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
