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CONYERS
KENNEL CLUB JUNE 2010 NEWSLETTER
Hello Everyone. Our meeting this month will be Monday June 14th,
2010. We meet at IHOP to eat at 6:30 and the meeting starts around 7:30. We
hope to see you all there.
Please e-mail your brags to me at
southforkgoldens@aol.com
and you may include pictures. Also if you have an article that you think would
be of interest you may send that to me as well. And I welcome comments,
opinions and suggestions about articles that are in the newsletter.
Conyers Kennel
Club
Meeting Minutes
5/10/2010
-President Don
Watson opened the meeting by welcoming all members. Don asked if all members
had received the Minutes and if there were and corrections or addition. Mike
Houchard made a motion to accept the Minutes as published, seconded by Randall
McCurry.
-Treasurer Rhea
Spence distributed copies of the Treasurer’s Report. The profit from the
February show was discussed along with the 401k account.
-Linda Jackson
reported that Handling Classes have had a superb turnout. She thanked Jan Moore
for helping with the smaller dogs. So far the classes have brought in $430.00
with one week remaining in this series of classes. There have been 18-22
handlers at every class, including 4 junior handlers. Tomorrow night’s class
will be Graduation with a party for all participants. Please bring pet food for
the Rockdale Food Bank.
-Linda has extra
copies of the Rockdale Citizen article that was on the front page if anyone
wants one. She also suggested that the article be framed and displayed on the
education table at the August show. Linda also stated that the reporter wanted
information on our next RDOD. Don suggested we look at the Covington on the
Square Festival to see if we could do it in conjunction with that. Mike
Houchard is looking into other sites as well. He will get with Erin Mayfield to
discuss.
-Steve and Nancy
discussed the possibility of having a fun field day with a demonstration of
field/hunt event. It would need to be done in the cooler months (Oct/Nov).
There is a facility in Milledgeville that is set up well for observing the dogs
working in the field. There was a suggestion made that we could make this a
picnic and/or our meeting for that month. This will be discussed further.
-Sue Shelton
reported that the Match went very well. The weather was great and Steve did a
great job with the hotdogs. The new posts made set up much easier as did the
new ez-up. Randall handled the porta-potty that did not show up. Farmers did
finally bring it but United was willing to bring one on an emergency at a
comparable price. Linda took charge of clearing the football players off the
field until the match was over. $22.00 was donated for the Rockdale Food
Bank. Sue thanked all the members who helped make this a success. Sue did a
great job and the club thanks her for all her hard work.
-Don reported
that the August show is approved. The judge’s panel is set. The February show
is in progress. All three clubs will make the entry fee reduction for puppies.
-Mike Shelton
reported that the Budget Committee had met and reviewed the budget for last
year. The committee has recommended that there be no major changes for the
coming year. This budget will be published in the newsletter for member review
and discussion at the next meeting.
-Mike Houchard
reported that there is no news from the AKC and the next meeting will be held in
Atlanta. The Coalition has no adverse legislation being looked at currently.
-Jackie Dilworth
reported that the next delivery to the Food Bank will be made in June.
-Elizabeth
Barrett and Jan Hines were named as future guest speakers.
-Randall McCurry
made a suggestion that the club invest in a small, battery operated bullhorn for
future events. At the match it was very hard to hear the groups being called to
the rings. It was suggested that the PA system be used but with the lack of
electricity at some events the bullhorn would be good to have. Don directed
Randall to investigate the cost and let the club decide at that time.
-The Atlanta show
dates are August 25th – 27th. The entire cluster will
reduce entry fees for the puppy classes. Don will advertise the rates in
several publications.
-Linda Jackson
asked Rhea to reserve the Pavilion for the Fall Handling Classes. The first
class will begin on Tuesday, September 7th and continue through
October 12th.
With no further
business to discuss, Don asked for any brags:
Gaylord
Cleveland reported: Trueheart Taddeo earned UKC RN and UKC CD
Trueheart Luigi earned UKC RN and 1st leg to CDX
Trueheart Sopie earned AKC RE
Trueheart Ceanna earned AKC RN and 2 WB placements
Mike Shelton
reported:
Myst won Best Puppy in the CKC Match
Steve & Nancy
Donahue reported: Gordon Setter Mojo earned 2nd
leg of JH in Wallhalla, SC
Wayne
Dandelske reported: Raider won a
Group 3, two Group 2’s, Group 1 and Best in Show at the UKC show in Perry.
Raider also
earned his UKC Championship.
Recorded by
Jerri Dandelske Secretary
Dear Georgia Kennel Clubs and Dog Owners:
Our
rights as responsible dog owners, fanciers and breeders continue to be
threatened. The AKC Government Relations Department is currently tracking over
1,000 bills at the local, state, and federal level that have the potential to
threaten the existence of responsible breeders, our right to own the dogs of our
choice, and our ability to raise or show the purebred dogs that we have nurtured
and struggled to improve and preserve for over 125 years.
As
you know, the AKC Government Relations Department works closely with its state
federations to address canine legislative issues around the country. Federations
play a key role in ensuring that your rights as breeders, exhibitors, and owners
are protected. AKC federations are generally comprised of kennel club volunteers
and other responsible owners and breeders who care about the well-being of all
dogs, the future of purebred dogs, and the right to responsibly own and breed
dogs.
The
Georgia Canine Coalition (GCC) serves as your AKC state federation, working to
protect and promote the rights of dog owners, fanciers and breeders in Georgia.
Each year, GCC is either working on or monitoring a number of bills in the
Georgia General Assembly and in local Georgia communities that affect
responsible dog owners. This year, they worked on the passage of Georgia
House Bill 1106, which requires public shelters and rescue groups to scan
for a microchip within 24 hours after they receive a dog, and again prior to
euthanasia. If a microchip is found, a reasonable effort must be made to contact
the dog’s owner. This bill is currently awaiting the Governor’s signature. In
addition, GCC has opposed and helped curb efforts for bills that are not
favorable to dog owners.
For
more information on the Georgia Canine Coalition, visit their website at
www.georgiacaninecoalition.org or contact: Gail LaBerge - (770) 271-7246,
outland@laberge.org
Bonnie Turner - (770) 993-7896,
roundel11@bellsouth.net
As
our rights continue to be threatened, it is essential that we work together with
a united voice. We strongly encourage you to support your state federation to
help ensure a strong, unified voice for dogs and dog owners in Georgia.
Together we can work to preserve our right to own, breed, and exhibit our
beloved dogs for years to come.
Sincerely,
Sheila Goffe
Director of Government Relations
Junior Showmanship Dogs Available
Although we have been known for our Harlequin Great Danes and German Shepherd
Dogs, my wife, Betty Lou, and I have also bred and shown Pointers. We are no
longer active in breeding or showing Pointers. We do have several adult
Pointers still in our kennel. It would be a shame to have these dogs just sit
around when they could be in a family environment. To that end, we have decided
to seek out families with a youngster wanting a dog for Junior Showmanship
competition. Pointers are excellent dogs for this purpose. Their nature and
size make them just right for all ages and sizes of kids. In fact, our oldest
granddaughter showed a Pointer throughout her time in Junior Showmanship
competition and our youngest granddaughter is currently following in her
footsteps.
Pointers are easy to handle and allow the Junior to "show off" their ability to
the judge. They are gentle dogs and good in a household. Most of our dogs have
ring experience.
We
would be willing to give a dog to a Junior Showmanship candidate if they are
dedicated to showing and have their parents' approval. I would appreciate it if
you would tell your club members about our offer at a club meeting and/or in a
newsletter. We live in Simpsonville, SC, and can be reached by email or phone.
Don
Wood
864-270-0509
harlwood@mindspring.com
May
18, 2010
Dear Constituents:
Today the American Kennel Club faces unprecedented financial challenges. These
challenges not only impact us in the present, but also raise critical questions
about our future.
There was a time when the American Kennel Club’s robust registration revenue
provided the opportunity for the sport to flourish and the ability to do more
for dogs grew unabated. However, the past few years have witnessed a marked
downward spiral in registrations, leaving the memories of yesterday in the wake
of the harsh realities of today. Therefore, it has been necessary to embark on a
number of new initiatives in the quest for additional revenue. At the same time,
there has been a constant tightening of all expenses in ways that, thus far,
have not impacted our preeminent position in the world of dogs.
Our ability to maintain a reasonable operating budget has come from alternative
revenue sources, as well as some previously enacted revenue initiatives that
have required exhibitors, clubs, and registered handlers to accept increased or
new fees. In addition, there have been significant staff and expense reductions
at AKC. When revenues fell below projections, staff made the necessary cuts to
avoid an operating loss. While purebred dog organizations in other countries
face serious threats to their very existence, we have been able to maintain the
high level of our services to the sport, launch new programs, continue our
important philanthropic contributions, and protect a financial reserve that
helps ensure our future. Yet the decline in revenue continues.
Our judges are crucial to our sport. They not only officiate at our events;
they are thought leaders, mentors, and breed experts who help bring the next
generation of the fancy to maturation. Now it is time for judges to join the
other constituencies of the AKC - clubs, breeders, exhibitors, and registered
handlers – to make a financial contribution to help maintain the quality of the
sport we all love so much.
With this in mind, at its May 2010 meeting the AKC Board voted, without an
opposing vote, to enact a fee for conformation judges. The need for that fee is
undeniable. The feedback from the judging community on the necessity for the fee
has been very supportive. However, the feedback on the methodology for
application of the fee has met with universal disapproval. Healthy debate is
critical to the viability of a strong and vibrant organization. The Board values
the opinions of the judging community and appreciates the many constructive
suggestions offered concerning the fee structure methodology. With the input of
the judging community in mind, the Board today has taken the following actions:
1.
The previously approved fee structure has been withdrawn by the Board and new
fee structures will be considered. The concept of judges' fees
remains intact.
2.
The
Board has instructed AKC staff to revisit the alternatives discussed over the
past year in addition to the other suggestions made recently by several judges
to arrive at several equitable methods for consideration.
3.
The
Board has instructed AKC staff to meet again with representatives of judges
organizations for input on these methodologies before any final decision is
made.
It
is imperative that all of us come together to face our challenges with the same
passion, sportsmanship, and determination that is the hallmark of the great
competitive spirit of the fancy. When we have come together in this manner in
the past, we have accomplished great things. For the good of the sport we all
love so much, we must now move forward together.
Ronald H. Menaker
Chairman of the Board
Canine Health
Foundation News Alert (1)
New
Presentation Video Released from the 2009 National Parent Club Canine Health
Conference
[Monday, May 10, 2010]
The Canine Health
Foundation is pleased to announce the publication of the next video recorded at
the 2009 National Parent Club Canine Health Conference held in St. Louis. The
October conference, sponsored by Nestlé Purina PetCare Company, brought together
leading researchers and representatives from national breed clubs to discuss the
current state of canine health research, and where the future will lead.
The video released is Dr. Ziad Ramadan, "Metabonomics: A Tool for Nutrition
Research."
Click here to view the this
video and others from the 2009 National Parent Club Canine Health Conference.
Nutrition research is beginning to take advantage of metabonomics technologies
to identify health biomarkers for humans and pets. Metabonomics describes the
measurement of the full complement of the products of metabolism in a single
biological sample and correlating these metabonomics profiles with known
physiological or pathological states using complex multivariate data analysis.
The first direct outcome of nutritional metabonomics will be the discovery of
biomarkers, which can reveal changes in health and disease. It will also reveal
the response of a living system to short-term and long-term dietary intake.
Biomarkers that are identified by these means can be measured quantitatively
over time, and can be used to monitor the metabolic status of humans and pets.
Some biomarkers ultimately will be used as diagnostic tools to recommend diets
or other practices that reduce risk of disease. Therefore, metabolic biomarkers
represent tools that help encourage consumers to actively participate with their
veterinarians in maintaining their pets' health. Finally, metabonomics has the
potential to streamline the process of finding foods, ingredients, and nutrients
with enhanced nutritional value for maintaining health and well-being. This
presentation will give an overview of metabonomics technologies and applications
in physiological profiling, disease recognition, and dietary interventions.
Dr. Ziad Ramadan is a research scientist at the Nestle Research Centre in St
Louis. He obtained his Ph. D. in analytical chemistry from the University of New
South Wales, Sydney Australia. He joined NRC in 2003 working on projects
revolving around the use of nutritional metabonomics and its application to
human, feline and canine health. His current research includes the application
and development of mathematical tools to extract information from multivariate
data, such as feature selection methods for biomarker discovery and mining of
large metabonomics datasets. Also, he is developing and applying state of the
art multivariate chemometics modeling for the integration of data across the "omics"
methodologies. Finally, Dr. Ramadan has collaborated with other researchers at
NRC to publish a number of articles on a variety of topics, such as metabolic
responses associated with chocolate consumption, metabolic changes in diseased
cats, and the role of metabonomics technology in human and pet nutrition
research.
Canine Health
Foundation News Alert (2)
Purina
Parent Club Partnership Program Supports Canine Health Research
[Tuesday, May 18, 2010]
Continuing a
long-standing tradition, Nestlé Purina PetCare representatives presented nearly
$300,000 to the Canine Health Foundation at the 2010 International Kennel Club
of Chicago Dog Show. The gift represents half the earnings from the 2009 Purina
Parent Club Partnership (PPCP) Program. Since the program began in 2002, more
than $3 million has been raised for canine health research, with half the
earnings going directly to the Canine Health Foundation.
Dr. Terry Warren, CEO and General Counsel of the Foundation, accepted the
donation. "Thank you Nestlé Purina PetCare Company for the many years of
outstanding support of the work of the Canine Health Foundation," she said. "The
health of all dogs has been advanced by having Nestlé Purina as a major
alliance. We are greatly appreciative of this long-term partnership and your
many contributions."
Candy Caciolo, Purina Director of Brand Management, said, "We are honored to
support the Canine Health Foundation and its truly worthy goals. The parent
clubs are working hard to help the Foundation fund research that we hope will
lead to discoveries about canine diseases. Their efforts for this common cause
are inspiring."
Ms. Caciolo, along with Ann Viklund, Purina Director of Conformation, Sporting
and Breeder Marketing, presented the PPCP donation to the Foundation's Warren.
Canine Health
Foundation News Alert (3)
Podcast Released about Dystocia with Dr. Cynthia O'Connor
[Thursday, May 20, 2010]
The Canine
Health Foundation is pleased to announce the publication of the next podcast in
the Genome Barks series.
This week on Genome Barks, we welcome Dr. Cynthia O'Connor, a veterinary
resident at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine. In
this podcast, Dr. O'Connor discusses the importance of knowing what is "normal"
in parturition and whelping as well as recognizing the signs of a female in
whelp and determining the whelping date.
Cynthia O'Connor attended veterinary school at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison. Following veterinary school, she completed an internship in
small animal medicine and surgery at the Animal Medical Center in New York, and
then entered into private practice in Massachussetts. After working as an
emergency clinician and general practitioner with a special interest in
reproduction, Dr. O'Connor elected to pursue advanced specialty training in the
area of veterinary medical genetics, pediatrics, and reproduction at the
University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine. In addition to her
professional interests, Dr. O'Connor has been breeding and exhibiting Portuguese
Water Dogs for over 15 years, is a member of both the Portuguese Water Dog Club
of America and Hockamock Kennel Club All Breed Dog Club, and serves on the Board
of Directors of the Portuguese Water Dog Foundation.
The Genome Barks podcast series features lectures from the highly successful AKC
and CHF Breeders Symposia and provides responsible breeders and pet owners an
inside look at the work being done by the Canine Health Foundation.
New podcasts are released every two weeks and can be accessed from the Canine
Health Foundation website at
www.CanineHealthFoundation.org - click on "Podcasts." They are also
available on Apple's iTunes® or directly at
www.genomebarks.com.
Clubs are encouraged to add the Genome Barks Podcast link to their home pages.
Contact the Canine Health Foundation to obtain graphics and links.
Click here to listen to the podcasts.
Click here to support important research at the
Canine Health Foundation and please consider a recurring gift.
Contact:
Erika Werne
Director of Education & Communications
Canine Health Foundation
919-334-4010
888-682-9696
www.CanineHealthFoundation.org
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From our Nation's Capitol
Congress returned from its spring recess on April 11,
2010. The AKC Government Relations Department and our
federal advocacy team in Washington, D.C. continue to
monitor Congress for issues of interest to dog owners.
Visit our
2010
Legislative Tracking Page and click on "US
Fed" on the map to get the latest updates on all federal
bills currently being monitored by the AKC. Check out
AKC's congressional newsletter
In
Session to view interviews with congressional
dog owners, policy analyses, and other articles that
help us demonstrate to Congress our commitment to the
promotion of responsible dog ownership. |
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News from the State Capitols
The U.S. Congress, 19 state legislatures, and the
District of Columbia are currently in regular session;
Pennsylvania, West Virginia, California, and Kentucky
are in special session. AKC Government Relations (GR) is
currently tracking over 1,100 bills at all levels of
government. For the latest information on the state and
federal bills being tracked by the Government Relations
(GR) Department, visit our
2010
Legislation Tracking page. This page, updated
daily, provides the latest bill text, status, and
Legislative Alerts posted by the AKC.
For more information on any of the measures mentioned,
contact us at (919) 816-3720 or
doglaw@akc.org.
Here
are some of the highlights.
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Local Battles
The AKC Government Relations Department continues to
work with responsible dog owners to help with canine
legislation issues in their local communities. If you
hear of an issue in your town or county, contact us at
(919) 816-3720 or
doglaw@akc.org. We will be happy to provide
you with the resources, tools, and support you need to
help fight for responsible dog ownership in your
community.
Here
are some examples of the local issues
currently being addressed by AKC GR. |
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Around the Country:
How Clubs Are Promoting Responsible Dog Ownership
Success in the fight to protect our rights as dog
owners, exhibitors, and breeders would not be possible
without the grassroots efforts of organizations, clubs,
and state federations throughout the United States.
Periodically, the AKC Government Relations Department
highlights unique and effective things that these groups
do to promote positive canine legislation and
responsible dog ownership. Here are two examples of
recent activities by AKC state federations.
Read
more. |
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Elections Essentials –
How to Identify Dog-Friendly Candidates
As election season heats up around the country, we will
be publishing a series of articles on proactive things
dog clubs, owners and breeders can do to make a
difference. In this second installment, we provide ways
to find out candidates' views on canine legislation.
One of the most effective ways to ensure your rights as
responsible dog owners and breeders are protected is to
ensure that dog-friendly lawmakers are elected. But how
can you know for sure that you are voting for someone
who will support your rights? AKC Government Relations
has several suggestions on how to determine if a
candidate will protect your rights as a dog owner.
Read
more. |
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AKC Welcomes Three New State Federations
When united, the voice of responsible dog owners can be
a powerful political tool. This is why the AKC strongly
supports the establishment of a state federation in each
state, so that clubs can unite together to fight bad dog
laws that would impact them directly and support
measures that encourage responsible dog ownership.
The AKC Government Relations (GR) Department is pleased
to welcome the Arkansas Society for the Training and
Education of Pet Professionals (STEPP), the Delaware Dog
Owners Association, and the Idaho Coalition for Dog
Clubs to our
growing list of state federations united in
support of responsible dog ownership and protecting the
rights of responsible dog owners and breeders.
State federations and their members have a powerful
voice in addressing legislation because they are
constituents and voters who will be directly impacted by
any new laws and regulations. Federations are the ground
soldiers in many state and local-level battles on issues
such as unfair breeder regulations, ownership limits,
breed-specific policies, and mandatory spay-neuter laws.
The AKC Government Relations Department works closely
with the federations to support them in these battles.
We strongly encourage you to
join
your state's federation,
become a Legislative Liaison, or
consider joining fellow responsible dog owners in
organizing one if there is not yet a
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From the GR Toolbox
Economic Benefits of Dog Shows
As you talk with legislators and candidates about canine
legislation, it is important for them to understand the
impact that dog shows and events have on local
communities. Not only are shows family-friendly, fun
events where you can learn about dogs, they also
generate a significant amount of revenue through venue
rental, hotels, local shops, and restaurants, just to
name a few. Purebred dog owners also spend a significant
amount of money each year in local businesses for
veterinary care, grooming, food and supplies, and basic
dog care.
The
AKC
Government Relations Toolbox offers two
resources to help you explain this important point to
sitting lawmakers as well as candidates for political
offices:
-
The Economic Benefits
of Dog Shows
one-page handout takes all the information from
AKC's popular brochure and puts it into a printable,
easy-to-read format that explains all the ways a dog
show can be an excellent source of community
revenue. You can find this handout, as well as a
downloadable copy of the brochure, in the "Economic
Impact of Dog Shows" section of toolbox.
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The
2009 State Economic Impact Statistics web
link provides you with a map of the United States.
Simply click on your state to download a one-page
handout that includes AKC event statistics for the
past three years, as well as an estimated amount of
money that is spent by purebred dog owners in your
state each year. This information is valuable when
fighting specific issues, as well as when you are
simply introducing yourself and your club to
lawmakers and candidates. It demonstrates the
significant, tangible impact that dog owners have on
a community and sends the message that it pays to
support responsible dog ownership!
The
Government Relations Toolbox provides a
wealth of materials designed to help you be a successful
advocate for responsible dog breeding and ownership. Be
sure to check it regularly for updates. |
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It's been an exciting month for the AKC Government
Relations Department and dog owners throughout the
United States. Thanks to the efforts of state
federations, dog clubs and organizations, and other
responsible owners and breeders, we are celebrating
state and local victories in Alabama, Connecticut,
Florida, New Jersey, Michigan, and Wisconsin where
legislation was defeated that would have been
detrimental to your right to own and breed dogs
responsibly.
As always, however, the fight goes on. We continue to
experience many challenges and threats to our way of
life and our rights. We need everyone to stand up and
fight the tide of restrictive legislation we're seeing
throughout the nation at all levels of government. I
encourage you to take a minute to check out our
state
and
local
legislative updates and
2010
Legislative Tracking service to see what's
going on in your area. AKC Government Relations, your
clubs and your local AKC Federation can all work
together to help fight bad legislation wherever it
threatens us and support responsible dog ownership
rights.
Around the country, dog clubs and organizations are
finding innovative ways to educate the public and
policymakers about the value of dog shows and
responsible dog ownership. In this issue, we feature
two
state federations who held public events with
legislators. We encourage you to invite legislators and
candidates to your dog shows and other dog-related
events to help them see first-hand the benefits of
supporting responsible dog owners. And when you host
your next event, be sure to tell us about it. We'd love
to share your experiences and lessons learned with
fellow Taking Command readers.
Election season – both for primaries and general
elections – is a great time to educate lawmakers and
candidates about responsible dog ownership and breeding.
In this issue we provide
several suggestions on ways to identify
dog-friendly candidates on your ballot. Take the time to
research the views of your candidates, share what you
learn with your club or organization, and follow up with
the candidates discuss why canine legislation is
important to you.
The AKC Government Relations Department has numerous
materials designed to help you communicate with
lawmakers and candidates and help spread the word about
good dog laws and responsible dog ownership. New items
are being added to our Government Relations Toolbox all
the time, so make sure to check it often. This month we
unveil our new economic impact statistics section. Click
on the 2009 State Economic Impact Statistics link on the
Government Relations page or the toolbox to access
state-specific information on AKC dog events and the
amount of money spent by purebred dog owners each year.
Thank you for joining with us in the fight to protect
our dogs and our right to own and breed them
responsibly. Together, we can continue to celebrate
victories across the United States that allow us to
continue to care for the dogs we love.
All the best,
Sheila Goffe
Director of Government Relations |
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May 26, 2010
There’s long overdue action on the issue of
puppy mills, and the issue got some much-needed attention yesterday from the
federal government. Sens. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and David Vitter (R-La.) took
a big step in their effort to crack down on these abusive mass-breeding
facilities by
introducing the PUPS Act (Puppy Uniform Protection Statute, S.
3424)—legislation that would close a massive loophole in the Animal Welfare Act
that currently allows large, commercial breeders who sell puppies online and
directly to the public to escape licensing, regulation, and inspection. A
companion bill in the House of Representatives is expected to be introduced by
Reps. Sam Farr (D-Calif.), Jim Gerlach (R-Pa.), Lois Capps (D-Calif.) and Bill
Young (R-Fla.) within the next day or two.
The legislation came right on the heels of the
release of a damning report by the USDA’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG),
the law enforcement arm of the agency, that criticized the USDA’s long history
of lax oversight of commercial dog breeders (identified as dealers in the
report) under the Animal Welfare Act.
The report reviewed inspections and enforcement actions taken against dog
dealers from 2006-2008 and found that USDA inspectors failed to cite or properly
document inhumane treatment and brought little to no enforcement actions against
violators. OIG observed horrible conditions at dog facilities inspected by the
USDA, including dogs needing medical treatment, dogs covered in ticks, starving
dogs who had resorted to eating dogs who had already died, and dogs who had
swarms of cockroaches and insects crawling through their food bowls. The USDA
responded to the violations by taking little or no enforcement action, according
to the report, and even failed to confiscate suffering or dying animals.
From the report: "At the re-inspection of 4,250 violators, inspectors found that
2,416 repeatedly violated AWA [the Animal Welfare Act], including some that
ignored minimum care standards. Therefore, relying heavily on education for
serious or repeat violators—without an appropriate level of enforcement—weakened
the agency’s ability to protect the animals."
Of course, The HSUS has been saying for years that the USDA has historically
allowed puppy mills to violate the law without fear of any kind of aggressive
enforcement actions. Last week, I was pleased to hear the Obama administration
publicly announce that the USDA would take a tougher stance on Animal Welfare
Act enforcement, by conducting more inspections and imposing higher fines. We’re
glad to hear it, and we're grateful to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack for
stepping up the enforcement actions.
The report also highlighted how some large dog dealers are escaping USDA
oversight because they
sell dogs over the Internet or directly to the public, and the OIG
recommended legislative change to require that all applicable breeders selling
through the Internet be regulated under the Animal Welfare Act. The USDA’s own
interpretation of the term “retail pet store” provided these puppy millers an
exemption—something battled out in court and ultimately left to the agency’s
discretion. Many of the puppy mill raids The HSUS has assisted on over the last
several years have been at such facilities, so we’ve seen firsthand how much
this legislation is needed. The USDA has now agreed to this recommendation and
we hope Congress will soon take action by passing the PUPS Act.
In response to pressure from their constituents and in the interest of
addressing animal cruelty, legislators in many states have also stepped up to
pass laws and regulations to protect dogs at these facilities. Just this year,
Oklahoma and
Iowa, the second- and third-largest puppy mill states, respectively, behind
Missouri, passed legislation to crack down on puppy mills. And our efforts are
moving forward in Missouri
to put the issue on the ballot there this November. Not all states have laws
regulating commercial dog breeders though, so it’s essential that the USDA
aggressively enforce the law.
Of course, at the heart of the puppy mill issue is consumer education, something
The HSUS has worked on for decades. “We only use USDA-licensed breeders” is one
of the
common but hollow assurances pet store staff give when pushing puppy mill
puppies on the sales floor. What The HSUS has long noted is that a puppy mill
inspected by the USDA is still a puppy mill. Dogs kept for breeding still suffer
for years on end in tiny cages and have almost zero hope of having a loving home
of their own. This point was underscored just last week on "Animal
Planet Investigates: Petland," a one-hour special about The HSUS's
investigation into the nation's largest retail supporter of puppy mills.
Yesterday’s report and legislative introduction should serve as a warning to all
those who protect this dubious industry—from “kennel clubs” to pet stores to
lobbying front groups who claim to care about purebred dog breeding, but in fact
only care about how much money they can make peddling loads of puppies. Your
days of abusing dogs for profit while snubbing the laws of this country and many
states are coming to an end.
Legislation, How It Affects All Of Us
#1.
No way we can say our dogs are not 'pets.' (Most people define them as members
of the family.') So that argument won't fly. If you even tried 'livestock' you'd
end up with a profit / loss situation and that won't fly either. "Show Dogs" not
pets? No one will buy that. You compete for a 25 cent ribbon.
#2. AR's make very clear that they want any number in there. 1000 is fine with
them. Once the bill is passed it is a stroke of pen, closed door 'let's make it
10-5-1 puppy' and you're REALLY looking at the fact that ONE bitch makes you a
commercial kennel if you ever breed. That is where they want us. That 'one
intact' bitch is a dead giveaway to where they are heading if
you're used to seeing this sort of legislation. Remember IA....over 3 is a
commercial kennel. 3 males?
#3. The most dangerous thing to think is 'this won't affect me.' That is how we
got to the place of federal legislation of hobby breeding. PLEASE do not focus
on the numbers. This bill legislates and forces licenses on hobby
breeding....they can track every intact animal. I don't need to tell you why
they want to do that, do I?
#4. Please realize that to be licensed you give away your right to privacy. Your
dogs can be inspected anytime (usually 9/5 weekdays). IF you have a kennel in
your home, the search and inspection can include your personal computer.
Licensing REQUIRES you to give up your privacy.
Having intact animals is going to be commercial breeding territory. That is
where this is headed IMO. (And I'm not alone.)
This bill is DESIGNED to take out hobby breeding. We're on this already
(up...hours of each day for me right now...) and it's going to come down to a
very few things we always come down to........starting with contact your
legislators. Tell them YOU are the animal expert and to call you if this
legislation moves forward. We'll have educational pieces in place for you, but
without your response, no letter I draft for the SCA has any meaning.This will
take calls, letters, lobbying and money.
These bills get stopped by a groundswell scream from constituents. If it gains
traction we have a much harder time. The closed door addition of amendments at
the end of the legislative process could kill hobby breeding.
Remember...that is what this bill is designed to do. It is aimed at US. The
small hobby breeder. Commercial breeding is already covered.
WE are the AR definition of puppy mills now.
Get a clue. One bitch. Co ownerships.
Get on humanewatch.org and download some information for your legislator. (If
you need a bumper sticker, email me your address.) I have not seen the sort of
response we need to kill this so don't ask me what I think is going to happen.
But dithering with details is a waste of time, just as is thinking it won't
affect YOU. It will. EVERY time they rachet those numbers down. They've SAID
they put that in there so they can do that. Almost none of you can make your
homes meet commercial standards. The targeting is going to go to smaller
numbers...has to.
50 is a red herring to take you off the real objective of this bill.
BTW, HSUS is now coaching their ARistas not to say it comes from HSUS. Stealthy
move. "We're just regular constituents who want this bill."
Remember; for them this is a 10-20-30 year project. But PUPS is far more than a
'foot in the door' sort of bill.
Please get on the phone Monday morning. Call at least a couple times a week.
This needs a 100% move by everyone...including the SCA and every member. It is
the biggest threat to our dogs we have ever faced. No one with a straight face
can say they are protecting the breed if they let a federal bill using one bitch
as a basis for a commercial kennel be passed. I don't care if they 'graciously'
make it 5 bitches before it's racheted back. Half a dozen more years it'll be
one again....
Susan Black
Legislative Chair
Samoyed Club of America
AKC Legislative Liaison
Brags
Jackie Dilworth is pleased to report the following wins. Bridlewood’s Double
O’Seven (Pierce) co-owned by Melissa Watson, was WD/BOW at all four Bossier
City, LA. Shows. Litter Brother, Bridlewoods’s Dream Machine (Diesel) co-owned
by Dawn O’Cain, was WD/ BOW at both Aiken, SC shows. Littersister, Bridlewood’s
Divine Design (Diva) co-owned by Melissa Bennett, was WB at Watkinsville on
Sunday.
 Wayne
Dandelske had a big weekend with Raider.
He won a Group 3,
two Group 2’s, Group 1 and
Best in Show
at the UKC show in Perry. Raider also earned his UKC Championship.
Pictured at
right.
Gaylord Cleveland
reported:
Trueheart Taddeo
earned UKC RN and UKC CD
Trueheart Luigi
earned UKC RN and 1st leg to CDX
Trueheart Sopie
earned AKC RE
Trueheart Ceanna
earned AKC RN and 2 WB placements
Mike Shelton
reported: Myst won Best Puppy in the CKC Match
Steve & Nancy
Donahue reported: Gordon Setter Mojo earned 2nd leg of JH in
Wallhalla, SC
Newsletter-Sandra McCurry
southforkgolden@aol.com
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