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Please go to the links and comment directly ON the bill docket before July 16.   People have seen the AKC petition and signed it and think that’s enough…  I want my own name to go on record, with hobby breeder, trainer, Taxpayer duly noted.   Please don’t *just* forward my concern.  Go to the APHIS regulations.com site and file your own two cents.

I don’t know about you folks, but my government is getting a bit big for it’s britches. I *never* send political email, but I BEG you to add a comment to APHIS about the puppy you love.  Did you get it from a breeder you live near? or a rescue organization?

I raise dogs in my home to be loved by people like you… and I have a right to choose their sire, and choose their people, and choose to help with rescue if I want !!!  Many of you corresponded with me by email, and may have met us at shows.  If the proposed legislation goes through, you will have two options… buy froma “commercially licensed facility” or buy ONLY at the buyers home.   No meeting at shows, no meeting halfway, no shipping whatsoever.

Proposed rule changes to the Animal Welfare Act APHIS 2011-0003-0001 no longer exempt purebred dog fanciers from USDA licensing.  The regulations document of conditions ALL breeders would have to meet is *164* pages long and would stop me from letting my dogs live inside, run together, and our dog budget is held together on threads as it is !!   I am angered, because I love my dogs, and the government has NO business telling people who are taking GOOD care of their dogs and stewarding their breed how many they can have, or how people ought to be buying from us !   This is the no-more-pets AR people taking advantage of a situation!   There was a legislative loophole, and they are using their claws and supporters to attack ANY breeder not just irresponsible, mass-production, sell-anything-alive-to-anyone-with-money canine commercial enterprises.   If this legislation passes as written, it fails to define breeder, it gives no exemptions to hobby fanciers such as myself, and  the HSUS has volunteered to enforce with home inspections.  It gives someone’s subjective opinion power over my home.   ???  I take GOOD care of our dogs but “they” don’t like how I do it and want to come in my living room to tell me not to.

Here are several links.  PLEASE –
comment before 7/16/2012 and explain that you got a puppy from a
RESPONSIBLE breeder and that the problem was already ENFORCEMENT and paperwork – that if the rules change as written it will force GOOD people into BAD legislation.

worthwhile explanation contains links to documents.
http://frankneudecker.com/index.php/2012/06/09/outlining-the-history-behind-the-aphis-rule-change/

sample performance comment
http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2011-0003-3015

excellent brief
breeders comments
http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2011-0003-2669
http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2011-0003-2499

thank goodness smart comment about BUYERS
http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2011-0003-2478

On any of these, you can click COMMENT and then CHECK the BOX that says Comment Directly.

The sad thing is – in the 10 or so that I read… 6 of them SUPPORTED the bill with brief statements about how this law was going to improve animal welfare.  NOT!  The same inspectors who were already overloaded, taking bribes, or skipping paperwork are still employed… if there are loopholes they need FIXED, not more inspections required.  USDA regulations are NOT how YOUR breeder keeps her beloved PET/show/breeding animals and I am NOT breeding them every season they are intact.  These regulations treat any animal over the age of 4 months as a “breeding” animal.  Ridiculous!

Please take time to write a comment that says you want the RIGHT to CHOOSE your breeder–and that you took time to find a good one who will be FORCED out of her passion by BIG GOVERNMENT if APHIS passes as poorly written !  My comment for *this week* has been posted.  Open until 7/16/2012 for public comment and we are already outnumbered.

Horrified they cannot pay to educate our children
But they will come in my house and tell me how to raise dogs !!!
Elizabeth Woodman

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UPDATE: This essay is now available as a two-page PDF handout for easy printing and distribution.

Note: HumaneWatch’s editor recently traveled down to the Palmetto State in order to attend his first dog show. Here’s his report:

I spent this weekend at the Myrtle Beach Kennel Club’s all-breed dog show in Florence, South Carolina. The club invited me down to talk about the threats its members are facing from the Humane Society of the United States and the rest of the animal rights movement. Since I had never been to a dog show, I said yes. (I grew up thinking that “fancy” was an adjective. Silly me.)

I’m not a big fan of people who pooh-pooh things they’ve never tried or seen up-close. If one of my children says she “doesn’t like” something on the dinner table before taking even a tiny bite—well, let’s just say that doesn’t wash in my house.

And I’ve always thought the whole “dog show” community was rather mysterious, a kind of benevolent secret society with its own rules, customs, and vocabulary. Sorta like Deadheads, but with a lot better grooming and a lot less fleas.

Truth be told, the dog breeders I met this weekend do have their own peculiar ways of saying and doing things. But they’re really just ordinary people with a shared hobby. They’re really into what they do. And they taught me a lot in just a Saturday. Here’s some of what I learned.

——-

  1. When you go to a dog show, bring your own chair. But don’t be surprised if someone offers to lend you theirs. (I’m typing this in someone else’s customized, embroidered lawn chair.)
  2. Dog shows are competitive, but the people involved are remarkably supportive of their human opponents. I heard a steady stream of “congratulations!” offered to blue-ribbon holders from handlers who were trotting away empty-handed.
  3. If you’re a first-timer who asks “what kind of dog is that?” too loudly, somebody might look at you funny.
  4. These people treat their dogs like royalty. It was 90 degrees in the shade on Saturday, and the dogs had shade, electric fans, and cold water—even if their owners didn’t.
  5. Judging from this weekend, the typical show-dog handler isn’t a stuffy Brit wearing Saville Row tweed. She—yes, she—is an energetic 40-year-old married mom whose husband packs up the kids and brings them along on the trip.
  6. Sometimes the kids strut the dogs around the ring. The under-18 handlers even have their own judging category in which their skills are being judged, not the qualities of their dogs.
  7. The name of the game is “conformation” (not “confirmation,” as I used to think). Dog show breeders are trying to breed animals that “conform” to a set ideal of how a breed can look, “gait,” and behave if they do everything right. (I read an article in Wired this week about how Cheetos in the factory are checked every 30 minutes against a “reference sample” from Frito-Lay headquarters, just to make sure the ideal color, texture, and crispiness is being matched. It’s kinda like that, but it takes years for these folks to make a single Cheeto. And Cheetos don’t pee on you.)
  8. Watch where you step in the parking lot.

If this particular dog show is any indication of what’s typical, the “dog fancy” is a lot of fun for a lot of people who contribute a lot of money to the economy—and aren’t hurting anyone. “If we’re not having fun here,” one judge told me, very much off-the-cuff, “we shouldn’t be doing this.”

For the life of me, I can’t figure out why the Humane Society of the United States has such a visceral hatred of everything they stand for.

I think what’s going on is that HSUS, PETA, and other animal rights groups are conflating breeders whose main goal is to sell puppies with those who just happen to really love Pomeranians, Pinschers, or Poodles. This latter clique of people (far larger than the former) shows their favorite animals because they’re proud of them, not because they believe it will make their next litter worth more money.

It’s not hard to understand HSUS’s stated motivation for attacking people who breed dogs. The group wants everyone to believe that rampant pet overpopulation in America is all their fault. But personally, I just don’t see it.

I didn’t meet “puppy millers” this weekend. I met hobbyists, just like if I were at a model railroad convention, an antique fair, or a swim meet. They ask after each others’ kids. They visit each other in the hospital. They have knitting circles where the dogs watch approvingly. They’re 50 percent garden club, 50 percent church pot-luck. Zero percent animal abusers.

I asked one breeder how much money she had spent raising her champion dog, a mammoth Anatolian shepherd. “Who knows?” she answered. “I never really added it up. If you’re pinching pennies you probably aren’t treating the dog right.” In addition to the two purebred dogs she was showing, she had “two rescue mutts at home, and they have the same food, supplements, and everything else my show dogs get.”

And when I asked one of the veteran breeders how many of her peers raise dogs so they can sell the litters commercially, she looked at me like I was from Mars. “We all sell dogs, son,” she told me. “But none of us make a cent doing it. And I know where all my dogs live. If anyone can’t provide for them, we take ‘em back.” And then, almost as an afterthought: “I sure don’t want any of mine going to the pound or a rescue.”

Everyone I asked about this had the same kind of answer. If they found out that any of their puppies wound up in a shelter, they’d sure do something about it.

So why all the hostility from the Humane Society of the United States? Why did I hear from North and South Carolinians who had beaten back attempt after attempt from HSUS to have them taxed, registered, regulated, raided, and otherwise priced out of their hobby? What is it about these men, women, and children, so passionate about running up and down a concrete floor with their pets, that demands intervention from activists who think they know better?

Maybe it’s that HSUS thinks the only way to shut down “puppy mills” is to paint every dog breeder with the same broad brush. Maybe. I haven’t yet really wrapped my mind around why HSUS is opposed to everything I saw this weekend. I just know that it is.

As with pretty much every group of ranchers, dairymen, biomedical research scientists, and chicken farmers I’ve met, the breeders I spoke with this weekend had varying levels of awareness about the looming political threat from HSUS. Some of them can’t be bothered to be bothered. Others are fired up at the mere mention of Wayne Pacelle’s name.

“Somebody has to take that guy on,” one 50-ish man barked when I brought up the name of HSUS’s CEO. “That whole movement is nuts. After I showed up to lobby against HSUS’s last North Carolina breeder tax, I started getting calls in the middle of the night, untraceable phone calls, from these people saying they were going to come on my property, take my dogs, and burn my house down. I told ‘em my new rifle has an awesome night scope. That pretty much ended it.”

I spoke to the crowd after the Best In Show was awarded, in this case to a fluffy pekingese named “Noelle.” I told them that their problem is the same as the one faced by pork producers, egg farmers, dairymen, and even cancer researchers. But it was up to them to reach beyond their circle of friends—outside their comfort zone—if their kids and grandkids were going to keep being Junior Handlers and continue to raise the dog breeds they’ve come to love.

At the end of the day, I have to be skeptical of HSUS’s blanket condemnation of pet breeders. I’m confident that there are some horrible ones out there, as there are with any group of people (including animal activists…), but any legislative or cultural movement that lumps the people I met this weekend in with the bad actors is just plain wrong-headed.

Because the dogs I met in South Carolina were among the best-cared-for animals I’ve ever seen. Anyone who’s truly interested in animal welfare would want to make sure more dogs—not fewer—are treated this way. So how ’bout it, Wayne? Why aren’t you promoting dog shows?

Probably because you’ve never been to one.

Posted on 05/24/2010 at 09:55 AM by the HumaneWatch Team

Gov’t, Lobbying, PoliticsPets • (153) Comments

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Please don’t give a puppy as a holiday gift. As a professional dog behavioral therapist and trainer, I see cases year after year of puppies that were given as a “wow for now” surprise, but when the newness wore off and their owners became tired of all the daily puppy care responsibilities, they were neglected, given up or even abused.

A living puppy should not be thought of in the same category as a holiday toy. When a puppy is adopted, he should be carefully chosen as a permanent addition to the family who will contribute much, but will also have needs of his own, which require a serious commitment from all family members to meet.

Many dogs surrendered to shelters are young — just 6 months to 3 years old — and a good portion of these are puppies younger than 6 months old. In addition, people need to know that the No. 1 cause of death for dogs isn’t trauma or disease — it’s euthanasia due to behavior problems. In fact, 3 million to 4 million dogs and cats will be euthanized this year in the U.S. That number could include that cute puppy bought as a Christmas gift.
Adding a puppy to your life is, on average, a 15-year responsibility. Raising a happy, well-balanced puppy requires an enormous time commitment, so a young pup is not a suitable choice for every dog-lover. Remember, it may take several years for a rambunctious puppy to settle down into a calmer adult dog.

Giving a child a puppy does make for delightful photos on Christmas morning. But a puppy is not a toy. Most children under the age of 8 do not understand a puppy’s needs, that puppies cannot be carried around, poked or teased. Having a puppy or dog does not teach a child responsibility. Parents teach responsibility. In fact, it will be the parents who ultimately must do the majority of the walking, feeding and cleaning associated with pet ownership.

If the intended recipient seems ready for a puppy, be sure they can answer “yes” to these questions:

* Are you ready to participate in managing all aspects of the responsibilities of puppy (and dog) ownership, each and every day? Most dogs, even small breeds, need lots of exercise to stay healthy and happy.

* Are you willing to provide opportunities for your dog to run, walk, and play every single day?

* Do you understand that a dog is not a person, and will need consistent training to learn to become a good canine citizen?

* Can you afford to provide good nutrition, regular veterinary care and grooming so your dog will be in good health inside and out?

* Are you willing to walk or take your dog out to toilet at least six times a day, in all sorts of weather?

* Are you and your house ready for the inevitable dirt, hair, slobber, potty accidents and spilled food and water that a dog brings?

* Do you have a reliable pet sitter or dog walker who can care for your pet when you’re at work or out of town?

If someone on your gift list really wants a puppy, consider giving a homemade gift certificate for one instead. Wrap a can of dog food, fancy collar or good book on raising a puppy, and include a note saying a puppy (or dog) of the recipient’s choice comes with the gift.

And remember, too, that dogs of all ages make perfect companions. Most adult dogs tend to be calmer, have more predictable behaviors and are already housebroken. Local animal rescue groups and shelters have a wonderful selection of adult dogs, including purebreds. According to the Humane Society of the United States, up to 30 percent of shelter dogs are purebreds.

If your gift recipient is really ready for dog ownership, set a date after the holidays to start looking for the perfect dog. Research different breeds, identify responsible breeders or visit your local animal shelter or rescue group so the gift recipient can choose a dog that they really want and one that will match their lifestyle.

As a professional dog trainer, I am committed to helping people better understand how dogs think, act and communicate, and therefore be responsible dog owners. The holidays are the giving season — so give a puppy his best chance to become a long-term companion and have a happy life by not putting him under the tree.

Rachel R. Baum, CPDT-KA is a dog behavioral therapist and master trainer at Bark Busters Home Dog Training.

Full article here

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Mary Roberts • December 14, 2010

I am a member of the dog police.

No, I’m not an animal control officer, and I don’t have a trained police dog attentive and alert to my wishes. The only time my dogs jump smartly to attention is when the refrigerator door opens.

In my dog police alias, I spring into action whenever I hear the words “we are thinking of getting a dog.” That’s when I glide uncomfortably close to you and ask, “And from where are you getting this said dog?” (I’m not invited to many parties.)

If you are already gushing about Precious and his adorable antics, I ask, “And from whence did you get this aforementioned canine?”

You assure me that he was adopted from a shelter or that you found him lying helpless in a gutter. Or, unperturbed by my rudeness, you say, “He was so cute, and at $200 off the regular price, we got him from the pet store.”

I glide away, unable to pursue further conversation. Some say I should take that opportunity to educate the person about shelter dogs, puppy mills and doing the right thing.

They already have the dog, and wagging my finger at them for their ignorance is pointless. So I’m wagging my finger at you.

At this time of year, normally thoughtful people decide that a new puppy is the ideal Christmas gift. Trust me … it’s not.

If you must ignore my protestations, here are some facts:

> 3 to 4 million healthy and adoptable dogs are euthanized every year in shelters.

> Only 21 percent of Americans get their dogs from shelters.

> Most Americans blame the shelter dogs for their circumstances.

> Most Americans are wrong.

 

This past November, Missouri passed puppy-mill legislation that limited large-scale commercial dog breeding facilities to 50 breeding dogs. It also demands such luxury amenities as yearly vet checks, daily food, clean water, rest periods between breeding cycles and, oh, yes, decent housing.

Most of these puppy-mill dogs are sold at pet stores and on the Internet.

Some pet stores advertise that they do not sell dogs from puppy mills. Ask the owners if they have visited all their providers and assured themselves that the hundreds of dogs in wire cages are just part of one big happy family.

With the passage of the Missouri bill and the crackdown of large-scale facilities in other states, we will see thousands of dogs dumped at auctions and at shelters.

You have a chance to make a difference with these dogs and the thousands of others that are still at shelters and breed rescues.

When you buy from a pet store or off the Internet, you are supporting an industry that treats dogs as a cash crop and not the loyal and beloved companions they have become.

Go to the humane society, Animal House, www.petfinder.com, find a breed rescue. Or find a reputable professional breeder whose bottom line is the health and welfare of the breed and not their profit statements.

Do your homework. We do more research trying to find a dishwasher than we do to find a steady and true friend.

And if you spot me at a party this holiday (a rare occurrence), I would love to see some photos of your new adopted best friend.

Do Your Doggone Homework Article

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Congratulations to the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America who took home the grand prize of $500 for winning the Best Booth in Show award. In addition to the Best Booth in show award, there were first place awards given to the best booth in each group. Click on any image below to launch a slideshow of the winning booths.

AKC Meet the Breeds with a slideshow

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Any size letter will do!!

PR NEWSWIRE Press Release shows yet another way HSUS continues their quest to deceive pet lovers, while making millions.  Just as with the Yellow Tail Wine episode, we need to write them letters, call, forward to all others, send to Facebook, Twitter, etc, and send them a Christmas message that you certainly will NOT be buying Christmas or any other gifts from Fred Myers, as long as they continue to support extremist animal rights organizations who’s underlying goal is actually “no animal use.”

Fred Meyer Contacts, includes email form and 800-number: http://www.fredmeyerjewelers.com/Marketing/ContactUs.aspx (I sent mine to the subjects “Product Inquiry”, “Testimonials” and “Press Inquiries”)  There is an automated response but you CAN leave your phone # for them to contact you, if you like.

PS, it probably wouldn’t hurt to contact PR Newswire, as well.

Send to VP of Public Relations, Rachel Meranus: rachel.meranus@prnewswire.com
My letters to them simply included copies of what I sent to Fred Meyer, asking them to do some real investigative reporting.

They want a few places to look up facts about what you are telling them?
Here are a few suggestions you can add to your already-growing list of anti-animal rights websites:

Excellent synopsis, tell them to click on all the links here:  http://www.ncraoa.com/HSUS.html
Here are some quotes, straight from the “horse’s” mouths: http://www.ncraoa.com/HSUS_quotes.html
More:
There are literally 2 dozen talking points you can use in your contact
letter.

Handouts from Mofed (http://www.thealliancefortruth.com/#)  and the great HumaneWatch.org. ads:(http://humanewatch.org/index.php/ads/)

(this includes the “7 Things You Didn’t Know About HSUS”)

Frank Losey’s handout is also excellent and includes a lot of talking
points about the RICO act lawsuit against HSUS and the IRS investigation.
http://www.mofed.org/Hand-outs-Printable-info.htm

Other talking points you could include would be:

The Pang civil rights lawsuit against HSUS.
http://humanewatch.org/index.php/documents/detail/norman_pang_lawsuit_against_hsus_employees/

The Christensen civil rights lawsuit against HSUS.
http://humanewatch.org/index.php/documents/detail/federal_lawsuit_against_hsus_et_al_filed_by_south_dakota_dog_breeder_d/

The Malott case involving her filing a complaint with the FBI over
HSUS’s violation of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act.
http://humanewatch.org/index.php/site/post/AETA_HSUS_Malott/

Have fun! HSUS needs to be objected to, wherever they raise their
heads. Just remember, keep your letter/email polite and factual.

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Dear friends,

I am suggesting that we urge all club members, forward to other clubs, including performance people, grooming shops, veterinarians and anyone else that has a vested interest in dogs, to contact their federal Congressmen/Senators, giving the reasons we are opposed to the recently introduced “PUPS” bill.  In addition to the information in Frank’s note, below, here is additional copy/paste material:  http://www.saova.org/PUPS.html.

Frank’s IRS initiative is ongoing; several congressmen have taken up the cause, personally asking the director of the IRS to investigate the HSUS;  now, Frank is asking us to ban together to stop this (HSUS) PUPS bill, which, contrary to another organization’s opinion that we should “let it be” (hoping it would die in committee) is definitely gaining momentum.

In addition, there is a huge strategic importance to the issuance of “public condemnation of substandard kennels” (see Frank’s note below).  I would like to see parent clubs join the list of organizations that have made such statements.  The more organizations that do this, the more fighting power we have against bills such as the PUPS bill.  Please have your clubs issue a statement, and note it on their public website.  If you will, send it to me, so I can make Frank aware.  He is going to use the sheer numbers in his “arguments” for future dialogs with various “powers”.

I know this is rather long, but each and every one of us MUST understand what is going on and what needs to be done; so I am providing you with the information;  all you need to do is copy, paste and SEND to your federal legislators.
PLEASE DO THIS, FOR THE SAKE OF OUR ANIMALS.

Written by Frank Losey:   PUPS – – THE “PERFECT STORM” FOR AN HSUS “SNEAK ATTACK”

Based on my 20 years of Lobbying Experience in Washington DC , I believe that the HSUS is methodically executing a “Behind-the-Scenes Strategy,” with the help of several Members of Congress, to ensure that the PUPS Bill is enacted this year for the following reasons:

1.       The number of co-sponsors of the PUPS Bill (H.R. 5434) in the House of Representatives continues to grow each week.   As of July 23, 2010 the number of sponsors and co-sponsors in the House of Representatives is 83.

2.       HSUS is “beating the drum,” behind the scenes, to Congressional Members and their respective  Staffs about the scathing USDA IG Report with regards to APHIS Inspection Procedures, and is citing that Report as a reason for House Congressional Members to co-sponsor the PUPS Bill.

3.       HSUS has ballyhooed the Animal Crush Video Bill (H.R 5566), which passed the House on July 21, 2010 by a vote of 416 to only three votes in opposition.  Significantly, nearly 300 House Members had co-sponsored this Bill.  That is why House Rules on voting for this Bill were suspended.  The horrific images used to gather Congressional support for this Animal Crush Video Bill will consciously and subliminally carry over in the minds of many Members of Congress and their respective staffs.

4. HSUS is masterful with its use of subliminal messages and resonating, horrific images that have framed the Public’s “misperceptions” about all breeders.

5.       HSUS has spent millions of dollars on advertising on the FOX Network.  These ads on FOX raise the following question:  Why would HSUS not run the same ads on other major networks, unless there was an ulterior motive? Unquestionably, HSUS is seeking donations as part of its “Factory Fundraising” efforts.  However, a secondary and major subliminal purpose of using the FOX Network is to reach out to conservative Republicans, who historically have not scored well on the HSUS Congressional Scorecard.  HSUS is politically streetwise and savvy, and it knows that Conservative Republicans are more apt to watch FOX, and “coincidentally” see the HSUS ads, which contain gut-wrenching” images of dogs and puppies.  This is done not only to try and gather support for more co-sponsors on the PUPS Bill, but more importantly, to reduce and mute opposition to the inevitable efforts of the HSUS to orchestrate a “Sneak Attack” amendment to a “Must Pass Bill,” such as an Appropriations Bill for funding the USDA.

6.       “Sneak Attacks” are by their very nature sneaky and designed to use the element of surprise to one’s advantage.  In short, you do not publicly tell your potential opposition of your plan of attack against responsible breeders until it is too late to stop the orchestrated “attack!!!!”

7. Why would the HSUS use a “Sneak Attack” for the PUPS Bill????????? In March of 2009, during a Workshop sponsored by the Georgetown Law School and the HSUS, Congressman Moran from VA, who was a Congressional Panelist at the Workshop, was asked the following question:  “Why is it so hard for us to amend the Animal Welfare Act, and how can we do it? His response was chilling, and the gist of what he said is as follows:  The best way to overcome opposition is to wait until the eleventh hour and add a late night, last minute amendment to a “Must Pass Bill,” such as an Appropriations Bill, so that there will be no time for opposition to kill the amendment. Significantly, Congressman Moran is on the Appropriations Committee!

8. I respectfully submit that the reason why HSUS recently has been eerily “silent” on the PUPS Bill, and has not been repeatedly and publicly urging its “11 Million Members” to contact their respective Members of Congress and ask them to support the PUPS Bill is because the HSUS is executing a “Sneak Attack” in the following sequence:

  • Continue to work behind-the-scenes, and “under the radar” to gather co-sponsors for the PUPS Bill by following up with the nearly 300 U.S. Representatives who co-sponsored the Animal Crush Video Bill, and literally “take a license” with these unsuspecting Members of Congress by simply implying that their support is needed for the same reason as was their support for the Animal Crush Video Bill.
  • HSUS will continue to “recruit” more Representatives to co-sponsor the PUPS Bill, and once the number crosses the 100 threshold, HSUS will employ the “herd mentality” approach to persuade more and more Representatives to jump on the bandwagon.  HSUS will claim that this will “protect those dogs and puppies that need your help.”
  • When the USDA Appropriations Bill comes up for a vote, as Members of Congress are  scrambling to wrap up outstanding issues in a hurry so that they may return to their States and Districts to run for re-election, the PUPS Bill will be added, “at the last minute,” and the justification for “expediency” will be that since the PUPS Bill has well in excess of 100 co-sponsors, it “obviously” is not a controversial amendment, and it will become part of a “Must Pass Bill,” and there will be no time to mount opposition to it.

9. Why is this suggested “Sneak Attack” Scenario not only feasible, but likely, you ask?

  • The Congressman who suggested a “Sneak Attack” Approach is Congressman Moran.
  • Congressman Moran co-founded and is the Co-Chair of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus in the House of Representatives.  This Caucus has 84 Members.
  • The Website for the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus lists 40 different animal related Bills “currently under consideration by Congress.” Conspicuous by its absence is the PUPS Bill, which currently is being sponsored and co-sponsored by 83 Members of the House – – that is nearly 20% of the House of Representatives.  Could that “omission” be yet another tell-tale indication that a coordinated “Sneak Attack” is on-going, especially since Congressman Moran is the Co-Chair of this Caucus?!?!?!?!?!?
  • Congressman Moran has introduced and sponsored Bills championed by the HSUS.
  • Congressman Moran has been a featured speaker at HSUS Events.
  • Congressman Moran is a Member of the House Appropriations Committee which will be considering the Appropriations Bill for the USDA.
  • And in the Senate, which must also pass the Appropriations Bill for USDA, you have Senator Durbin, who could smooth the way for Senate passage of the PUPS Bill as an Amendment to the USDA Appropriations Bill in the Senate because:

o        Senator Durbin is in a Democrat Leadership Position in the Senate.

o        Senator Durbin introduced an identical version of the PUPS Bill in the Senate.

o        Senator Durbin is on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

  • The HSUS Annual Lobbying Event in Washington DC (Taking Action for Animals) concluded on July 26, 2010 with a Major Lobby Day Campaign, which was totally scripted by the HSUS, and resulted in hundreds of HSUS supporters descending upon the U.S. Capitol to personally tell their respective Members of Congress to support every Bill that HSUS wishes to have Congress enact – – this includes the PUPS Bill!

For all of the reasons set out above, I believe the “Perfect Storm” exists for the HSUS to successfully orchestrate the enactment of the PUPS Bill.

WHAT CAN BE DONE?

Follow the HSUS Lobbying Play Book, and send E-Mails to your respective Members of Congress that politely ask that they suspend judgment and action on the PUPS Bill (H.R. 5434 and S. 3424) until the following questions are fully vetted in a Committee Hearing:

1.       Is the “perceived problem” and “need” for the PUPS Bill caused by the so-called internet sales “loophole,” or by simply an inability of APHIS to enforce existing laws and regulations?  In short, would the “perceived problem” and “need” be best addressed by more strictly enforcing the existing laws and regulations, rather than adding new laws and regulations onto the existing laws and regulations that may not have been strictly enforced?

2.       Is it the intent of Congress to mandate that if someone has as few as one intact female dog that is capable of being used for breeding, then that person may be subject to the expanded coverage of the PUPS Bill?

3.       Is it appropriate for Congress to define a four-month-old puppy to be an adult dog?

4.       Would the existing language in the PUPS Bill have the unintended consequence of dramatically reducing the number of available dogs that are specifically bred and trained for use by special needs organizations that support the handicapped and the blind?

5.       Would the existing language in the PUPS Bill have the unintended consequence of dramatically reducing the number of available dogs that that are specifically bred and trained for use by law enforcement throughout the U.S. , the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Defense, such as bomb sniffing dogs?

6.       Why has the Humane Society of the U.S. , for the last three years, repeatedly refused to tell the American Public and the U.S. Congress that major Pet Breeder Organizations in 10 States have publicly condemned substandard kennels?  Significantly, over 85% of all Federally licensed and inspected kennels are located in those 10 States.

  • If you live in Arkansas , Colorado , Indiana , Iowa , Kansas , Missouri , Ohio , Oklahoma , Pennsylvania or South Dakota , you may wish to add the following sentence.  “Our State is one of the 10 States.”

If enough breeders send E-Mails to their respective Members of Congress, such a collective effort may derail and stop the HSUS PUPS Bill Freight Train that is picking up steam.  Lets mimic the IRS effort and bombard Congress with another 5K letters!!!!  THANK YOU

Frank Losey

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Be careful to try to assure you pick a pooch right for you and yours. Your new canine friend can come with some issues that require patience and special training.

Some advantages of adopting a shelter dog

You’re providing a much needed home for a homeless animal.

Some 25-30 percent of shelter animals are purebreds. So if you have your heart set on a purebred, shelters have them!

Good shelters will have already assessed the personality and temperament of the animal and will be able to correctly match the pet with the right family.

Shelters get new animals every day, so if you don’t see something that you like, visit again at another time.

While many of the animals that end of up in shelters have had a difficult past (abuse, neglect, abandonment), it is still very possible to get a pet that is kind, gentle, fun, and loving. Most reputable shelters use trainers or behaviorist to evaluate the dogs that come into the shelter. Then, lots of time and resources are put into rehabilitating the dogs that need help. A good shelter WILL NOT adopt out a dangerous or defective animal. The last thing that they want is for that animal to end up back in the shelter or abandoned. So they work very hard to make sure adoption last for the life of the pet.

HOW TO SELECT THE RIGHT DOG FOR YOU

First, understand your lifestyle and expectations. You should choose a dog whose own natural traits best fit your lifestyle. If you lead a busy, active lifestyle, then you want a dog that fits your household. If you want a lap dog, then don’t choose a Border Collie!

Carefully look at the breeds or dogs that match your lifestyle. Spend time with each animal. Observe how the dog relates to you. Look for a “connection” with that dog. Often, the dog will “pick you” if you take the time to notice.

Avoid animals that look sick (i.e. runny nose or eyes, scaly skin, dull coat, open sores, lethargic, coughing or sneezing, etc.)

Pick a dog that is curious and alert, but not fearful or jumpy. When approached, the dog should accept your advances, sniff you, or even present her belly or rump to be scratched.

Alert, happy, well socialized makes for fun family times.

Alert, happy, well socialized makes for fun family times.

If you have other pets at home, observe how the shelter candidate interacts with other animals. Avoid those that display aggression toward or extreme fear of other animals. A very general rule of thumb when bringing home a dog with dogs already in the home, is to choose a dog that is younger and opposite sex of the dog you already have.

Before you make your final choice, take the ENTIRE family to the shelter to meet the dog. Sometimes, a dog will respond differently to different people. You don’t want to find out that your new pet doesn’t like 5 year old AFTER you get him home!

QUESTIONS TO ASK

Get a complete history of the animal that you are considering.

Age (although, sometimes there is no way for the shelter to know for sure.), breed, gender

Where the dog came from

What his previous living situation was

His medical history

How he’s behaved since being at the shelter

Does the dog have any ongoing medical issues (cancer, diabetes, intestinal parasites, heartworms, etc.), and is the dog is on any medication

What follow up services the shelter provides, such as obedience training, consultation for behavioral problems, medical services

Ask about their return policy. It’s important to know if you can return the dog if the adoption does not work out.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A SHELTER

Most shelters will conduct an interview with you to determine your lifestyle, resources, and dedication to providing a “forever home” for the animal. You usually will have to fill out a fairly exhaustive application that will ask questions about your employment, living situation, family members, income, other pets in the home, etc.

Many shelters ask for references and check them!

Some shelters will even conduct a home evaluation to make sure your living environment is suitable for a pet.

Animals will already have been spayed or neutered. Or you will have to provide assurance that you will spay or neuter your new pet as soon as they reach the appropriate age.

The animal will also already be vaccinated and de-wormed.

There is usually an adoption fee, but it is much less than the cost or purchasing an animal at a pet shop or breeder. Expect to pay anywhere from $50-150 or more.

Shelters have visiting hours, so call ahead to know when is the right time to show up.

After you’ve taken your newest, furriest family member home, often the shelter will call you to see how you and the new pet are doing. NEW YORK, May 1, 2010 Dr. Debbye Turner Bell

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May 4, 12:17 PMDenver Dog News ExaminerLarry Berreth

One of the five dog stamps.
One of the five dog stamps.
USPS.com

The U.S. post office issued a new set of ten first-class stamps this weekend, which feature portraits of dogs and cats to promote adoption from animal shelters.

The new 44-cent stamps are part of the “Stamps to the Rescue” campaign, with the purpose of raising awareness for animal shelter adoption and to encourage donations to animal assistance organizations to build funds for supplies such as food.

The ten just released stamps feature photographs of five cats and five dogs taken by renowned Sally Andersen-Bruce. All ten of the stamp subjects were animals adopted from a shelter in New Milford, CT.

Previous pet promotional postage stamps featuring dogs and cats have included a 13-cent stamp of a kitten and puppy playing in the snow in 1982, a set of pet stamps in 1998, and a puppy and a kitten who were featured on the “Neuter or Spay” stamps in 2002.

Locally, the new “Stamps to the Rescue” shelter adoption stamps are available at any post office in the Denver metro and Boulder County areas, or online here.
Original posting click here

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Update-April 20, 2010 (Scroll after video or Join our Facebook group, Justice for Mima for regular updates)

This is Mima, a sweet dog from Bulgaria. She was tortured and mutilated by a sadistic monster who hacked each one of her limbs off… not just once but for days and weeks at a time!! Despite the vicious and brutal torture Mima suffered, she still is a trusting, sweet soul and is a true survivor. She now has a new guardian, Mrs. Violeta Dobreva (a lawyer and head of NGO in Bulgaria) who will shower her with the love and care she deserves. The doctors say there is a good chance that Mima will be able to walk again soon! Until Mima has been completely evaluated by all specialists involved (surgeon, prosthetic, rehab), we do not yet have an estimate of the total cost for her medical care. As soon as we do, this ChipIn will then be changed to reflect a Target Amount. After the horror Mima was put through and her strong will to survive, we want only the best for Mima so she can live the rest of her years comfortably. Please bear in mind that we aim for the best specialists to work on not just one or two limbs, but all four limbs that were savagely butchered (unlike surgical amputation), she will also need prosthesis, cart, transport, and will require a long and extensive rehabilitation process all these can be astronomical. Any overages from this collection (if any) will go towards helping another special needs animal/s in Bulgaria.

Currently, there are no laws against Animal Cruelty in Bulgaria. Sadly, the monster who did this to Mima will likely go unpunished. However, due to this horrific crime and outrage from Bulgarians and citizens from around the world, there are now talks of new laws being passed. We hope that when this happens, that they will be implemented. Mima is the face of hope for change in Bulgarian law for the protection of all the innocent animals. We hope this despicable crime never ever happens again!

We thank you in advance for donating and helping spread the word. We hope to get Mima’s story out as a message to the world that all animals suffer and feel pain just as we do and laws must exist and be enforced to protect them. As human beings, we can’t possibly turn our backs and ignore this horror that goes on all over the world. There is a proven link between animal cruelty and human violence. First a dog, next a child. After all this, Mima has not lost trust in humans. She is very loving towards her new family, even to complete strangers. We all can learn a lot about love and compassion from Mima.

UPDATE: On April 16th, Mima left Bulgaria to Germany for treatment and rehabilitation. On April 20th, she has undergone surgery in Munchen, to remove some of the bones that were sticking out. She will later get her prosthesis and gain mobility from this prominent specialist:
http://www.hunderolli-tierorthopaedie.de/prothetik.html

While in Germany, Mima is being fostered by Mrs. Eva Linkogel in her beautiful home with other rescue dogs:
http://www.db-tierhilfe.de/chiemgau.htm

Please see Mima’s album for pics updated regularly:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=158498&id=622515628&l=f7e5e453ed

For those who wish to donate via bank deposit, please go to this site to deposit directly to Mima’s official bank accounts: http://sites.google.com/site/grijaipodslon/novini-novi/bankovismetki-dareniazamima-simvolnaprotesta

This ChipIn is a collective effort of the International Facebook Group: Justice for Mima. The funds raised from this campaign will be transferred directly to Mima’s account listed on the above mentioned site. We have made arrangements with Mima’s official guardian directly and will only take directions from her on which one of the two (or both) official accounts to transfer funds to.

Please join our Facebook group for updates and more info, and to show International support: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=104654392906259

There is also a Facebook Group for Mima in Bulgaria. They are BG citizens working in the front lines to change the law. Even if you don’t know the language, please join and show your support. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=105973149434180

Please sign the petition and demand animal cruelty laws in Bulgaria to be passed and enforced:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/punishment-for-the-man-crippled-mima

First news video footage of Mima:
http://novinitepro.bg/bulgaria/dobra-novina-osakatenata-mima-pristigna-v-noviya-si-dom.html

News video of Mima in her new home:
http://novinitepro.bg/bulgaria/dobra-novina-osakatenata-mima-pristigna-v-noviya-si-dom.html

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