The Beginning of the End...

©David J. Arthur, May 24, 2008 (For breeders, for owners seeking quality pets, and for those traveling through “legislated” states or cities!) In 2008, the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) petitioned the state of Kentucky to appoint two members of their choosing to the State Animal Control Advisory Board. While this may seem like a very simple change in state law, the implications are enormous. Throughout the U.S., communities combat dog overpopulation (a false premise based on manipulated intake data) and the perceived danger of dog attacks by mandating spay/neuter or by banning “vicious” breeds. The dog fancy is at war with state and local governments, and if one looks carefully at those involved in promoting such legislation, the animal rights faction looms ominously in the near background. For the average dog owner, this may not seem like an issue. But for breeders, dog show enthusiasts, pet suppliers, veterinary outlets, and others in the fancy, such legislation could prove devastating. And it will eventually impact the average pet owner. As attorney and conformation judge Rita Biddle states, “The point is that they (the animal rights contingent) are coming after our dogs and their goal is to spay and neuter until there are none. At its basic level, they want to end man's interaction with animals in whatever form.” These two voting positions in Kentucky would give the HSUS, an animal rights organization, a very powerful influence in determining future state-wide animal control policy. And this is only the precursor for what is to come. California, Ohio, Virginia, and Pennsylvania are already working on anti-dog or breed specific legislation, along with an upcoming resurrection of the federal PAWS bill. Another example of over-restrictive law is an ordinance enacted by the community of Goshen Kentucky, whereby it is illegal for residents to keep their pets in their very own front yards. (1) Traveling with your pet? Much of the language involving restraint, containment, and the banning of certain breeds is in fact, enforceable even if you are just passing through a community. And how would you even know you were in violation? If your dog were to get loose, you might not be able to get it back if it is picked up by local authorities. If you are able to reclaim the dog, it may be neutered. You may not even be able to bring it with you if visiting a location where its breed is banned. How are they accomplishing this coup against our pets? They are using the same incremental tactics as was seen at the beginning of the ever burgeoning anti- smoking movement. Like the anti-smoking lobby, the animal rights crowd is highly organized, fanatically dedicated, expertly publicized, and extremely well- funded. Add the overburdened shelter system and day-to-day nuisance complaints to local police, and you have the cauldron from which these laws originate. The American Kennel Club (AKC) has done nothing meaningful to curb the practice of puppy milling, and even organizations such as the Responsible Dog Owners Association (RODA) has had only marginal success in increasing general awareness. Thus we may well have come to our own wake-up call. If dog show enthusiasts and pet owners fail to heed what occurred in Kentucky, other states are most certainly lost. And what happens in the states will be mirrored by the federal government in short order. So what can be done to stop this flood of anti-dog legislation? The answer is to stop being apathetic! Animal rights organizations count on public apathy as proof that the community supports their legal meddling. Thus it’s time to align with the popular bumper sticker stating, “My Dog Votes!” Become involved in political action committees, local kennel clubs, petition drives, and supporting politicians that hold pet-friendly views. Educate yourself on the issues at hand, and most of all, support those organizations that promote responsible pet ownership and avoid those that align themselves with the animal rights contingent. Lastly those within the fancy should not enter shows in locations where such laws exist. It’s our choice. What will we do? It is far better to act now when we have the ability to stop this juggernaut, than to wind up in a few years like Gen George A. Custer wondering, “Where’d all these arrows come from?” [1] “Goshen Will Banish Dogs From Front Yards”, Melissa Gagliardi, “The Courier-Journal”, Wed, Dec 20, 2006 [2] Additional background information, “Breeders Compete With This??!!, Hunte Corporation Mass Producer, Mass Marketer, Puppy Deaths”, Emma G. Fitzsimmons, Globe Correspondent, “The Dog Press”, Aug 16, 2006