More H$U$ Involvement in the USDA

Yesterday morning, this news item passed across my desk as I was drinking my morning coffee...

The USDA Wants Dog Breeder Accreditation  

I just about choked on my coffee and then I remembered...  "Hey! It's April 1....  It's April Fools Day! Surely this is a joke."

Sadly, it isn't a joke.

One would think that the USDA could find something else to whine about, right?  Well, they won't. They won't because the USDA & its APHIS section are populated by animal rights zealots, starting with the head, Tom Vilsack. His wife is a big supporter of HSUS. In addition, there's Sarah Conant, a HSUS litigator who went from her desk at HSUS right to a desk at APHIS, where she heads a newly formed "enforcement" division.

Sarah Conant

An obvious example of the HSUS-USDA connection can be found in the 2012 election. In Iowa’s 4th Congressional District, Steve King was challenged for his seat by Christie Vilsack, wife of Tom Vilsack, Obama’s Secretary of the Dept. of Agriculture. Campaign finance reports show that HSUS invested in Vilsack’s campaign to the tune of $500,000, almost their entire political war chest. Shortly thereafter, Vilsack began to obstruct efforts to resume horse processing, a key HSUS goal.

It doesn't stop there. Conant is the same individual who fined a Missiouri family $90,000 for selling bunnies.

You gotta ask yourself, should the USDA, which is charged with keeping our food supply safe, be hiring and working with HSUS people, who are committed to doing away with ALL animal use, including as food?

To me, that is beyond "conflict of interest".

This quote and other quotes in the article convinces me that H$U$ has its dirty fingers in this proposal,

Dr. Michael J. Blackwell, senior director of veterinary policy for the Humane Society of the United States, said the project could provide better oversight of the dog breeding industry, which he said has an unfortunate number of puppy mills with questionable-to-poor care standards.

“Given that we do still see quite a few puppy mills across the country, it is clear that there needs to be more attention given to ways of providing oversight, and an accreditation process would certainly be one way to do that,” he said.

Dr. Blackwell said it’s likely retailers would pressure breeders to participate in such a program, a result he hopes will come to pass.

“I think the public’s interests will probably drive that support for working only with accredited breeders,” he said.

When an AVMA article quotes an HSUS operative, it's pretty telling as to where this is coming from. And, it will be passed onto anyone who breeds. This will not be "voluntary" as they imply.

Tom Vilsack

Tom Vilsack needs to be removed as the head of the US Dept of Agriculture. He supports HSUS and its anti-animal ag views.  He has even stated that rural America is "Becoming less and less relevant.” Sec. Vilsack – December 2012 Farm Journal Sponsored Forum – Drovers

Secretary Vilsack has publicly stated his support for agreements and cooperation with a radical animal rights group, Humane Society of the US (HSUS) that is seeking to destroy American agriculture. 

“Now I know that there are not too many fans of the Humane Society in this room. But egg producers thought it was in their best interest to avoid fifty different referendums, fifty different sets of rules. So they sat down with folks and they reached common ground. After all, isn’t that what we’re asking our Congress to do? Isn’t that what we’re asking our political leaders to do? To sit down and make common cause? I think the egg producers have the right idea.” – Sec. Vilsack – Ag Wired Article

We need to ask questions and start DEMANDING answers.  

Why was a former HSUS employee hired by Secretary Vilsack to work at USDA?  

Why did HSUS spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in an attempt to get the wife of the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture elected to Congress?  

Why is the head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture an advocate for an unholy marriage between American animal (food & companion) producers and a radical animal rights group seeking to attack farmers, attack pet breeders, alter our food choices, and restrict our freedoms?

Don't forget "Meatless Monday" at the USDA.

Recommended Reading

A & N Research - Giving You the FACTS!  - Specifically,  USDA APHIS Watch

The Calvary Group, Has HSUS Hijacked the USDA

Protect the Harvest - Should the USDA Be Working with the USDA

National Purebred Dog Day Movement

Did you know that there are more panda bears in the world than there are Skye Terriers?

I'm asking for the help of every purebred dog owner & enthusiast with this project.  Please share the link with ten of your friends and ask them to do the same.  Put it up on your Facebook page; post it on your clubs' pages.  Share with your hunting buddies because they too are impacted by animal laws, by breed specific legislation, and by the animal rights movement to restrict dog breeding.  Whether their dogs are purebreds purchased from an ethical breeder, adopted from a shelter, or re-homed from breed rescue, we are all in the fight of our lives to save our breeds and to preserve our right to own the dogs of our choice.

Will this save the world?  No.  But if having a national day recognizing purebred dogs and their contributions to the world; if having a website to help give voice to us as purebred dog owners & lovers, maybe it's a little start. I know I am tired of not having a voice.

In an effort to promote & celebrate purebred dogs, we hope to have this video go viral and to have a movement that sweeps the nation, but it can only do so with your help.

Please watch the video and offer your support at National Purebred Dog Day.

We all thank you.

HSUS: Bad to the Bone...

I'm a member of the Pet-Law email list. I get many depressing e-mails by way of this list, emails that point out how much the animal rights activists are fighting anyone and everyone who makes a living working with animals; anyone & everyone who raises animals; and anyone & everyone who owns animals.  

Normally, I don't pass on ag related emails but this one is important as it shows how the animal rights zealots, such as Humane Society of the US (HSUS), Animal Protection New Mexico (APNM), and Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM USA), among others, impact our lives with their duplicity and lies.  How they use their minions in the mainstream media to distort & promote their agenda, which is to promote animals above all others, regardless of cost, and to destroy animal ownership.  These people lie when they say they are "for the animals".  After all, don't forget it was Wayne Pacelle who said with regard to domestic animals, "One generation and out..."

For instance, the article says distinguished professor but actually AR to the bone! Rather misleading!

http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2014/01/usda-pulls-meat-inspectors-to-shut-nj-veal-slaughter-after-video-shows-inhumane-practices/

January 28, 2014

Slaughter Plant Closes After HSUS Video Prompts USDA Inspectors to Leave By Dan Flynn

A New Jersey company involved in the veal and lamb business for more than 65 years was forced to shut down last Friday when USDA inspectors left the building because of alleged inhumane practices going on inside.

At least two egregious violations of federal humane handling requirements documented on a video obtained by the Humane Society of the United States (HBUS) were enough for USDA to shut down the Catelli Brothers, Inc., veal slaughter plant in Shrewsbury, NJ.

In another in a series of undercover investigations, the HSUS video depicts unconscious but living calves, one disabled and being dragged and another one on a faulty “kill” line.

Catelli Brothers, headquartered in Collingswood, NJ, outside Philadelphia, is one of the largest veal and lamb producers in the country. After being provided with a video copy and a complaint from HSUS, USDA opted to suspend the company’s operations by removing all federal meat inspectors from the slaughterhouse.

HSUS praised USDA’s action in ......

Bernie Rollin, distinguished professor of animal science at Colorado State University, wrote after watching the video at HSUS’s request, that “of all the atrocity videos I have viewed, the current video of the slaughterhouse at Catelli Brothers must be ranked among the three worst.” He called for the plant to be “closed down immediately.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So who is Bernard Rollin?

Bernard E. Rollin is an American philosopher, currently professor of philosophy, animal sciences, and biomedical sciences at Colorado State University.[1]

Rollin specializes in animal rights and the philosophy of consciousness, and is the author of a number of influential books in the field, including Animal Rights and Human Morality (1981), The Unheeded Cry: Animal Consciousness, Animal Pain and Scientific Change (1988), Farm Animal Welfare (1995), and Science and Ethics (2006). He is also co-editor of the two-volume, The Experimental Animal in Biomedical Research (1989 and 1995). He published his memoir in 2011, Putting the Horse Before Descartes.[1]

In response to the article, I posted the following comment.  Last I heard, it was awaiting approval from the moderator.  Let's see if it gets published.

"You neglect to give references or credentials for Bernard Rollin. 

Bernard E. Rollin is an American philosopher, currently professor of philosophy, animal sciences, and biomedical sciences at Colorado State University.  He specializes in animal rights and the philosophy of consciousness, and is the author of a number of influential books in the field, including Animal Rights and Human Morality (1981), The Unheeded Cry: Animal Consciousness, Animal Pain and Scientific Change (1988), Farm Animal Welfare (1995), and Science and Ethics (2006). He is also co-editor of the two-volume, The Experimental Animal in Biomedical Research (1989 and 1995). He published his memoir in 2011, Putting the Horse Before Descartes. 

If you are going to present someone as "distinguished" and as a source, you really need to give the full story.  Mr. Rollin is NOT an unbiased source, as you would have some believe."

Something is really wrong in Denmark when a zealot organization, which has been linked to domestic terrorism, has such an impact in our lives.  How much impact?  Let's not forget, that under this current administration, the USDA (US Dept of Agriculture) is populated by HSUS shills in the guise of Sarah L. Conant and others.

The Dog Press has a good article up re: the power of HSUS and how much its tentacles have infiltrated everywhere.  I suggest y'all read it.

http://www.thedogpress.com/SideEffects/HSUS-Political-Power-Revealed-132.asp

It is long past time for us to take back our animal ownership rights and long past time to fight. 

Will you help me?  Will you stand by my side?

The Last Dog on Earth...

This short story was written at least 7-10  years ago. Thankfully, someone found a copy of it!  Sadly, no one has any idea as to who wrote it to give credit.

With the USDA / APHIS run around of Congress regarding the Animal Welfare Act, this is where we are heading. The anti-animal asses are working towards the abolishment of animal ownership & companionship. Make no mistake about it.  They are masters of incrementalization, like an apex predator, preying on the weak and those they've split off from the herd, the divided.

As animal lovers, we need to set aside our differences, if we want to continue to have animals gracing our lives.

Elaine

---

They were at the door. Her little dog was growling softly. She tried to hush the sound. She knew what they wanted. She felt as though her heart was being ripped from her chest. She had managed to hide her little friend for years.

She shared her food and bed with her. She had bought her on the black market. It had cost her dearly but it was worth it.

She had been so alone. Nothing to love her or for her to love in return. Her children had grown up and forgotten her. Her husband had died two years before she found Sweetie. Sweetie had been a tiny black and tan ball of fur showing her Yorkshire Terrier background. Of course, she knew that Sweetie could not have been purebred. There had been no purebred dogs for years. There were few dogs since the breeders had been slowly and methodically beaten down.

When this first started, everyone sat back and said they could not possibly be the breeders they were talking about. After all, they loved their dogs and they were not "puppy mills". They would never let themselves be overloaded with dogs. Some of them did not get overloaded nor did they breed more than a litter or two a year. They were smug and secure in that only the puppy mills were being raided.

The raids were relentless. They would take place in one state then another. The dog raiders got smarter with every raid. They learned about warrants, the court system, the law in different states and they used whatever means they could to eliminate the breeders of dogs. Some people thought the raiders were dog lovers trying to save the poor mistreated puppies.

HSUS is NOT law enforcement, contrary
to what they would have you believe.

Some of them were dog lovers, at first. The well-meaning rescue groups were used. The American Kennel Club was used. They would revoke the rights of the breeder who was raided. Kennel clubs were infiltrated and destroyed from within. The very fiber of the dog world was silently unraveled one string at a time.

Everyone would rise to arms against every breeder raided. Saying things like that terrible person mistreated those poor dogs; that person had too many dogs; and that person is crazy. If the truth were not provoking enough they would lie and say that person should die. They campaigned by e-mail, petitioned the courts, and used political pull. Even when common sense would tell them that they did not know the facts or circumstances, they persist.

They would see fat happy tail wagging dogs and would say abused dogs. They no longer believed their own eyes. The dogs tried to tell the truth but no one could hear them. True, there were cases of abuse, beaten, starved, and sick animals, at first. Then the tide shifted. Good honest dog loving people started to being raided. Any reason was used. Dogs were taken and the owners refused rights to reclaim their dogs. The raiders started to narrow the number of dogs which were in violation. Any person with a dog became a target. Dog grooming became a thing of the past.

SWAT raid on dog breeder

Veterinarian services were performed out of back rooms under the dark of night until there were no veterinarians. Dog shows had long disappeared along with the American Kennel Club. Children were told tales of the days when every boy had a dog to run with through fields.

The stories of " Old Shep"," O'Yeller", "Call of the Wild"," Lassie" and all those wonderful stories which would bring tears to the eyes of grown men were being forgotten except by a few.

But she remembered as a little girl the small dog who loved her, followed her everywhere, and gave her comfort like no one on earth could give. She just had to find her that special warmth, the grateful lick-kiss, something that loved her unconditionally and a reason for getting up in the morning. She found Sweetie.

Now they were at her door to take the life that she cherished. The warm little black and tan 3- pound body that loved her as much as she loved it. And there was no one to stop them. The old lady with the last dog on earth lay down with her face to the wall.

CALL TO "BATTLE STATIONS" - - "IT'S NOW OR NEVER!

By: Frank Losey (franklosey@twc.com)
Information on Website: www.memoryofchaucer.com/franklosey.htm

I wish to share what I believe "Everyone Needs to Hear, Rather Than What They Want to Hear."

The APHIS FINAL RULE is like a runaway freight train, and I personally and professionally believe that the only realistic, practical way to "derail" the "freight train" before November 17, 2013 is for a Federal Judge to issue a Temporary (ideally a Permanent) Injunction that would expressly prohibit the USDA from implementing the Final Rule. In short, the "60-Day Time Bomb clock" is ticking, and if a Federal Injunction is not issued before November 17, 2013, the APHIS Final Rule will have the "EFFECT" OF LAW THAT MAY BE ENFORCED AGAINST ANY BREEDER THAT APHIS (A.K.A. MS. SARAH L. CONANT) DETERMINES TO BE IN NON-COMPLIANCE!

Although the APHIS Final Rule is a "Regulation," it is a "Readers Digest" version of the PUPS Bill, and it will "grease" the HSUS path for HSUS to begin 2014 with a Full Court Press to persuade Congress to enact the PUPS Bill. In this regard, an unchallenged APHIS Final Regulation will strengthen the arguments that HSUS will put forward for Congress to enact the PUPS Bill. And what is so chilling is that when the PUPS Bill comes up for a vote, the APHIS Rule will - - repeat "WILL" - - be cited in support of an "eleventh hour" floor amendment to add a few tweaks that purportedly will be technical in nature, but could be the final nails being drilled into the figurative coffins of all Hobby and Commercial Breeders.

While there is so much truth in the adage that "Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures," I fervently believe that "Desperate Measure" of citing subjective "loopholes," such as claiming that all dogs bred fall into the hunting or working or any other "exempt" dog category is doomed - - yes
doomed - - to failure because Dr. Rushin stated that decisions will be made on a "case by case" basis. Such a subjective "case by case" statement could be cited as one of the judicial arguments for seeking a Federal Injunction because it constitutes an admission that the Final Rule is so vague and ambiguous that breeders may be subject to subjective rather than objective standards, which will create a realistic potential that their Constitutionally guaranteed due process rights may be jeopardized because they will be subject to arbitrary interpretations that would not stand the scrutiny of judicial review. In this regard, bear in mind that "case by case" interpretations may very well be made by Ms. Sarah L. Conant, the former HSUS Litigation Attorney who is now the Chief of the APHIS Investigative and Enforcement Branch! And she has the authority to decide how great fines will be for a violation of this Final Rule, and in "appropriate" cases, she may further make recommendations as to "prosecutions!"

BOTTOMLINE: Those who believe they can circumvent compliance with the Final Rule by claiming that they fall within an "exception" are playing with fire that could ultimately result in fines and lifetime prohibitions from ever being permitted to breed dogs. That is why it is so important to challenge the Final Rule before it becomes, in effect, a "Rule of Law." In this regard, if all breeders contacted their respective Member Organizations and urged them to immediately and collaboratively work together in order to seek a Federal Injunction NOW, the "Window of Opportunity" to stop the "runaway freight train" will not be lost, and the PUPS Bill may be mortally wounded, and lose Congressional Support!

The "Desperate Measure" that has the greatest chance of success to stall and "derail" the runaway APHIS FINAL RULE freight train is for all breeders - - Hobby and Commercial Breeders - - to make a commitment to "STAND UNITED," and to cease and desist "pointing fingers at one another," and follow the HSUS Playbook Strategy of presenting a "unified front."

Last year the HSUS orchestrated the APHIS Proposed Rule as part of its "masterful" and diabolical Strategic Plan, which it has "masterfully" orchestrated over the last 10+ years by, step-by-step, deceiving and dividing the breeder community of Hobby and Commercial Breeders. First, it deceived the hobby breeder community in the 2004-2006 time-frame by claiming that it only was targeting the commercial breeders which it referred to as the nasty and inhumane "PMs." (Note I never publicly use the phrase that the "PM" stands for because it was designed by the HSUS to create a false image in the minds of the America Public and Elected Officials! And it has worked, even though it is the equivalent of a despicable racial or ethnic slur.)

Many within the Hobby Breeder Community have used the HSUS' "PM" phrase over and over again without realizing that this usage supported the "divide and conquer strategy" of the HSUS because it offended a significant number of Commercial Breeders who truly, truly care about the health and welfare of their dogs and puppies, and who meet or exceed even the AKC Standards. And to the dismay of AKC and the thousands of AKC Breeders, they were shocked on May 1, 2013 when the HSUS stated that the AKC was "joined at the hip" with the "PMs!" All the more reason for AKC Breeders to cease using the "PM" phrase that predictably will transition into the HSUS referring to
Commercial "PMs" and Hobby "PMs."

Predictably, the HSUS will use any attempt by the Hobby Community to exempt themselves out from under the Final Rule as further evidence that the AKC and its Hobby Breeders are "joined at the hip" with the "PMs," and the HSUS will put on a major push at the beginning of next year to claim that the
flaws associated with the APHIS Final Rule can only be corrected by the passage of PUPS. In short, "loophole" arguments will be cited as a reason for swift passage of the PUPS Bill, at which time a few "tweaked" provisions will be added as late night "Floor Amendments," which Amendments would
tighten the noose tighter around the necks of all breeders - - Hobby and Commercial - - and provide yet another basis for HSUS to press for publishing a new and even more stringent Final Rule that will have death knoll implications for all breeders. This is why Commercial Breeders must support all efforts by the Hobby Breeder Community to stop the USDA from enforcing the Final Rule with a Federal Injunction. In this regard, if the collective efforts of "ALL" breeders resulted in a Federal Injunction that barred the enforcement of the APHIS Final Rule, such an Injunction would all but absolutely- positively "kill" - - like a "poison pill - - the PUPS Bill, which Bill is even worse than the APHIS Final Rule. Thus, a "WIN-WIN" for all Hobby Breeders and all Commercial Breeders. In short, the PUPS Bill would become "toxic," and even the current co-sponsors would not push for a vote.

In the words of Benjamin Franklin: "We must indeed all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately." In short, Commercial Breeders must support any effort by the Hobby Breeders to obtain a Federal Injunction that will stop the USDA from enforcing the APHIS Final Rule on November 17, 2013.

The time, cost and expense of seeking a Federal Injunction will be substantial. However, in the long run, the cost of supporting the effort to obtain a Federal Injunction will pale in comparison to the financial and psychological cost to all affected breeders who are forced to either comply with the APHIS Final Rule, as interpreted by Ms. Conant, or to cease breeding dogs all together. In this regard, no Hobby Clubs or State Commercial Breeder Organizations have the financial resources to independently fund an effort to stop the immediate and follow-on "carnage" that will occur if the Final Rule is not successfully challenged in a Federal Court. That is why I believe that it is imperative for an
organization, such as AKC, to take the lead in pursuing the effort to seek a Federal Injunction. They have the name recognition and stature to make the representation to a Federal Court that it has "legal standing" to represent the interests of the single "largest class" of breeders in the U.S., as opposed to just a few breeders. Here it is significant to note that AKC Breeders not only include Hobby Breeders, but also include a significantly large number of USDA Commercial Breeders. While AKC is in the best position to take the lead, all other Commercial and Hobby Breeder Organizations should financially support the Federal Injunction Option to the best of their financial ability.

If the APHIS Final Rule is not Successfully Challenged, there may not be another opportunity to derail the HSUS Freight Train. From a military perspective, when possible, it is best to pick the battles you have the best chance to win. The APHIS Final Rule may be the best battle to wage because there are so many flaws and "omissions" in the Background Justification published in the Federal Register that may be cited as the legal bases for a Federal Judge to grant an Injunction. (I do not wish to publicly cite all
of the legal bases as I do not believe it is prudent to give the HSUS a "heads-up." Never tell your enemy how you plan to defeat it!)

BOTTOMLINE: As an attorney, I professionally believe that the published discussion of the Comments that APHIS referenced in the September 18, 2013 Federal Register provides a number of legal arguments that may be cited in support of a Lawsuit that seeks to restrain the USDA and APHIS from
enforcing the APHIS Final Rule.

The Words of "It's Now or Never" have never been truer or more appropriate to say.

Frank

What We're Dealing With...

This morning, one of the neighbor's supporters decided to let me know on this blog their opinion of me & our efforts to keep our neighbors from starting a livestock rescue next door.

Jack pushing on the fence to graze my yard

Now mind you, they are currently keeping 5 donkeys in their 1/3 acre backyard where they allow them to push on the fence and graze our property.  Our property has been grazed so much that for a 3' wide swath it is nothing but bare dirt and a couple of newly rooted cholla & prickley pear cacti.   The donkeys pushing on the fence to get to our yard has really damaged it.  I knew it was in bad shape, but I didn't realize how bad it was until today when I was discussing options with the landscaper.  After really looking at the fence today, I'm not sure how it's holding those animals in that yard.

The fence posts are bent, which is to be expected.  The 4" square, wire field fencing is sagging.  It's sagging so much that it is down to the elbows of one of the smaller, standard sized donkeys. It won't be much longer before the mammoth donkeys will be able to step over it and into my yard.  The staples which held the fencing to the wooden corner posts have all pulled out.  Truly, the only thing holding up that fence, which is right on the property line, are the bent, metal, t-posts.  That's it folks!

Anyway, I've digressed.

The supporter of our neighbor, who didn't have the courage of their convictions to post their name, proceeded to lambaste me for standing against our neighbors.  Like our neighbors, they are nothing but bullies and they are cowardly ones, at that.  Heck, I'm not even going to say anything more about these obviously unbalanced people, I'll let their words do the talking.  Enjoy!

These kinds of people, animal rights activists, are all cut from the same mold.  The thrive on drama. They spread all kinds of misinformation & disinformation.  They love to be "the victim" and they are hypocrites.  They want people to believe they are kind & considerate, when they are everything but.

The comments above are just so typical and it just goes to show the kind of people we're dealing with.