Saturday, March 30, 2013

Animal Rights

Something has been bothering me.

Lately we’ve been inundated with animal rights (AR) bills from all across the nation – seemingly all at the same time. It’s obvious that the HSUS has turned up the pressure and it’s paying off for them! Charlotte has been sending out alerts and I’ve been sending out “calls to action” to the ASSA members club Legislative Liaisons but there have been so many bills, I’ve found myself limiting the sheer number of alerts I send out because I’m afraid we’ll burn people out! Limiting calls to action is NOT going to help us defeat these bills that limit our rights of ownership. At the state level, just within the last few weeks, I can name the federal PUPS bill, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and others I’m forgetting that have us facing onerous AR legislation. That’s without looking at all the local bills in states that are geared to limit your rights of ownership.

We fight these bad bills and win some and lose some. With every loss we come a step closer to the true AR agenda of “no animals”. With every win for the AR’s so called -- “sensible humane legislation” -- they say, “that’s a good first step” and that’s what they’ll say about the next step!

That’s brought me to the place where I’ve asked myself why we’re seeing so many bills and I think I know one of the reasons.

It’s necessary to learn how to effectively increase the odds of winning and to effectively decrease the odds of losing. Overall – regarding legislation – we’re not doing that! We’re not effectively increasing the odds of winning. Oh -- some of us are in there fighting 24/7 but most of us are only fighting when it’s often already too late! Many times, once the AR legislation has been introduced, the decision has already been made and it’s already too late!

With every ‘too late fight’ we’re a step closer to being out of dogs – forever!

I do this 24/7. Charlotte does this 24/7. Many of your Legislative Liaisons do this 24/7 -- but not enough of us are being effective. We can’t do this alone and without you, we’re alone! Too many of us are relying on others to fight for us. I realize many of us have lives and are honestly too busy to take part in this fight i.e. soccer moms, business to run and simply making a living. However, in looking around the ring, many more of us are getting old and grey. Your grandchildren and your great grandchildren aren’t going to have the opportunity and pleasure to own and enjoy these dogs as we’ve had.

The AR’s use emotion, distortions, deception and flat out lies to deceive the American people and to poison public opinion against dog breeders. They use these tactics very effectively to deceive your legislators into supporting these AR bills. Once the emotion, distortions, deception and lies are believed as truth, it’s already too late!

Why are we seeing so many AR bills?

It’s because not enough of us are involved. Too many of us aren’t doing what it takes to kill these AR bills before they get traction. Too many are sitting back and letting those few who are involved 24/7 to fight the fight for all of us – and we’re losing! Just because we write to our elected official when asked doesn’t mean we’re doing enough.

More of us must get involved before the emotion, distortions, deception and flat out lies are used to take away your rights! Unless more of us start attending public meetings, volunteering for public committees and learning how to meet privately with elected officials and thus becoming the “expert” instead of the opposition being the expert – we’re not going to be effective and we’re going to lose our dogs!

The local animal rights advocates, who tend to be obsessive and always in the face of public officials, are considered THE animal experts by those officials. When we occasionally testify at public meetings, because we tend to stay out of the spotlight and since they rarely see us, our elected officials see us as insignificant special interest groups. We need to show those elected officials that we are the experts. We need to show them we’re the relevant animal experts.

Testify at local public meetings. Ask to meet with your local elected officials – in their office -- behind closed doors. Get to know them. Volunteer for your local animal advisory committees. Interview candidates who are running for elected office and give money personally to the one who will support your rights of ownership and then -- campaign for them. Look into your clubs tax status for contributing to those candidates. Many clubs CAN contribute financially. A club contributing $1000.00 to a local official will open some eyes! Get to know your elected official on a first name basis. If you do that, they will begin to look to us as the experts and no longer look to the AR’s as the experts. If you do that -- those elected officials will begin to ask for YOUR advice on legislation instead of the AR's advice!

Stand and fight! Become relevant!
 
David Calderwood

Monday, January 28, 2013

HSUS update


Atty Frank Losey continues to work behind the scenes in exposing the HSUS and it is gaining momentum across the country!  A total of 22 Different Members of Congress - - 6 Senators and 15 Representatives from 13 Different States - - who are still serving in Congress, have sent Congressional Inquiries to the IRS or the Justice Department! 
 
Everything Frank has done so far is PAYING OFF!  Frank is now asking for our help and has now put out a Call to Action for us to contact our lawmakers. 
 
Please click on the below link and scroll down to follow the directions to contact your representative.
 
 
A big thank you goes to Judy Kelsey for bringing this to our attention!
 
Thank you,
David Calderwood

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Edible Sterilants


"Dog Overpopulation: Can Female Dogs Soon be Sterilized by a 1-Dose, Edible Sterilant?"

This is an article about a
1-dose, edible sterilant. It's worth a read and keeping you ear to the ground, so you can be aware in case this "treat" comes to your area!

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/animal-rights/dog-overpopulation-can-female-dogs-soon-be-sterilized-1-dose-edible?fb_comment_id=fbc_199224796883810_785673_202487203224236#f2af30911843c3a

An excerpt from the article:
Following are excerpts from a letter published by Dr. Young, who explains, “This “Dog Treat” has a sterilizing formula inside of it. Though it is not ready yet, once it is completed and when used as intended, it will: 
a)  Make a female dog reproductively sterile for life.
b)  Produce sterility in a female dog after eating just one “Dog Treat.”
c) In effect, spay a female dog - without surgery and without negative side effects.”

Saturday, November 3, 2012

OFA BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMMITS $75,000 IN NEW CANINE HEALTH RESEARCH GRANT FUNDING

At its Annual Meeting the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) Board of Directors approved $75,000 in new canine health research grant sponsorships.  The funding will be directed through approved grants at the AKC Canine Health Foundation (AKC CHF) and the Morris Animal Foundation (MAF).  Specific research areas include genetic disease mapping studies for cardiomyopathy, subaortic stenosis, cruciate ligament rupture, osteochondritis dissecans, renal dysplasia, cataracts, and urinary stones.  The research will be conducted at several of the world's leading academic and research institutions including North Carolina State University, the Broad Institute, the University of Wisconsin, the University of Helsinki, the Animal Health Trust in the UK, Washington State University, and the University of Minnesota.

In addition to regular funding of canine health research grants through the AKC CHF and MAF, as a not-for-profit foundation focused on companion animal health, the OFA contributes regularly through the following programs:

  • Through the CHIC DNA Repository, the OFA has underwritten nearly $100,000 in DNA banking expenses involved in DNA sample collections for  future canine health research. Over 16,000 samples have been banked to date, and over 2,000 samples have been provided at no cost to canine health researchers all over the world.
  • The OFA's endowed scholarship program at the University Of Missouri College Of Veterinary Medicine supports annual scholarships to deserving veterinary students.
  • The OFA funds veterinary student attendance at educational events such as the AKC CHF Biennial National Parent Club Health Conference.
  • The OFA's Richard Fox Memorial Fund supports summer research fellowships.
  • The OFA's new Eye Certification Registry supports the ACVO Vision for Animals Foundation to support research leading to the elimination of  ocular diseases causing vision loss and suffering in animals.
These programs have amounted to over $150,000 in direct support for its mission to improve the health and well being of companion animals through a reduction in the incidence of genetic disease over the last two years, and over $3 million in combined contributions since the OFA's founding in 1966.

For more information please visit the OFA website at www.offa.org
CONTACT:
Eddie Dziuk
OFA, Columbia, MO
edziuk@offa.org

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

2013 National - RV parking

The 2013 ASSA National RV parking is now available for reservations and the Linn County Expo Center, in Albany, Oregon is taking the reservations.
Electrical/water hookups are very limited and available at $30.00/night There are a larger number of dry camping spaces available at $10.00/night.
You can also make a reservation by calling 1-541-926-4314 EXT 4 or online at:
There also is a full service RV park within a mile of the Linn Co Expo Center that allows dogs.
Blue Ox RV Park
4000 Blue Ox Dr SE
Albany, Oregon
541-926-2886
1-800-336-2881
Fax: (541) 812-0202