Animal Rights Movement
Canine Legislation
- "Dog laws? What dog laws?"
- "I just want to enjoy my dogs: showing, loving, breeding.
Why do I need to know or care what the laws are? After all,
I'm not hurting anybody!"
- "I'm grandfathered in, so what do I care how the laws change?"
- "If I don't know what the current laws are, then they won't affect me!"
- "If I get legislatively active, then they'll come after me.
I'm better off staying out of it so they won't be able to find me!"
How many of the above statements are familiar to you?
How often it would be nice to just take one or more of the
above attitudes and just forget about the animal rights movement!
Unfortunately, if we all bury our heads in the sand, then we will lose
our animals. PERIOD! If you think that the activists are NOT out to stop
our enjoyment of companion animals, whether we are "just" showing,
breeding, or even those that are couch potatoes, then you are sadly
misinformed and due for a rude awakening!
What IS the Animal Rights Movement?
The agenda behind the animals rights movement IS to stop
the owning and breeding of companion animals. These groups
believe that owning animals is no different than slavery,
that the animals feel the pain and mental anguish of being
"owned". In essence, they are not property! They do not
support the wearing of leather or furs; they do not eat
meat; they oppose laboratory testing, claiming they'd rather
their children die than see an animal "suffer" for a cure;
they oppose rodeos, dog and cat shows, circuses, and the use
of animals for entertainment in any form; they oppose hunting
and fishing, claiming the fish suffer from the pain of the hook
in their mouths and then die a long, agonizing death by suffocation!
True, there are those individuals who support the AR groups
for the good deeds they perform: low-cost spay/neuter programs;
shelters; rescue & placement. Unfortunately, by supporting the
group(s) for the good deeds, these individuals are unwittingly
supporting the hidden, bigger agenda also. It's very important
for all of us to learn what groups are truly our friends and
which are our foes, and we must stand strong in opposing those
with the AR objectives, regardless of what good deeds they perform.
What Can We Do?
How do we oppose them? Find out if there's a political
action caucus (PAC) group in your state. For example, California,
Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin
(to name a few) all have dog federations or coalitions that interact
with the dog fanciers and the state legislators to define equitable
dog laws. These groups consist of volunteers, and the work is very
time-consuming. Volunteer to help out - letter-writing, phone calling,
distributing information. Make sure your local breed and all-breed
clubs are members and support the PAC group. Numbers do count in the
state capitals.
Build a phone tree. Your dog club should have a phone tree where your
PAC delegate can distribute important legislative happenings down
through the membership quickly and efficiently. You can carry the
concept further by getting your pet owners involved. Keep them
informed of current legislative happenings (whether pro- or anti-dog)
and ask them to call or write their legislators. As consumers, our pet
owners have the right to purchase their pets from a reputable breeder
who invites them into their homes to evaluate the parents, siblings,
and environment in which their pet has been raised. And again, numbers
DO make a difference!
Get to know your legislators: your state senator, representative,
local county and city commissioners. A good way to begin this process
is to get doggy cards, then take a candid picture of your pup(s) being
particularly cute. Send the picture in the card with a note saying
something like "Hi, I'm so-and-so and I breed and show Cocker Spaniels.
Enclosed is a picture of my pup_____ in her favorite nap pose.
I live in your district, and would welcome the opportunity to
discuss any dog-related legislation (or ordinances on the local level)
that you may be considering in the upcoming session." If it's an
election year, contact both the incumbent and the opposition,
asking for the opportunity to discuss the candidate's position
on dog-related laws. Once you determine their positions, offer to
support the candidate that you feel is truly on your side
(by hosting a party, spreading the word to others in his or her
district, posting a yard sign). Follow up periodically with notes,
birthday or holiday greeting cards. The legislator WILL remember,
and will be much more receptive to your words should you need him
or her to support or oppose a particular bill!
Keep aware of what's happening at the local level: watch your
local newspapers for proposals, public hearings, etc. and keep
in touch with your PAC about them. Even if your locality has "good"
legislation, don't become complacent. Someone may try to change it
or get other legislation passed which could negate what is already in
place. We must all remain vigilant to these efforts.
- Look for notices on the following subjects:
- Limiting Dog Ordinances
- Breed Specific Dog Ordinances
- Mandatory Spay & Neuter Proposals
- Dangerous Dog Proposals
- Breed Moratorium Proposals
- all other legal notices concerning dog control proposals
Your local legislators are always at work trying to pass dog
control legislation which could cripple your operation. When you
find a problem looming in the distance, notify all your dog friends
and stop the proposal before it becomes law. It is much easier to stop
a proposal than to have it removed after it has become law.
Beware legislation which includes implied consent. This means that
when you buy your dog license you imply consent to allow enforcement
officers to come upon your property at any time and to inspect or
confiscate your dogs or records at any time without notice or a search
warrant. The Canine Defense Fund has taken two such ordinances to court
and won both cases with return of legal fees. Keep your eyes open for
this type of legislation.
Another favorite target of local legislators is limiting the number
of dogs and/or pets that can be owned or housed by an individual.
This type of restriction is particularly troubling to those involved
in rescue work. Again, please be vigilant and if you hear of any
proposals, please contact your PAC group immediately.
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