Our Stand
We feel a critical need to express our stand on the issues facing owners of animals today. Specifically, government agencies and those in the business of promoting animal rights are in position to exert un-necessary and extreme power over the rights of humans who choose to practise their preferred forms of animal husbandry. We feel that the majority of society has lost touch with the realities of raising and/or keeping animals and if they care, they easily are led to monetarily benefit the big business organized along with animal rights supporters. The idea that government and aggressively lobbied new laws can manage the lives of individual animals is laughable at best, yet these ideas are convincingly sold that more new laws and deeper government involvement will change everything for the better (remember government's response to Katrina?) Meanwhile, the activities in support of animal rights and big ag business in world trade complicates the lives of the "little guy" who DOES NOT WANT more indebtedness to government and inflated costs of living. And in the meanwhile, publications like TIME magazine currently publish biased and ill-informed stories tearing down the ag industry.
WE NEED YOUR HELP IN WRITING LETTERS TO POLITICIANS AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS INVOLVED IN FORMING THE FUTURE OF ANIMAL AGRICULTURE.
http://nonais.org/ has an abundance of information and links if you are interested in the viewpoint from the little guy perspective.
12/10/09 USDA thought to be primed for making animal ID mandatory in 2010;
also continued pressures to new veterinarians:
Here is a nice page summing up some contact links:
FOOD PRICES WILL BE AFFECTED
The most important thing you can do to help is a letter writing campaign to your congressmen in support of animal agriculture and start being informed of legal propositions in your immediate area, to further ask for political non-support. Well-paid lobbyist do-gooders are not out there to necessarily "do good" for all.
10/15/09 Michigan has new law squeezing out chicken and beef production within their state. Florida and New York are following in California's wake, nationwide the work of the Animal Rights (AR) groups are at work constantly. They want everyone to be vegetarians. People who honestly labor to make a living by providing food products for the masses cannot defend themselves: YOU NEED TO HELP.
PLEASE continue reading this page of information.
In the 1990's a woman I knew from work presented me with a huge stack of papers printed out, detailing the animal rights movement and their future goals. I kind of poo-poohed her, thinking she was a bit of a paranoid extremist. I knew the ARs were out there but what she was saying sounded like a conspiracy theory.
Fast forward 10 or so years, and much of what she had in those papers and what she was saying have happened and then some. It's a very ominous thing, and as those years went by and I saw and read more, I became a "believer." I don't want to be, I want to enjoy my animals in peace and not worry about what is going on out there politically and legally. But I want to be able to own animals for the rest of my life, and I want future generations to be able to as well. Animals enrich our lives in so many ways, and I can't imagine people not having the right to enjoy them. So I will keep shouting it from the roof tops, even at the risk of being written off as one of those paranoid extremists or conspiracy theorists! We need to turn the tide NOW. We can educate for welfare without making animals equal with people in a legal way.
STAY INFORMED - HUGE REPERCUSSIONS POSSIBLE FOR HORSE INDUSTRY
Commentary: Animal Guardianship and Horses
by: Equine Disease Quarterly
October 05 2009, Article # 15021
Imagine that overnight a new state law goes into effect declaring that from now on you do not own your animals but rather you are their "guardian." Does this sound farfetched? Some local communities have already made this change The first legal step on this road has been the addition of "owner-guardian" language to local ordinances, then changing the wording to "guardian" only. One state now has "owner-guardian" as a part of its law, and various federal agencies are using the word "guardian" in conjunction with "owner" whenever the latter appears in their regulations.
Animal guardianship advocates suggest that referring to the human-animal relationship as one of guardianship rather than ownership will lead to better animal care. There is little basis for this assertion; an abusive animal owner would likely be an abusive animal "guardian."
While local ordinances to date have generally applied only to dogs, cats, and other companion animals, a next step would be to expand such laws to include all domestic animals. With the groundwork in place, guardianship advocates could then move to the state level.
"Ownership" and "guardianship" are two distinct legal terms. The first is an expression and protection of the property owner's legal rights, while the second imposes numerous legal duties and obligations on the guardian.
Today as an animal owner, you can decide the animals' care and future as long as you are not abusive, cruel, or neglectful: what to feed or where to house them; which animals to breed them with; what veterinary care to provide; whether to sell them, put them down, or include them in your Will.
If the law changes and you no longer own your horses but instead become their "guardian," you will always have to act in the horses' best interest. As you can well imagine, there will be many times when your horses' best interests are not yours: euthanizing a horse to avoid a substantial veterinary bill could be prohibited, as could using horses in endeavors like racing and showing.
A guardian would be unable to sell horses, as they are no longer property.
If you no longer own your horses, property insurance policies might not cover the loss of your horses or injury to them. Expenses, write-offs, and other deductions under federal and state tax laws, which are predicated upon horses being property and assets belonging to their owners, might no longer be available.
A successor-guardian could be appointed to sue you on behalf of your horses for not having taken care of them properly, for their injuries, and even for their deaths.
The list of legal repercussions that could befall horse owners should the law be changed from ownership to "guardianship" is extensive, and it behooves the horse industry to remain vigilant about pending legislation.--Gregory M. Dennis, JD, 913/498-1700,
Kent T. Perry & Co. L.C., Overland Park, Kansas
(This is from a law firm)
10/15/09 A mature female acquaintance who is back in college and vet school to train for a new career describes the majority of her classmates as wet-behind-the-ears female city-bred idealists who are easily led by the AR agenda. (early warning, if you have large animals who need vet care, into the future it will become harder and harder to find a truly capable veterinarian). She also revealed that HSUS funds and requires students to sign agreements in order to participate in many facets of the education programs for vet students. This is NOT GOOD. Now we need to start writing letters to vet schools to protest this practise of accepting HSUS monies, and to reinforce the need for students to credit real-life experiences in animal agriculture vs. having the highest scores on tests for entry. Common sense and the value of experience (much less access to peer mentors) is something hard to teach.
Here is a letter I feel very in humor with:
This is a user-friendly article that reveals many important points:
There is so much at stake right now and at least if this message lessens your contribution to the activities of those seeking to further animals rights (I think of this year's widely used, very emotional t.v. ad campaign seeking funds starring a singer with her popular song begging to help dogs/cats), or at best to inspire you to help raise a voice against government involvement in private business, please read ALL of the information below:
I hope that current events inspire you to speak out for the little guy, and against government control in issues dealing with privately owned animals. Please read all of this information to the end and become informed about important issues. The common man/woman who works daily in an agricultural capacity already faces mother earth (weather/etc.), father time, and big brother, we desperately need little sister's support to continue our efforts to feed the world and maintain God-given dominion over animals.
-Melanie Block, Bohemian Gypsy Cobs 4/21/09
Excerpt of article in cattleman’s publication:
So why have so many in animal agriculture suddenly taken up arms against Rush Limbaugh, a very conservative voice among a very conservative group of people?
The real bone of contention expressed by people in animal agriculture is not with the comments he made but with the group that he chose to promote. For a man seen by so many in animal agriculture as a voice of conservative reason and who spoke for them on so many important issues to actually join hands with the evil empire that is HSUS is an unforgiveable breach of trust.
Terry Martin, a Texas-based dog breeder who runs Slash V Australian Shepherds, is one of the most vocal opponents of what the errant Limbaugh has done. Sneering at the HSUS claim that they’re pro-animal welfare, she talked to me about the contents of their recent tax statement. “A hundred million dollars brought in!” she said. “2% of that used for animals? What does he (Limbaugh) think they did with the rest of it? They do just enough to keep up the pretense of helping animals while continuing to spend the money on lobbying and advertising to bring in more money.”
(for the full article of the above, please read:
From Terry 4/20/09: I just hope that everyone who is writing me thanking me is doing SOMETHING for the cause. One letter, one phone call, one fax to a legislator, Rush Limbaugh at this moment, Fox News for advertising for the HSUS, just some small thing to help.
A few of us can't do it alone.
Our "few" are growing, but they are far more powerful than us. Write to Honda or call your local dealer and tell them you won't buy a Honda unless they take their endorsement of th HSUS off the advertising for the Element. Just please help in some way. Lou Dobbs on CNN has exposed the AR (Animal Rights) and PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals--who IN CASE YOU DIDN"T KNOW are nothing more than a terrorist group whose goal is to have all animals not owned by people and that everyone should be vegetarian) - write to him about Fox and Rush endorsing the HSUS - surely he would like to mention that!
Someone said on a list this morning that some folks at a show said they didn't want to fight the HSUS because they were afraid to bring attention to themselves and be a target. Well, you have to do something if you believe in a cause, and at least I am in good company.
Terry Martin
Slash V Australian Shepherds
Terry spoke to Barbara Linke at the AQHA (American Quarter Horse Assn) who was very receptive to everything said. They sent a fax to Rush Limbaugh Friday and were well aware that Fox is airing HSUS ads. She did not know about the mandatory s/n bill in Texas and was shocked. She immediately, as we spoke, was looking it up and having trouble finding it so I sent it to her. She was equally shocked at the temperature restriction etc one (HB 2001) and was going to talk to their legislative department about it all. I felt like we definitely could get some help there (they are in Texas too). The agriculture world knows better than anyone what we are facing.
Woo hoo!!! Apparently Wayne Pacelle is feeling the heat of the massive fight dog owners and breeders are mounting against his organization and it's agenda! That is the best news I've had in a long time. He would not have posted that in the blog (below) otherwise. Praise God! I guess what he and others like him don't get is the reason breeders of all types are uniting against him is many of the bills HSUS have sponsored this year are NOT about protecting puppy mill dogs, but putting the squeeze on all breeders, since by his definition all breeders are the same.
If you've never been moved to get personally involved in the fight to protect our rights to own, breed and show dogs of our choosing, I suggest that the time is now!
>> Wayne's full blog for April 1st can be found here - read it and be afraid...be very afraid! Take action now!!!
HSUS Agenda for Animals Officially Targeting the Hobby Breeder
Unless you want to become a nation of tofu burgers on the grill on the 4th of July, unless you DO NOT want a choice as to where your next purebred dog comes from...it is way past time to wake up and JOIN THE CRUSADE.
The following 12 Step plan was published in 1987, when the concept of Animal Rights was as foreign as fuzz on a frog. Look at this list VERY CAREFULLY.
If you are an animal owner, you are an endangered species.
Each and every item on the list is being attacked (acted on) by PETA and the HSUS. And for all of you pet owners out there that STILL do not believe the Animal Rightists want to end ALL PET BREEDING, read item number 10. (HORSES ARE NOW PETS AS WELL--horses used to be solely considered a farm animal) But even more critical is your right to eat a cheeseburger!
From "Politics of Animal Liberation"
by Kim Bartlett,
published in ANIMAL AGENDA, November 1987
1. Abolish by law all animal research
2. Outlaw the use of animals for cosmetic and product testing, classroom demonstration and in weapons development
3. Vegetarian meals should be made available at all public institutions, including schools
4. Eliminate all animal agriculture
5. No herbicides, pesticides or other agricultural chemicals. Outlaw predator control.
6. Transfer enforcement of animal welfare legislation away from the Department of Agriculture
7. Eliminate fur ranching and the use of furs.
8. Prohibit hunting, trapping and fishing.
9. End the international trade in wildlife goods
10. Stop any further breeding of companion animals, including purebred dogs and cats. Spaying and neutering should be subsidized by state and municipal governments. Abolish commerce in animals for the pet trade.
11. End the use of animals in entertainment and sports.
12. Prohibit the genetic manipulation of species.
NOTE: This was written in 1987, long before genetic engineering and cloning. In this context, "genetic manipulation" means "selective breeding"
**Cross-posting notice**
Cross posting is highly encouraged and welcomed. Post this message anyplace that it will be read by those folks still unaware of what is happening to our rights and to our culture.
AND PLEASE NOTE, HORSES ARE THE NEW DOG
One of the fastest methods of marketing used to quickly gain other participants which can be exponential in breadth and scope is by using levels of people. Just pick out say 10-50 as an initial goal, and all you do is forward this article. That's right. This is just to inform people of the truth.
Many pet owners or fanciers, business owners or community people have tons of friends and others who would like to KNOW the truth. People who want to buy a dog. People who don't know about HSUS.
Make sure to tell THEM to do the same thing with 10-50 emails. This is VITAL. Do not spam people. Either send to someone you know, or post it online somewhere (blog, forum, newspaper blog replies, Kijiji forum, wherever...) This is for education purposes. HSUS hires telemarketers. We don't need to hire telemarketers because we already have enough people.
We have way more people than HSUS does. Especially if each person does what is stated above. If you know anything about math, (exponential power) you can see that we can get millions of postings and emails. And when millions of people know, they tell others. That is how Obama got a lot of people to vote. Email and posting online.
You know how rumors get started and end up as "urban legends?" Well, we are going to make this one a non-urban legend about HSUS. Bad news travels so fast online, it can take the place of 100 news broadcasts because so many people see it AT THE SAME TIME.
HSUS is like Peta but with more Political Push. And HSUS has far more $$$ than Peta, since it merged or swallowed up a bunch of other animal groups.
And it was done PURPOSELY so they would have more corporate money and get into more political situations which in many cases create greedy scandals involving buying off politicians, as we have seen daily in 2008 the year of corporate greed going wild.
Is this what we want? Animal extremists with huge corporate coffers to buy off politicians? To take donations from innocent people and then make laws against our animals? To stop the breeding of good pets? To ruin the agriculture and pet industry? Beware because it is here and that group is the corporate conglomerate known as HSUS+friends!
For 2008, HSUS pushed 10 goals: 6-7 of the 10 goals involved spay/neuter, dogs/cat laws, or farm animal laws. One other goal was to increase media exposure and another to involve Venture Capital (to make more $$$) only ONE goal involved outside issue (seal hunting, Canada) Much of the laws HSUS pushes is against dog kennel owners of all types, dog owners, and dog breeders, regardless of size or type. HSUS loves to pretend that every dog breeder is a high volume business, yet HSUS pushes for laws against even small hobby breeders. In other words, HSUS says one thing, but does another.
HSUS in 2008, attempted to pass a forfeiture law in CA so that alleged dog raids could garner additional forfeiture proceeds. And we all know HSUS loves to help orchestrate kennel raids of all types, small dogs, big dogs, etc. The state did not pass the legislation; they tried to pass it in Tennessee, and that also did not pass and now it seems HSUS closed its Western Regional office in Sacramento, CA December 2008 and laid off everyone, but one person. Hmmm maybe the California legislature has had enough of HSUS???
HSUS like PETA, spends $$ to try and both devalue the production of certain food sources, to cause the public to think badly of agriculture/ farm raised animals; eliminate the use of animals in biomedical research labs; phase out pet breeding, esp. for dogs, end the breeding of purebred dogs; end zoos and circus animal acts; and demonize hunters as crazed lunatics. HSUS employs fulltime attorneys that do nothing but file lawsuits; it is not disputed that HSUS does not believe pets are our property, which is why they advocate for treating animals on same level as people.
Guardianship is NOT ownership.
Not convinced about HSUS misleading the public?
[Make sure to see below, which tell about HSUS' involvement in different lawsuits.]
What kind of group besides PETA wants to hire convicted felons? HSUS. Yet, HSUS contributed $$ toward the proposed law against radical extremists targeting scientists and their families in CA. Why? Because HSUS is attempting to make it look like they don't condone violence, yet HSUS does fundraisers for convicted eco-terrorists, one of which was on 12/13/08.
In 2005 Pacelle announced the formation of a new "Animal Protection Litigation Section" within HSUS, dedicated to "the process of researching, preparing, and prosecuting animal protection lawsuits in state and federal court."
[Note: What this really means is HSUS becomes involved in LEGISLATION aimed at stopping the selling of pets, notably dogs; HSUS puts videos on mainstream TV and then tells the public to donate, while saying HSUS is busting dog kennels--but behind the scenes, they are advising cities to implement sterilization of all pets, no buying, no breeding of animals, and forced adoption of shelter animals, not buying from stores; HSUS attempts to help pass laws pushing MSN, forfeiture of dogs, and restrictions of pets including no tethering, etc]
HSUS uses convicted felon, avowed member of Animal Liberation Front (ALF), JP Goodwin (2008) Goodwin is claimed to be an "expert" in dogfighting by HSUS, however when in court to testify as such, the court found he was NOT an expert. He may have experience being in prison, but he's not an expert on dogs. Come on people, would you donate or give money to Scott Peterson who threw his wife in the Bay while she was pregnant? Of course not. So why would anyone want to donate to a group that hires felons? That fundraises for felons?
In addition to the HSUS flagship offices in Maryland and DC, the organization' s global network includes control over the following legal corporations (this list is evolving as new information becomes available):
Nonprofit affiliates:
Alice Morgan Wright-Edith Goode Fund (DC);
Alternative Congress Trust (DC);
Animal Channel (DC);
Association Humanataria De Costa Rica;
Center for the Respect of Life and Environment (DC);
Charlotte and William Parks Foundation for Animal Welfare (DC);
Conservation Endowment Fund (see ICEC) (CA);
Earth Restoration Corps. (DC);
Earthkind Inc. (DC);
Earthkind International Inc. (DC);
Earthkind USA (DC);
Earthkind USA (MT);
Earthkind UK [ also affiliated with the International Fund for Animal Welfare];
Earthvoice (DC);
Earthvoice International (DC);
Eating with a Conscience Campaign (DC);
HSUS Hollywood Office (formerly The Ark Trust Inc.) (CA);
Humane Society International (DC), which also operates
the International Center for Earth Concerns (ICEC) in Ojai, California,
the Center for Earth Concerns in Costa Rica, and
the Conservation Endowment Fund in California;
Humane Society International Australian Office Inc.;
Humane Society International of Latin America;
Humane Society of the United States (DE);
Humane Society of the United States (MD);
Humane Society of the United States (MT);
Humane Society of the United States (PA);
Humane Society of the United States (VT);
Humane Society of the United States California Branch Inc. (CA);
Humane Society of the United States New Jersey Branch Inc. (NJ);
Humane Society of the United States Wildlife Land Trust (DC);
Humane Society of the United States Wildlife Land Trust (KS);
Humane Society of the United States Wildlife Land Trust (OK);
Humane Society of the United States Utah State Branch (UT);
Humane Society University (DC);
Institute for the Study of Animal Problems (DC);
Interfaith Council for the Protection of Animals and Nature (GA);
International Society for the Protection of Animals (UK);
International Wilderness Leadership Wild Foundation Inc. [d/b/a The WILD Foundation] (CA);
Kindness Club International Inc. (DC);
Meadowcreek Project Inc. (AR);
Meadowcreek Inc. (AR);
National Association for Humane and Environmental Education (DC);
National Humane Education Center (VA);
Species Survival Network (MI);
Valerie Sheppard Humane Society University (DC);
Wildlife Rehabilitation Training Center (MA);
World Federation for the Protection of Animals Inc. (DC);
World Society for the Protection of Animals (DC);
World Society for the Protection of Animals (IA);
World Society for the Protection of Animals (ND);
World Society for the Protection of Animals (VT);
World Society for the Protection of Animals - Canada;
World Society for the Protection of Animals - Deutschland;
World Society for the Protection of Animals International (UK);
World Society for the Protection of Animals UK (UK); and
Worldwide Network Inc. (DC).
For-profit affiliates:
The Humane Catalog (VA);
Humane Equity Fund [defunct] (DC);
Humane Society Press (DC);
Humane Society of the United States Connecticut Branch Inc. (CT);
Humane Society of the United States Virginia Branch Inc. (VA);
World Society for the Protection of Animals (MA);
World Society for the Protection of Animals - Australia;
World Society for the Protection of Animals Executor Services (UK);
World Society for the Protection of Animals Trading Company (UK).
This list may not be completely updated, but was at time of initial printing by consumerfreedom.com however after the huge merger of many more extremist groups with HSUS, they now own millions of acres of land, and probably can BUY whatever POLITICIAN they can pay..so we all know how corporate GREED has ruined this country? Do we want to encourage MORE of the same thing with our animals???!!
HSUS is responsible for helping Louisville KY come up with the draconian pet laws now the subject of a federal lawsuit (2008), in which the COURT denied the amicus briefs of HSUS TWICE (in other words, the Court refused to allow it to be filed) And WHY did the court twice DENY the briefs?
One reason is because, HSUS used one of the same attorneys which was formerly representing one of the parties that is considered a conflict of interest!! You call that ethical??? Hardly. Which is why the court refused to allow it, but HSUS spent lots of $$ on attorney fees to keep trying to file it, again and again! [See other posting on petdefense blog which gives specifics on this ordinance by typing in Louisville on search box on petdefense]
HSUS submitted to the Denver Fed Appellate Court(2008) an amicus brief claiming that dog breeds can be identified with 99% accuracy without bothering to explain such "accuracy" is only considered to be for entertainment purposes, not scientifically used as a reliable test at this stage (for breed)due to the testing being in infancy stage. HSUS also submitted an amicus brief on the R. Stevens case, and Stevens was found not guilty in a precedential case on free speech issues (2008.)
HSUS is going around the country offering $5,000 for info leading to conviction of "dogfighters" and has purposely helped/ engaged in orchestrated raids of large and medium kennels of dogs, killing ALL the dogs upon seizure, even when the court verdicts led to acquittal of the owners. HSUS has bragged about taking down dog people and made a big deal of it, yet after 3-4 years, the accused are aquitted quickly but their dogs were killed right after the raids. This is becoming a pattern for the HSUS, which is NOT a legal enforcement team. Thought HSUS was about "saving" animals? Think again.
HSUS solicited donations for the Vick dogs when they did not HAVE custody of such dogs, but implied that they did!! In fact HSUS wrote letters advocating the dogs should be killed. Soliciting donations for dogs one doesn't have amounts to fabrication. Lying.
HSUS purposely engages itself with local humane society groups so that HSUS can be involved in KENNEL RAIDS of small dogs, with the intent being that all such dogs will be seized and taken. HSUS often uses Best Friends, ASPCA, Last Chance for Animals and the like, to help out. No charges of abuse or gross neglect need be filed, in fact in one case, it was set up to seize the animals by saying there was an "environmental" violation of putting dog urine in the river. HSUS then broadcasts such RAIDS across the United States, and then helps groups sell the dogs the week following the RAID.
HSUS purposely has "merged" with other large AR groups (Doris Day, etc) so they can take over the advocacy of AR issues in all areas (legislate, advocate, lawsuits) and WP admitted, they intend to push hard in several areas, including legislation and gaining donations. Just looking at the huge list of corporations owned by HSUS above, do you not see the potential for harm? Do we need to become victims first like in the mortgage business? Do we need to lose our rights before fighting this cancer?
This is just one spoke in a large wheel of many people who don't like liars trying to force their methods down our throats. Make sure to see Gerry Spence's take on corporations (like HSUS) that use propaganda to dumbdown the public on TV; see
Note: You can shorten this to whatever amount you think is sufficient, you can add to it, and subtract. Just make sure when you send it out, you tell the other people to share it with 10-50 others. (You can also make a PDF, but many people are lazy and won't open it.)
Please forward to others who will do the same! The truth about PETA has been out for awhile, but HSUS credibilty needs to be hit with the sledgehammer. And it's now Hammertime! AB1634 was defeated in CA with massive numbers of opposition. We need to do the same, only MORE“against HSUS. Our work lies before us. Now we just need to do it!
