bombards us with horrible stories of gang violence and portrays a society out of control, it is very easy for government to get concessions from frightened citizens which violate the rights of every citizen under the premise that it is only the bad guys who will be impacted. More and more laws are being enacted which erode the rights of US citizens. In spite of the rights afforded by the constitution, we are increasingly seeing the violation of these rights in the name getting the bad guys or for reasons of the greater good. While the events post 9-11 and the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and the Patriot Act are the most obvious and glaring examples of the exchange of freedom for perceived security or the greater good, there are numerous additional examples at all levels of government.
Moral panic is a feeling of fear or impending threat shared by part of the population with regard to another group in the population which is seen to threaten the social order or personal or public safety. Stanley Cohen is credited with coining the term, moral panic, and discussed the phenomenon in his book, Folk Devils and Moral Panics (1972). Those who come to be defined as the source of the problem in a moral panic are labeled by Cohen "folk devils", while those who plant the seeds of the panic and nurture the resulting crop of fear, hatred, and resulting prohibitive legislation are defined as "moral entrepreneurs". Often these moral entrepreneurs are media savvy and well-funded and not above taking advantage of existing media events. The media has always served the needs of such moral entrepreneurs, even if the media are not intentionally crusading against folk devils. Simply choosing to factually report some news over other news can be sufficient to further a moral panic. The mass media clearly has the power to focus public awareness, maintain public awareness, and shape public opinion.
"Pet-overpopulation" has been raised to the status of a moral panic. Currently, the over-blown concern with pet-overpopulation (when in fact the birthrate for dogs has been below the replacement rate since 2005 and the only dogs out-producing demand are the pit bull and pit bull crosses which stock most shelters), has resulted in the pressure to enact draconian, ineffective, costly and invasive legislation which imposes excessive control over owned pets and severely limits the ability of any owner to maintain an intact pet, whether or not intended for breeding.
Special interest groups such as animal rights activists are accomplished at timing media coverage of raids on large-scale dog breeding facilities, animal agriculture businesses etc. to correspond to pending legislation designed to outlaw practices or enact stricter government controls. Currently, HSUS, the Humane Society of the United States, an animal protection/animal rights organization which is currently supporting increasing controls on dog breeders is highlighting raids on breeding facilities and using its considerable resources to assure media coverage and influence public opinion. Such tactics are typical of organizations with an agenda or ideology and the resources to afford marketing, advertising, and public relations to influence public opinion. Since the special agendas of these organizations lack popular support, these entities rely more on media hype for the need for legislation, limits on personal freedoms, and other sanctions to push their personal agenda.
Animal Rights Activists have created a perception of crisis and threat and the public perception that the "folk devils", all breeders or owners with intact animals, must be acted upon. According to Cohen, this creates a perception of a "deviant" act. While the act may not be criminal, pressure is exerted to have it condemned. Newsworthy information on the issue is reported, but obscure examples which ordinarily would not be noted are now highlighted. What may be statistically low incidences of the behavior are now presented as "the tip of the iceberg". Naturally it is impossible to prove that such is indeed the case. Real data indicating the fact that the behavior is very uncommon or usually benign is ignored. Thus the problem emerges as significant and the resultant outcomes as common. The public are sensitized and kept informed of all incidents of the events.
Next public concern about the issue typically forces legislators, the police and the whole law enforcement system to focus on the specific deviancy-with a much greater degree of concern than it warrants. Municipalities should enact laws, and pressure is put on them to enact harsh penalties to deal with the threat. Ironically this action only serves to confirm that the contrived threat was in fact legitimate.
Moral panics take on a life of their own when the members of a society come to believe that threats and menaces exist and that "others" will act in ways they consider unacceptable, reject their values, and cause untold harm. Those that would do this are defined as the target for action and legislation and must be stopped.
We are the targets of such moral panic over pet overpopulation and the so-called deviance of owning an intact pet. Those of us who are dedicated breeders need to stand up for our rights and shatter the myth of over population and the perception that breeders are low-life deviants responsible for pet slaughter, government expenditures, and attacks by dogs on children. We need to fight the propaganda and negative stereotyping of the ARs at every opportunity. AKC (the American Kennel Club) and all the breed clubs need to take a more active political role or there will be no sport of purebred dogs. Now is the time to go to the mattresses!
Although we are not outlaws (at least not yet, although that may soon change if we don't take action now), we need to take a page from the playbook of the outlaw biker. It is the uninformed, the apologetic, and the easily intimidated who are the victims of "go for the show" raids or crackdowns. Those who know their rights, and are proactive in protecting their rights and interests will be the least likely targets for AR controlled ACs and humane societies.
We have all seen the raids on the "unlicensed" puppy mills where the dogs are "confiscated" by the humane society. These facilities are targeted as an easy score and timed for a great media hit before something comes up for a vote in the municipality or state. The places are usually run by an elderly couple who are easily intimidated when told they can either surrender the dogs or face hundreds of thousands of dollars in litigation and possible arrest and criminal prosecution. The kennel conditions may not be bad at all, but what senior citizen with a hand-to-mouth existence could face the stress and expense to fight a well-funded organization with a good-guy reputation? The statement that the kennel is "unlicensed" generally makes the public think it is illegal, when in fact it may not be required by law to be licensed.
Each of us has to know our rights and stand up front and center to protect them. Print out "What to do if Animal Control Comes Knocking"
http://www.ckcscsc.org/animal-control.htm
post it on your fridge and if you have children, or occasional workers on your property inform them that they are not to talk to anyone who may wish to question them. Have an audio or video camera on the ready and record any interaction. Have the name of an attorney available. Know the name of your board or council member who represents your area as well as your state senator or representative and mention you have been in touch with them in the past. Register to vote and write letters at every level when animal related legislation is pending. Let your elected officials know that you and many other dog people were apolitical in the past but are now "one issue" voters and that issue is your dogs.
The days of being able to assume that because you have done nothing wrong, and your kennel is in order, you have nothing to fear are long over. Flying under the radar is no longer a viable strategy unless you want your dogs to live like Anne Frank, sequestered in your house so as not to come under the long arm of draconian animal control laws.
While you are in no way an outlaw biker, or a deviant of any kind, it is unfortunately time to take a page from the playbook of the outlaw biker and be proactive with a game plan in action should you be targeted by anyone because you are a breeder. Now you must know how to thwart those who would use propaganda and moral panic to intimidate normally law-abiding citizens such as you, who choose to responsibly breed and own intact dogs.
Copyright M.A. Cleek 2010
Protecting Your Animals in the Face of "Moral Panic"-Taking a Page from the Biker's Handbook
by
Margaret Anne Cleek, Ph.D.
A few months ago I attended a meeting in a local community to discuss issues of gang-related crime and attendant problems of graffiti and loitering. As the POP officer (Problem Oriented Policing, designed to be community-friendly and proactively address community concerns) went through his power point presentation, a few red flags went off for me. At one point the officer, who in fact is a smart fellow whom I respect, mentioned some of the actions and procedures being taken to address gang activity in the community. As a 30 year member of the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) I thought, "Whoa, what is wrong with this picture?" I asked the officer if it was in fact a violation of certain constitutional rights to take the actions he described to create an uncomfortable environment for the gangs in our community. The response was, yes, but the folks they are dealing with generally do not know this, and are easily intimidated. Subsequent comments clearly revealed that both the police and the public totally supported violation of the rights of "the bad guys".
The officer went on to comment that this tactic did not work with the outlaw biker gangs. Now these are the real bad folks into heavy-duty stuff like illegal weapon sales, but the officer said they cannot do much about them because they are "older, better organized, and know their rights". He went on to say that the biker gang members generally have audio and video taping devices always available, and access to contact with a lawyer, and unless they have them dead to rights there is no point in confronting them.
This should give us all pause. Laws are being increasingly made which allow government and law enforcement to invade the private affairs of citizens over trivial issues. Further, the perceptions that such laws are necessary often are based on distorted or erroneous data and cognitive biases created by "truisms" or media coverage. It is almost as if such laws are a way to deflect the public focus away from major problems and highlight minor problems which are more easily controlled, or to target a responsive and responsible population more likely to be intimidated or obey the law, while a more dangerous population continues unabated.
As Cicero (42BC) observed, "When people are willing to give up rights for security, they will, in the end, lose both." In a society where the media bombards us with horrible stories of gang violence and portrays a society out of control, it is very easy for government to get concessions from frightened citizens which violate the rights of every citizen under the premise that it is only the bad guys who will be impacted. More and more laws are being enacted which erode the rights of US citizens. In spite of the rights afforded by the constitution, we are increasingly seeing the violation of these rights in the name getting the bad guys or for reasons of the greater good. While the events post 9-11 and the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and the Patriot Act are the most obvious and glaring examples of the exchange of freedom for perceived security or the greater good, there are numerous additional examples at all levels of government.
Moral panic is a feeling of fear or impending threat shared by part of the population with regard to another group in the population which is seen to threaten the social order or personal or public safety. Stanley Cohen is credited with coining the term, moral panic, and discussed the phenomenon in his book, Folk Devils and Moral Panics (1972). Those who come to be defined as the source of the problem in a moral panic are labeled by Cohen "folk devils", while those who plant the seeds of the panic and nurture the resulting crop of fear, hatred, and resulting prohibitive legislation are defined as "moral entrepreneurs". Often these moral entrepreneurs are media savvy and well-funded and not above taking advantage of existing media events. The media has always served the needs of such moral entrepreneurs, even if the media are not intentionally crusading against folk devils. Simply choosing to factually report some news over other news can be sufficient to further a moral panic. The mass media clearly has the power to focus public awareness, maintain public awareness, and shape public opinion.
"Pet-overpopulation" has been raised to the status of a moral panic. Currently, the over-blown concern with pet-overpopulation (when in fact the birthrate for dogs has been below the replacement rate since 2005 and the only dogs out-producing demand are the pit bull and pit bull crosses which stock most shelters), has resulted in the pressure to enact draconian, ineffective, costly and invasive legislation which imposes excessive control over owned pets and severely limits the ability of any owner to maintain an intact pet, whether or not intended for breeding.
Special interest groups such as animal rights activists are accomplished at timing media coverage of raids on large-scale dog breeding facilities, animal agriculture businesses etc. to correspond to pending legislation designed to outlaw practices or enact stricter government controls. Currently, HSUS, the Humane Society of the United States, an animal protection/animal rights organization which is currently supporting increasing controls on dog breeders is highlighting raids on breeding facilities and using its considerable resources to assure media coverage and influence public opinion. Such tactics are typical of organizations with an agenda or ideology and the resources to afford marketing, advertising, and public relations to influence public opinion. Since the special agendas of these organizations lack popular support, these entities rely more on media hype for the need for legislation, limits on personal freedoms, and other sanctions to push their personal agenda.
Animal Rights Activists have created a perception of crisis and threat and the public perception that the "folk devils", all breeders or owners with intact animals, must be acted upon. According to Cohen, this creates a perception of a "deviant" act. While the act may not be criminal, pressure is exerted to have it condemned. Newsworthy information on the issue is reported, but obscure examples which ordinarily would not be noted are now highlighted. What may be statistically low incidences of the behavior are now presented as "the tip of the iceberg". Naturally it is impossible to prove that such is indeed the case. Real data indicating the fact that the behavior is very uncommon or usually benign is ignored. Thus the problem emerges as significant and the resultant outcomes as common. The public are sensitized and kept informed of all incidents of the events.
Next public concern about the issue typically forces legislators, the police and the whole law enforcement system to focus on the specific deviancy-with a much greater degree of concern than it warrants. Municipalities should enact laws, and pressure is put on them to enact harsh penalties to deal with the threat. Ironically this action only serves to confirm that the contrived threat was in fact legitimate.
Moral panics take on a life of their own when the members of a society come to believe that threats and menaces exist and that "others" will act in ways they consider unacceptable, reject their values, and cause untold harm. Those that would do this are defined as the target for action and legislation and must be stopped.
We are the targets of such moral panic over pet overpopulation and the so-called deviance of owning an intact pet. Those of us who are dedicated breeders need to stand up for our rights and shatter the myth of over population and the perception that breeders are low-life deviants responsible for pet slaughter, government expenditures, and attacks by dogs on children. We need to fight the propaganda and negative stereotyping of the ARs at every opportunity. AKC (the American Kennel Club) and all the breed clubs need to take a more active political role or there will be no sport of purebred dogs. Now is the time to go to the mattresses!
Although we are not outlaws (at least not yet, although that may soon change if we don't take action now), we need to take a page from the playbook of the outlaw biker. It is the uninformed, the apologetic, and the easily intimidated who are the victims of "go for the show" raids or crackdowns. Those who know their rights, and are proactive in protecting their rights and interests will be the least likely targets for AR controlled ACs and humane societies.
We have all seen the raids on the "unlicensed" puppy mills where the dogs are "confiscated" by the humane society. These facilities are targeted as an easy score and timed for a great media hit before something comes up for a vote in the municipality or state. The places are usually run by an elderly couple who are easily intimidated when told they can either surrender the dogs or face hundreds of thousands of dollars in litigation and possible arrest and criminal prosecution. The kennel conditions may not be bad at all, but what senior citizen with a hand-to-mouth existence could face the stress and expense to fight a well-funded organization with a good-guy reputation? The statement that the kennel is "unlicensed" generally makes the public think it is illegal, when in fact it may not be required by law to be licensed.
Each of us has to know our rights and stand up front and center to protect them. Print out "What to do if Animal Control Comes Knocking"
http://www.ckcscsc.org/animal-control.htm
post it on your fridge and if you have children, or occasional workers on your property inform them that they are not to talk to anyone who may wish to question them. Have an audio or video camera on the ready and record any interaction. Have the name of an attorney available. Know the name of your board or council member who represents your area as well as your state senator or representative and mention you have been in touch with them in the past. Register to vote and write letters at every level when animal related legislation is pending. Let your elected officials know that you and many other dog people were apolitical in the past but are now "one issue" voters and that issue is your dogs.
The days of being able to assume that because you have done nothing wrong, and your kennel is in order, you have nothing to fear are long over. Flying under the radar is no longer a viable strategy unless you want your dogs to live like Anne Frank, sequestered in your house so as not to come under the long arm of draconian animal control laws.
While you are in no way an outlaw biker, or a deviant of any kind, it is unfortunately time to take a page from the playbook of the outlaw biker and be proactive with a game plan in action should you be targeted by anyone because you are a breeder. Now you must know how to thwart those who would use propaganda and moral panic to intimidate normally law-abiding citizens such as you, who choose to responsibly breed and own intact dogs.
Copyright M.A. Cleek 2010
Learn About Ohio Dog Auctions
Dear Companion Animal Lovers ~
Learn more about the Ohio Dog Auctions Act and how you can get involved in this important ballot initiative campaign! (Invitations have been extended to state legislators and local media for each county; those legislators confirming their attendance are denoted in parenthesis.)
1. LORAIN COUNTY (Representative Matt Lundy, D-57)
Saturday, March 20, 2010
10:00 AM
Avon Lake Public Library - 32649 Electric Boulevard, Avon Lake, OH 44012-1669
R.S.V.P. by Thursday, March 18 to Anne Neumann at anne.wssc@yahoo.com.
2. HOLMES COUNTY
Saturday, March 27, 2010
10:30 AM
Holmes County Library (Millersburg), Room A - 3102 Glen Drive, Millersburg, OH 44654
R.S.V.P. by Thursday, March 25 to Veronica Dickey at veronicadickey@yahoo.com.
3. HAMILTON COUNTY
Saturday, April 3, 2010 - Coalition Meeting on Ohio Dog Auctions Act
10:00 AM
SPCA Cincinnati, Sharonville - 11900 Conrey Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45249
R.S.V.P. by Thursday, April 1 to Kristen Fox Angel at kfoxangel@cinci.rr.com.
4. CUYAHOGA COUNTY (Senator Dale Miller, D-23)
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
10:00 AM
Cleveland Animal Protection League - 1729 Willey Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44113
R.S.V.P. by Friday, April 2 to Ayse Dunlap at adunlap@clevelandapl.org.
5. FRANKLIN COUNTY (Senator Karen Gillmor, R-26)
Tentatively scheduled for Thursday, April 8, 2010
3:00 PM
Ohio State University
R.S.V.P. by Tuesday, April 6 to Molly Stancliff at b.k9osu@gmail.com.
6. MEDINA COUNTY
Monday, April 12, 2010
1:00 PM
Brunswick Community Library, Sycamore Room A - 3649 Center Road, Brunswick, OH 44212-3619
R.S.V.P. by Friday, April 9 to Vanessa Fields at vfields826@aol.com.
7. TUSCARAWAS COUNTY
Saturday, April 24, 2010
1:00 PM
Country Club Retirement Campus - 860 Iron Avenue, Dover, OH 44622
R.S.V.P. by Friday, April 23 to Cinda Godfrey at adnic@roadrunner.com.
8. TUSCARAWAS COUNTY (Senator Joe Schiavoni, D-33)
Friday, April 30, 2010
10:00 AM
Country Club Retirement Campus - 860 Iron Avenue, Dover, OH 44622
R.S.V.P. by Thursday, April 28 to Cinda Godfrey at adnic@roadrunner.com.
9. STARK COUNTY (Representative Scott Oelslager, R-51)
Friday, May 14, 2010
10:00 AM
Home of Representative Oelslager - 1585 Yorkshire Trcese, North Canton, OH 44709-4855
R.S.V.P. by Wednesday, May 12 to Veronica Dickey at veronicadickey@yahoo.com. Seating limited to 12!
10. STARK COUNTY (Representative Stephen Slesnick, D-52)
Friday, May 21, 2010
12:00 PM
Jackson Township Library - 7487 Fulton Drive NW, Massillon, OH 44646
R.S.V.P. by Wednesday, May 19 to Veronica Dickey at veronicadickey@yahoo.com.
Meetings currently under development for Athens, Butler (April 17), Columbiana (June at Angels for Animals), Crawford, Delaware (early June), Gallia (June), Lake (May), Licking, Lucas and Wood (May), Montgomery, Muskingham, Pike (late May-early June), Union (May), Vinton and Washington.
For dates, times and locations of all Town Hall Meetings (as they become confirmed), please click here - > http://banohiodogauctions.com/Events_02UZ.html.
Thanks everyone for serving as a strong voice for the animals!
Mary O'Connor-Shaver
Cell: 614-271-8248
Columbus Top Dogs
http://www.ColumbusTopDogs.com
http://www.BanOhioDogAuctions.com
http://www.ThoughtsFurPaws.com
http://petnewsandviews.com
http://tejasanimalrefuge.ca/
http://www.LostPetUSA.net
LEGISLATIVE ALERTS: Please visit our Home page for pending legislation impacting the welfare of OH animals - http://www.columbustopdogs.com/
Learn more about the Ohio Dog Auctions Act and how you can get involved in this important ballot initiative campaign! (Invitations have been extended to state legislators and local media for each county; those legislators confirming their attendance are denoted in parenthesis.)
1. LORAIN COUNTY (Representative Matt Lundy, D-57)
Saturday, March 20, 2010
10:00 AM
Avon Lake Public Library - 32649 Electric Boulevard, Avon Lake, OH 44012-1669
R.S.V.P. by Thursday, March 18 to Anne Neumann at anne.wssc@yahoo.com.
2. HOLMES COUNTY
Saturday, March 27, 2010
10:30 AM
Holmes County Library (Millersburg), Room A - 3102 Glen Drive, Millersburg, OH 44654
R.S.V.P. by Thursday, March 25 to Veronica Dickey at veronicadickey@yahoo.com.
3. HAMILTON COUNTY
Saturday, April 3, 2010 - Coalition Meeting on Ohio Dog Auctions Act
10:00 AM
SPCA Cincinnati, Sharonville - 11900 Conrey Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45249
R.S.V.P. by Thursday, April 1 to Kristen Fox Angel at kfoxangel@cinci.rr.com.
4. CUYAHOGA COUNTY (Senator Dale Miller, D-23)
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
10:00 AM
Cleveland Animal Protection League - 1729 Willey Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44113
R.S.V.P. by Friday, April 2 to Ayse Dunlap at adunlap@clevelandapl.org.
5. FRANKLIN COUNTY (Senator Karen Gillmor, R-26)
Tentatively scheduled for Thursday, April 8, 2010
3:00 PM
Ohio State University
R.S.V.P. by Tuesday, April 6 to Molly Stancliff at b.k9osu@gmail.com.
6. MEDINA COUNTY
Monday, April 12, 2010
1:00 PM
Brunswick Community Library, Sycamore Room A - 3649 Center Road, Brunswick, OH 44212-3619
R.S.V.P. by Friday, April 9 to Vanessa Fields at vfields826@aol.com.
7. TUSCARAWAS COUNTY
Saturday, April 24, 2010
1:00 PM
Country Club Retirement Campus - 860 Iron Avenue, Dover, OH 44622
R.S.V.P. by Friday, April 23 to Cinda Godfrey at adnic@roadrunner.com.
8. TUSCARAWAS COUNTY (Senator Joe Schiavoni, D-33)
Friday, April 30, 2010
10:00 AM
Country Club Retirement Campus - 860 Iron Avenue, Dover, OH 44622
R.S.V.P. by Thursday, April 28 to Cinda Godfrey at adnic@roadrunner.com.
9. STARK COUNTY (Representative Scott Oelslager, R-51)
Friday, May 14, 2010
10:00 AM
Home of Representative Oelslager - 1585 Yorkshire Trcese, North Canton, OH 44709-4855
R.S.V.P. by Wednesday, May 12 to Veronica Dickey at veronicadickey@yahoo.com. Seating limited to 12!
10. STARK COUNTY (Representative Stephen Slesnick, D-52)
Friday, May 21, 2010
12:00 PM
Jackson Township Library - 7487 Fulton Drive NW, Massillon, OH 44646
R.S.V.P. by Wednesday, May 19 to Veronica Dickey at veronicadickey@yahoo.com.
Meetings currently under development for Athens, Butler (April 17), Columbiana (June at Angels for Animals), Crawford, Delaware (early June), Gallia (June), Lake (May), Licking, Lucas and Wood (May), Montgomery, Muskingham, Pike (late May-early June), Union (May), Vinton and Washington.
For dates, times and locations of all Town Hall Meetings (as they become confirmed), please click here - > http://banohiodogauctions.com/Events_02UZ.html.
Thanks everyone for serving as a strong voice for the animals!
Mary O'Connor-Shaver
Cell: 614-271-8248
Columbus Top Dogs
http://www.ColumbusTopDogs.com
http://www.BanOhioDogAuctions.com
http://www.ThoughtsFurPaws.com
http://petnewsandviews.com
http://tejasanimalrefuge.ca/
http://www.LostPetUSA.net
LEGISLATIVE ALERTS: Please visit our Home page for pending legislation impacting the welfare of OH animals - http://www.columbustopdogs.com/
Monday, March 8, 2010
AKC registrations continue to decline
Mar 1, 2010
By: Daniel R. Verdon
DVM NEWSMAGAZINE
NATIONAL REPORT - More than 33 states last year enacted regulations targeting animal breeders. While the crackdown is closing puppy mills, it's also putting reputable breeders out of business.
Patti Strand, executive director of the National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA), an animal-welfare organization aligned with purebred breeders and pet enthusasiasts, believes this country is truly at a turning point. Why?
Numbers of American Kennel Club (AKC) registrations have posted sharp decreases since 1992 levels, and the numbers for all purebred animals are thought to be on the decline as well. What is up, however, are purebred dog importations (see "Breed Wars").
Table 1: AKC registrations
Strand questions the health and safety implications of imported purebreds and the long-term impact on domestic pet populations.
Table 2: AKC registered dogs per 1,000 people
Last year, NAIA tracked 700 pieces of legislation influencing its members. An evaluation of data from the AKC depicts registrations last year at 716,195 animals (Tables 1 and 2). Only half of purebred owners are believed to register their dogs through AKC. The data suggests last year's registrations are closer to 1965 levels, and she believes it will continue to spiral downward.
Table 3: Dalmatian registrations
Consider the Dalmatian breed. Following a spike in breeding after the Disney release of 101 Dalmatians in 1996, breed numbers have been plummeting (Table 3). Breed registrations peaked in 1993 at 42,816 dogs and dropped to just 983 in 2008.
It's a driving impetus behind NAIA's creation of a kind of pet census. The idea is to better track numbers of animals from purebreds to shelter animals and monitor placement, ownership and relinquishment trends.
"Breeders have been the recipients of 30 years of really bad publicity during which time they have been portrayed as responsible for pet overpopulation, the creation of genetic diseases and bad temperaments," Strand says. "People come away thinking they just don't care about dogs."
These messages have resulted in wide-scale efforts by the AKC and other breed groups to fund research and support open discourse about the health problems associated with purebred dogs.
The history of anti-breeding laws came into vogue in the 1980s, Strand explains, and the public consciousness has shifted from targeting unscrupulous breeders to all breeders. The solution to a pet overpopulation problem lies somewhere inbetween.
"Very often the brush stroke is very broad, and it defines all breeders as part of the problem. It stigmatizes those who breed responsibly," Strand adds.
And yet critics believe that dog breeders are responsible for propagating genetic diseases by simply practicing selective breeding. And there is a very serious animal overpopulation problem resulting in large intakes within shelters. The only way to have an overpopulation problem is by breeding.
But the problem is far more complex, Strand contends. The pet overpopulation is driven by multiple reasons including unplanned litters, strays, importations and other factors.
The country, Strand says, also faces many challenges to pet ownership including costs, dangerous dogs, neighborhood nuisances, surplus of shelter dogs, feral cats and hoarding.
And a 2008 American Pet Products Association study confirms this country is actively trying to spay and neuter its way out of a surplus of unwanted pets. In fact, the association estimates that 76 percent to 87 percent of pets were neutered in 2008, Strand says.
The questions have become: Is it enough? And what about demand?
By: Daniel R. Verdon
DVM NEWSMAGAZINE
NATIONAL REPORT - More than 33 states last year enacted regulations targeting animal breeders. While the crackdown is closing puppy mills, it's also putting reputable breeders out of business.
Patti Strand, executive director of the National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA), an animal-welfare organization aligned with purebred breeders and pet enthusasiasts, believes this country is truly at a turning point. Why?
Numbers of American Kennel Club (AKC) registrations have posted sharp decreases since 1992 levels, and the numbers for all purebred animals are thought to be on the decline as well. What is up, however, are purebred dog importations (see "Breed Wars").
Table 1: AKC registrations
Strand questions the health and safety implications of imported purebreds and the long-term impact on domestic pet populations.
Table 2: AKC registered dogs per 1,000 people
Last year, NAIA tracked 700 pieces of legislation influencing its members. An evaluation of data from the AKC depicts registrations last year at 716,195 animals (Tables 1 and 2). Only half of purebred owners are believed to register their dogs through AKC. The data suggests last year's registrations are closer to 1965 levels, and she believes it will continue to spiral downward.
Table 3: Dalmatian registrations
Consider the Dalmatian breed. Following a spike in breeding after the Disney release of 101 Dalmatians in 1996, breed numbers have been plummeting (Table 3). Breed registrations peaked in 1993 at 42,816 dogs and dropped to just 983 in 2008.
It's a driving impetus behind NAIA's creation of a kind of pet census. The idea is to better track numbers of animals from purebreds to shelter animals and monitor placement, ownership and relinquishment trends.
"Breeders have been the recipients of 30 years of really bad publicity during which time they have been portrayed as responsible for pet overpopulation, the creation of genetic diseases and bad temperaments," Strand says. "People come away thinking they just don't care about dogs."
These messages have resulted in wide-scale efforts by the AKC and other breed groups to fund research and support open discourse about the health problems associated with purebred dogs.
The history of anti-breeding laws came into vogue in the 1980s, Strand explains, and the public consciousness has shifted from targeting unscrupulous breeders to all breeders. The solution to a pet overpopulation problem lies somewhere inbetween.
"Very often the brush stroke is very broad, and it defines all breeders as part of the problem. It stigmatizes those who breed responsibly," Strand adds.
And yet critics believe that dog breeders are responsible for propagating genetic diseases by simply practicing selective breeding. And there is a very serious animal overpopulation problem resulting in large intakes within shelters. The only way to have an overpopulation problem is by breeding.
But the problem is far more complex, Strand contends. The pet overpopulation is driven by multiple reasons including unplanned litters, strays, importations and other factors.
The country, Strand says, also faces many challenges to pet ownership including costs, dangerous dogs, neighborhood nuisances, surplus of shelter dogs, feral cats and hoarding.
And a 2008 American Pet Products Association study confirms this country is actively trying to spay and neuter its way out of a surplus of unwanted pets. In fact, the association estimates that 76 percent to 87 percent of pets were neutered in 2008, Strand says.
The questions have become: Is it enough? And what about demand?
HSUS: Federal Bill Aims to Allow the Government to Lead by Example
Link to bill:
Forwarded from HSUS release, through AKC-LL list:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.4733:
http://tinyurl.com/yg4l9mk
http://media-newswire.com/release_1113899.html
http://tinyurl.com/yjgdpf4
Federal Bill Aims to Allow the Government to Lead by Example on Farm
Animal Welfare
As food industry giants from Burger King to Hellmann's are making moves
away from some of the most inhumane factory farming practices, a new
federal bill adds support to the growing trend. U.S. Reps. Diane Watson,
D-Calif., and Elton Gallegly, R-Calif., this week introduced the
Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act to set a higher animal welfare
standard for food purchased by the federal government.
(Media-Newswire.com) - As food industry giants from Burger King to
Hellmann's are making moves away from some of the most inhumane factory
farming practices, a new federal bill adds support to the growing trend.
U.S. Reps. Diane Watson, D-Calif., and Elton Gallegly, R-Calif., this
week introduced the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act to set a
higher animal welfare standard for food purchased by the federal government.
The Humane Society of the United States, the nation's largest animal
protection organization, praised the proposal and encouraged Congress to
act swiftly to pass the bill.
The bill, H.R. 4733, simply requires that any food purchased for federal
programs comes from animals raised with enough room to stand up, lie
down, turn around and stretch their limbs.
"Americans are increasingly demanding that we move away from abusive
confinement in tiny cages on factory farms," Rep. Watson said. "The
federal government has a responsibility to help lead the way on this
important issue, just as many of our nation's largest companies are
starting to do."
"This bill requires meat producers who sell to the federal government to
follow the same guidelines that California producers have in place to
ensure the animals are raised humanely," Rep. Gallegly said.
"We are grateful to Representatives Watson and Gallegly for introducing
this important legislation, which would meaningfully improve the lives
of millions of farm animals being raised for the federal government,"
commented Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. "Animals built
to move should be allowed to move, and it's the most basic of
requirements that they shouldn't be crammed into cages barely larger
than their own bodies for virtually their entire lives."
Seven U.S. states-Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Maine,
Michigan and Oregon -have passed laws to phase out some of the most
extreme confinement on industrial factory farms.
Many supermarket chains have taken steps to move away from products from
producers that use cruel and inhumane cages to confine farm animals,
including Wal-Mart, Harris Teeter, Winn-Dixie, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods
and Safeway. National U.S. restaurant chains-including Burger King,
Wendy's, Denny's, Red Robin, Quiznos, Sonic, Hardee's and Carl's
Jr.-have done the same. And the country's largest pork and veal
producers have pledged to phase out gestation crates and veal crates,
respectively.
Facts
Both the U.S. House of Representatives' and the U.S. Senate's cafeterias
already use cage-free eggs.
The HSUS has 11 million supporters nationwide.
Each year, the federal government spends more than $1 billion purchasing
animal products for a variety of programs and agencies, including the
National School Lunch Program, the Armed Services and the Bureau of Prisons.
Currently, no federal laws address the treatment of animals while
they're on factory farms.
Forwarded from HSUS release, through AKC-LL list:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.4733:
http://tinyurl.com/yg4l9mk
http://media-newswire.com/release_1113899.html
http://tinyurl.com/yjgdpf4
Federal Bill Aims to Allow the Government to Lead by Example on Farm
Animal Welfare
As food industry giants from Burger King to Hellmann's are making moves
away from some of the most inhumane factory farming practices, a new
federal bill adds support to the growing trend. U.S. Reps. Diane Watson,
D-Calif., and Elton Gallegly, R-Calif., this week introduced the
Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act to set a higher animal welfare
standard for food purchased by the federal government.
(Media-Newswire.com) - As food industry giants from Burger King to
Hellmann's are making moves away from some of the most inhumane factory
farming practices, a new federal bill adds support to the growing trend.
U.S. Reps. Diane Watson, D-Calif., and Elton Gallegly, R-Calif., this
week introduced the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act to set a
higher animal welfare standard for food purchased by the federal government.
The Humane Society of the United States, the nation's largest animal
protection organization, praised the proposal and encouraged Congress to
act swiftly to pass the bill.
The bill, H.R. 4733, simply requires that any food purchased for federal
programs comes from animals raised with enough room to stand up, lie
down, turn around and stretch their limbs.
"Americans are increasingly demanding that we move away from abusive
confinement in tiny cages on factory farms," Rep. Watson said. "The
federal government has a responsibility to help lead the way on this
important issue, just as many of our nation's largest companies are
starting to do."
"This bill requires meat producers who sell to the federal government to
follow the same guidelines that California producers have in place to
ensure the animals are raised humanely," Rep. Gallegly said.
"We are grateful to Representatives Watson and Gallegly for introducing
this important legislation, which would meaningfully improve the lives
of millions of farm animals being raised for the federal government,"
commented Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. "Animals built
to move should be allowed to move, and it's the most basic of
requirements that they shouldn't be crammed into cages barely larger
than their own bodies for virtually their entire lives."
Seven U.S. states-Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Maine,
Michigan and Oregon -have passed laws to phase out some of the most
extreme confinement on industrial factory farms.
Many supermarket chains have taken steps to move away from products from
producers that use cruel and inhumane cages to confine farm animals,
including Wal-Mart, Harris Teeter, Winn-Dixie, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods
and Safeway. National U.S. restaurant chains-including Burger King,
Wendy's, Denny's, Red Robin, Quiznos, Sonic, Hardee's and Carl's
Jr.-have done the same. And the country's largest pork and veal
producers have pledged to phase out gestation crates and veal crates,
respectively.
Facts
Both the U.S. House of Representatives' and the U.S. Senate's cafeterias
already use cage-free eggs.
The HSUS has 11 million supporters nationwide.
Each year, the federal government spends more than $1 billion purchasing
animal products for a variety of programs and agencies, including the
National School Lunch Program, the Armed Services and the Bureau of Prisons.
Currently, no federal laws address the treatment of animals while
they're on factory farms.
Radical blogger launches own "abuser" data base
What if you have a recently rescued dog in your yard that is underweight. What if someone got a hold of the pictures of a sad/matted/disfigured rescue, such as Briar, and decided to say those pictures came from somewhere else. Or said his foster home were responsible?
This is very scary stuff - we can readily see what will happen to people whose names end up posted here. All your info., to be utilized in their own 'special' way (their emphasis, not mine).
____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _
Negotiation Is Over (blog)
Negotiation is Over Baby. An Army of ONE!!!!
March 6, 2010 -
http://negotiationi sover.com/ 2010/03/06/ negotiation- is-over-baby- an-army-of- one/
Burke Bryant (An Army of One) & Camille Marino (Negotiation is Over)
are Proud to Present:
The Animal Liberation Movement's Dedicated Database of Abusers
This is a grassroots effort intended for informational purposes only.
You provide the abuser's profile. And our database will be available
on mirror sites all over the net 24/7.
Use our database to write courteous & polite letters at your convenience.
It's time to start going after those that abuse the animals, it's time
for some polite payback letters.
------------ --------- --------- --
The Rules:
One
-The evidence against the person must be documented by either photos,
video, or direct confession before being posted to this page.
Two
-Any information posted that does not provide the requested
requirements will be pulled immediately.
-Once the above has been fulfilled then any and all information (home
address, work address, cell #'s, home #'s, make of car, occupation,
etc.) about that person is to be posted for everyone to see, and
utilized in their own "special" way.
Three
-Each and every person(s) who utilizes the information posted on these
pages exercises their own discretion.
-We assume no liability.
-This is an educational collective.
We encourage everyone to link our two permanent pages to your
websites, Facebook and MySpace pages, etc.
An Army of One
"It's time to go after those that are abusing the animals.. It's time
for some payback!"
"The time has come to change all the rules.
Another Army of One
"Oppressors never simply relinquish their power.
They need to be subdued and removed."
************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* *****
Burke Bryant is the Founder and co-sponsor of An Army of One and a
relentless and dedicated animal liberationist. He is passionate about
acting, photography, and the animals. He is a revolutionary, a
visionary photographer, a photojournalist, actor and photographer of
fashion, commercial, and lifestyle. Lover of world travel, rain, cold
weather, hiking, camping, surfing, road trips, spontaneous excursions
and silence.
Camille Marino, Founder & Senior Editor of NIO and co-sponsor of An
Army of One. Negotiating with abusers is an exercise in futility and
veganism is essential. The only action that matters to the imprisoned
is the one that imparts freedom. It is a moral obligation to protect
the innocent. Free speech must be exercised or it shrivels up and
dies. Oppressors never simply relinquish their power. They need to
be subdued and removed.
If the nonhumans could fight back, their tormentors would have expired
long ago. We have an obligation to expose the abusers. It is the LEAST
we can do! I welcome your emails & contributions.
If you have a Facebook account, join the extended Negotiation Is Over
network.".
To submit work to NIO for consideration and publication, please send
an email to camille@... with the subject
This is very scary stuff - we can readily see what will happen to people whose names end up posted here. All your info., to be utilized in their own 'special' way (their emphasis, not mine).
____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _
Negotiation Is Over (blog)
Negotiation is Over Baby. An Army of ONE!!!!
March 6, 2010 -
http://negotiationi sover.com/ 2010/03/06/ negotiation- is-over-baby- an-army-of- one/
Burke Bryant (An Army of One) & Camille Marino (Negotiation is Over)
are Proud to Present:
The Animal Liberation Movement's Dedicated Database of Abusers
This is a grassroots effort intended for informational purposes only.
You provide the abuser's profile. And our database will be available
on mirror sites all over the net 24/7.
Use our database to write courteous & polite letters at your convenience.
It's time to start going after those that abuse the animals, it's time
for some polite payback letters.
------------ --------- --------- --
The Rules:
One
-The evidence against the person must be documented by either photos,
video, or direct confession before being posted to this page.
Two
-Any information posted that does not provide the requested
requirements will be pulled immediately.
-Once the above has been fulfilled then any and all information (home
address, work address, cell #'s, home #'s, make of car, occupation,
etc.) about that person is to be posted for everyone to see, and
utilized in their own "special" way.
Three
-Each and every person(s) who utilizes the information posted on these
pages exercises their own discretion.
-We assume no liability.
-This is an educational collective.
We encourage everyone to link our two permanent pages to your
websites, Facebook and MySpace pages, etc.
An Army of One
"It's time to go after those that are abusing the animals.. It's time
for some payback!"
"The time has come to change all the rules.
Another Army of One
"Oppressors never simply relinquish their power.
They need to be subdued and removed."
************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* *****
Burke Bryant is the Founder and co-sponsor of An Army of One and a
relentless and dedicated animal liberationist. He is passionate about
acting, photography, and the animals. He is a revolutionary, a
visionary photographer, a photojournalist, actor and photographer of
fashion, commercial, and lifestyle. Lover of world travel, rain, cold
weather, hiking, camping, surfing, road trips, spontaneous excursions
and silence.
Camille Marino, Founder & Senior Editor of NIO and co-sponsor of An
Army of One. Negotiating with abusers is an exercise in futility and
veganism is essential. The only action that matters to the imprisoned
is the one that imparts freedom. It is a moral obligation to protect
the innocent. Free speech must be exercised or it shrivels up and
dies. Oppressors never simply relinquish their power. They need to
be subdued and removed.
If the nonhumans could fight back, their tormentors would have expired
long ago. We have an obligation to expose the abusers. It is the LEAST
we can do! I welcome your emails & contributions.
If you have a Facebook account, join the extended Negotiation Is Over
network.".
To submit work to NIO for consideration and publication, please send
an email to camille@... with the subject
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
