Comments on: Will 2010 be Missouri’s year?

By: Andrew S.

Andrew S. — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:44:26 +0000

OK Steve. Have any ideas where to send money to help the fight in Missouri? It is time that those that own any animal have a vested interest in fighting HSUS and the need to unite, from minks to cows and of course our house animals. When animal control is given the right to enter your property or go house to house, what does that say about freedom. Of curse HSUS is right there drafting laws for our government officials to propose. We need to hit those government officials on every level.

Maybe authorities should start going house to house checking for meth labs – same difference! Animal owners have been turned into targets by animal rights activist, and one can never treat their animals well enough for HSUS as simply to own several or, heaven forbid, to breed an animal is abuse! Do you notice they seem like a little mafia with so many ex cons working for them. HSUS is more about infringement of rights folks. Wake up America. HSUS should really be investigated for misleading the public and for fraud in their fundraising not to mention their other ties to other organizations!

Farmer and proud and I will fight with the dog owners as I will for my cattle, as many people do not realize it is about all animals that humans “use” (animal rights definition) by enjoyment, pets, dog shows, rodeos, horse or dog racing, eating meat or any livelihood “using” an animal. It does not matter is is about choice and violation of rights or what we thought were our rights. HSUS through legislation has pretty much killed our rights and all those goverment officials think they are helping in the abuse and not the eradication of animals, except for those who are in our government who are animal rights activist themselves. Learn to know the difference and be involved with your representatives in the fight against animal rights. Animal welfare is different than animal rights! Also know the difference.
Andy

By: Ann S.

Ann S. — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:46:18 +0000

After there is zero population growth in dogs, then the farmers will be attacked. HSUS is an animal rights organization – or that is what they used to call themselves. What they are really doing is lobbying our representatives to reach their goal of no animal USE. Now they are protectors of animals? Protectors of animals to be owned. With more seizures of animals and over stocking the rescues, it will lead to more animal deaths. It appears that no one will have a choice of a purebred dog in the future. I personally think “maybe, just maybe, why should people have children when all the orphans are out there begging for a real family, who will never feel the warmth and love of a real mom. Taking in a teenager who just wants a family to love.” I guess it is because people can choose! Soon there will be no choice – a dog will just be a dog, until the last one is gone. I hope Missourians will fight tooth and nail against this animal rights movement. Farmers will be next and no it is not the large corporate farms, it is anyone who owns farm animals. Missouri be very wary and just google, Peter Singer, or Gary Francione as this will give you a window into animal rights! If you agree with them, then open the door to HSUS and PETA.

By: Kathie

Kathie — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:31:36 +0000

Steve, thank you for your response to the comments. It is really interesting that I wrote mine as a first reaction to your article without any knowledge that anyone else (in this case several someone else’s) would be thinking the same thing I was with so much passion. It is heartening to see that at least some of us are beginning to sing from the same sheet of music and unite. By doing that, it is the only way we are going to protect our rights to our animals.

The rubber hit the road in Ohio and the outcome was tremendous. It will now hit the road in MO with regard to HSUS’s other money maker for them. Just think, if we (ag and the other animal industries) can all unite and defeat this here, how much stronger we will all be in going forward from here. MO citizens need to win this battle…it will set the tone for all battles to come with HSUS be they to wipe out the farmers or the commercial pet industry. Folks like you who can help influence cooperation and support are needed now like you have never been needed before. Please continue with that goal. Again, thank you.

By: Steve Kopperud

Steve Kopperud — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:52:09 +0000

My grandmother used to say, if you’re going to do something, do it big, and apparently my stupid choice of words and phrasing in this “Inside DC” posting met gram’s criterion. The dog world commenters are right on the money with their criticisms of my statement “Let’s hope it’s puppy mills…” That statement is naive at best. Karen Strange’s critique and comments make abundant good sense. Unfortunately, my comments were not as cogent. My intent was to convey HSUS likely will not wage a two-front war, and resources being what they are across ag, it’s in our best interest to hope I’m correct. By no means do I think or mean to imply that an HSUS referendum battle against any legitimate, professional animal endeavor is just about that particular animal use; the goal of the movement, after all, is to take down all animal use. I’ve written in this space and spoken across the country on the need for all legitimate animal users to unite in an organized campaign to stop the strategy of picking us off one by one. Mea culpa for raising anyone’s blood pressure. It was a lazy man’s sin.

By: David

David — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:51:53 +0000

“Let’s hope it’s puppy mills and HSUS has decided it can’t afford to fight a two-front war against legitimate animal users.”

The HSUS has the very same agenda as all the other extremist AR groups — and that’s to “weaken animal ownership”. AR’s do not believe humans should own animals. That belief is at the source of all their craziness. Every bit of HSUS supported legislation concerning domestically owned animals fits into two categories — making it more and more expensive and more and more difficult to own animals.

If you think the HSUS won’t come for you — you’re sadly mistaken. Besides all this “puppy mill” legislation the HSUS has been pushing all over the nation is a lie based upon the moniker of “Puppy Mill Legislation” just like the very name of the HSUS (which is NOT a humane society). Their “Puppy mill” legislation is focused at legitimate dog breeders not at puppy mills. If it was focused at puppy mills it would address the hoarding issue — which always has a mental disorder associated with it!

Remember this or suffer the consequences — “In Germany, they came first for the Communists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist; And then they came for the trade unionists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist; And then they came for the Jews, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew; And then . . . they came for me . . . And by that time there was no one left to speak up.”

SO — you’d all better help the dog breeders fight the HSUS puppy mill legislation or else you won’t have the dog breeders to fight for you when they come for you!!! David

By: Jeff S.

Jeff S. — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:31:05 +0000

Ohio beat the pants off HSUS and their did not amount to a hill of beans, buyt we know they will be back. They are just waiting to get their officials in office. If Missourians care anything about eating meat….they will jump on the bandwagon with the farmers. Animal rights is a social movement and has nothing to do with saving animals or welfare of animals. It has to do with ending animal ownership or using animals for entertainment, like dog shows, horse and dog racing, acquariums and zoos, or use of animals to eat like hunting and fishing. The way they believe to show more compassion to animals is to become veggan….Do you want to become veggan, do you want that shoved down your throat without a choice?
I hope if they try this in Missouri – please go for a ballot initiative where votes are counted and there can be a win by the people and not the crusading of our goverment respresentatives by HSUS. The people spoke in Ohio by a 2/3 majority.
Jeff

By: noname

noname — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:10:16 +0000

Well Yes if you are going to use the term Puppy Mill and help the HSUS further martket the term. A term that is used to collect enough donations to become a threat to the cattle indsutry. Then you are correct they are going after Puppy Mills first. They are warming up on the undefined term to come in and get you folks next. Once they are gone why would those attacked want to compound the post tramatic stress they just went through to protect your rights? Maybe because it is the right thing to do. Lets stop assiting the HSUS and other domestic terrorist and join to stop these crazies in thier path. So they will not do this anymore. All Animal Industry people unite. This attack is on you too. The money they will generate will be used against you next.

By: Karen Strange (MoFed)

Karen Strange (MoFed) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:52:22 +0000

Your comment “Let’s hope it’s puppy mills and HSUS decided it can’t afford to fight a two-front war against legitimate animal users” really bothers me. I have been working hard against the spread of the animal rights movement in the state of Missouri for nearly twenty years, largly without the help of the ag community other than the cattlemen and pork producers. Others have merely sat on their hands and looked at me as though I were crying wolf for no reason.
The barn is already on fire and it’s burning hot! The attack against Missouri’s professional dog breeders IS an attack on agriculture! Although dogs are not a food source and are often considered a part of the family, the production of them IS agriculture. Keep in mind that the proposed ballot measure INCLUDES legal, licensed professional dog breeders who do an excellent job of caring for their animals. It is not about clean cages; it is about empty cages. Animal rights groups such as HSUS are NOT animal protectionists, they are animal eliminators!
Many in the ag community are sighing a big relief that the target is “those awful dog breeders.” Don’t be fooled by the wolf in sheep’s clothing! For many years, the HSUS and associated animal rights groups have targeted dog breeders, using propaganda, distortions and outright lies to gain sympathy and money from the unknowing public. The money gained from the passionate plea to help the puppies will be used to go after ALL ag interests.
Missouri has many professional, legal, licensed and caring dog breeders who do an excellent job of producing healthy, happy puppies for public demand. Sure there are bad apples in the industry just as there are in every walk of life, but we do not eliminate every professional due to the actions of a few. There are laws already in Missouri to address kennels along with cruelty and abuse of animals.

By: Diane

Diane — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:44:32 +0000

“Let’s hope it’s puppy mills and HSUS has decided it can’t afford to fight a two-front war against legitimate animal users.” Give me a break. Lest animal agriculture forgets, HSUS and its ilk of like-minded animal rights groups such as PETA have ONE goal in mind – and that is the end of ALL animal use – period. So while we all hate sub-standard kennels, agriculture needs to keep in mind that “puppy mill” legislation introduced by HSUS last year in more than 25 states had absolutely nothing to do with the welfare of animals and more about setting a precedent in declaring an arbitrary number of animals one is allowed to own lest you be considered a “puppy mill” – a term coined by the animal rights industry for which there is no legal definition – it is a perjorative term used to imply that ALL breeders are “puppy mills.” So agriculture – if you want help from other animal owners when it comes to protecting YOUR rights, you might want to think twice before throwing other forms of animal use “under the bus.”

By: Debbie

Debbie — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 22:57:23 +0000

Please define a “puppy mill”,

I think ALL animal owners, as well as all hunters in Missouri should ban together to fight the HSUS, as a united group, we could fight and WIN !!