Bits and pieces

Tonight's blog is a little bit of a mish mash. There have been several things in the last few days that have upset me. Obviously, it's easy to see I get tweaked fairly easily if anyone has read my other blogs.

Let's start with the Governor of MA signing the "Devocalization" bill into law. I'm truly horrified. This is BAD, nanny government at it's worst. This law now makes a perfectly acceptable, quick surgical procedure illegal. I've blogged about this one before - but here it is again. Bark softening, devocalization, debarking, whatever it's called, is a simple surgery when performed by a competent veterinarian. I don't know of anyone who has had a dog debarked that had it done for "convenience". It was done to make good neighbors, to keep an habitual barker less of a nuisance. There are laws all over the country that allow for the seizure and removal of nuisance barkers. There are people who have exhausted all options and still have nuisance barkers. Anyone with a "pack" of herding dogs knows that they BARK - it's part of their nature. This law was written by The Animal Law Coalition. Head over to www.animallawcoalition.comfor an eye opener. The information regarding debarking is out and out bullshit. Yes, I said bullshit. The incision that is repeatedly shown as a devocalization surgery is simply NOT. Check out their other "information". They were pushing a bill in OK that would require someone with over 11 intact animals to jump through some heinous regulations. Anyone who thinks the AR supporters are not out to regulate us out of existence needs to read through that website. They follow the standard practice - take the one or two worst photos that can be found, make them the norm and push that legislation. 

Our AR friends are also pushing a new one in PA and other places. It's already illegal to keep dogs on a wire floor in most states. Makes one wonder what they think of raised pens at dog shows, doesn't it? Haven't we all seen coated breeds on raised pens to keep them clean? I can honestly say I've never seen a dog at a dog show taken out of a raised floor pen with bleeding or cut feet. Some breeders are talking about using swine flooring. Here's a link to nursery swine flooring: http://www.gillisag.com/hog/tf_ns.php  This stuff is GORGEOUS! I wouldn't hesitate to put my Sussex on such a floor if it kept them clean and not rolling in shavings at the Portland shows in January! The AR gang is now pushing to make swine flooring illegal. Concrete flooring is hard on dogs. AR supporters are supposed to be about the best care for animals. Keeping a dog on concrete can cause callouses and needs to be disinfected frequently as it's a porous material and retain bacteria. The swine flooring at the website I reference looks to be comfortable, easy to clean and would keep a dog up out of fecal matter and urine. It would prevent a dog from getting wet by tipping over it's water bowl. It's simply an excuse to make it more difficult and more expensive to own and breed and raise dogs.

The next tweak for me this week is the new iPhone ad - it's starts with a woman talking about finally making a decision to get a dog for the family. Of course, they go straight to the "app" that takes them to the SHELTER! If we ever need proof that it's now THE thing to do, this ad should seal it for us. It used to be you could see ads all over TV with beautiful or some not so beautiful purebreds in dog food commercials. I defy anyone to find more purebreds than mixed breeds in ads now. Nope, it won't happen.

Next tweak of the day - my hero, Rachel Maddow has done what I feared the most - she called it on Rick Berman and the CCF folks for HumaneWatch.org among other things. While I support anything that calls attention to the deception of HSUS, I have feared from the inception of HumaneWatch that Rick's past shenanigans were going to damage the message. In this case, the messenger is more than a little toxic and I'm sad about that. I admire Rachel tremendously. I think she's incredibly bright, I love her TV show, and I loved her radio show on Air America. I'm sad that someone who champions injustice won't be able to see past the insidious propaganda of HSUS. Rachel owns a purebred dog, so many people who support HSUS do and they still refuse to see what is right in front of them. HSUS is a lobbying group pure and simple. That my idol can't see that Wayne Pacelle is as much a sneak and shyster as Rick Berman disappoints me.

Finally, I was sorry to see someone else I admire support HSUS - Christie Keith. I don't think any of us support cruelty. That she believes the HSUS really does support responsible breeders makes me sad, too. I'm discouraged right now. Perhaps it's the gloomy weather, perhaps it's having a friend tell me my blogs are short on fact and long on opinion (that hurt - I try to be very factual), perhaps it's changing jobs and working too many hours. I need to go to a dog show, I need to know that there are still people who understand the incredible joy and unwavering love we get from animals. I think I need to take a long ride on Dr. Stinghawk, my horse.

My poor abused horse, Sting, at 22 years old. He's 25 now and looks just as good. Well, he will after we get all that winter hair off of him!

Comments

[Paula G from Indiana]

I wonder if they will also outlaw electronic bark collars. What else is left if you have a Barker With A Capital B and nothing works. The dogs will be seized and will have to be euthanized because who will "purchase" said dogs from the pounds?

[Pemmom]

Yes, I do think e-collars will be outlawed, or at least they'll try. There are already people calling for it in the UK, land of the AR fanatic.