Dogfight DNA Database:
Using "science" to kill dogs and profile dog owners
The "humane" war against pit bulls and their owners has raged for 30 years or more and continues to kill defenseless dogs belonging to persons who have not yet gone to trial. It continues to fill the coffers of corporate "humane" killing machines"
But you knew all that. The scourge of
But whoring out the field of genetic research in order to more efficiently ruin dog breeders, destroy their families and kill their dogs?
How low can you go?
The ethics of building a genetic law enforcement database
It seems that for the last 18 months the ASPCA has been collecting DNA samples from dogs seized during "dog-fighting investigations (sic)" and from "suspected (sic) dog-fight venues."
So the pit bull genes in the database are guilty until proven innocent. Which sounds about right, coming from Agent Orange.
But here's the thing: The ASPCA is a private corporation with limited law enforcement authority ONLY within the City of New York. Its employees are not public servants. Did the ASPCA obtain the consent of the dog owners involved before genetic samples were taken ? If not, who authorized the sampling?
Did they steal the genetic material?
Melinda Merck, the ASPCA's forensic head honcho, says that "juries expect forensic science to support the evidence that's presented to them, and animal cruelty cases are no exception. This database breaks new ground in supplying that evidence for dog fighting investigations. . . ."
But Merck is a liar.
An established genetic relationship between two dogs is evidence of an established genetic relationship between two dogs. Not dogfighting.
Hint: Every single American Pit Bull Terrier on the planet has an established genetic relationship with fighting dogs. Every last one of them. Every APBT breeder on the planet breeds dogs with a "genetic relationship" with fighting dogs. Every trainer trains them, and every APBT owner owns them.
Until 50 years ago, or less depending on the state, dogfighting was a legal activity.
Get where I'm going with this?
And somebody, somewhere, bred them.
The DNA database is evidence of nothing. It's a frame up. A fake. A money-grubbing farce. And an insult to the general public's intelligence and sense of justice.
"Establishing connections" in order to kill dogs
In its press release, Merck and the ASPCA claimed that. . .
"DNA analysis and matching through the database will help law enforcement agencies to identify relationships between dogs, enabling investigators to establish connections between breeders, trainers, and dog-fight operators."
Tim Rickey, who came to the ASPCA from the Humane Society of Missouri (and HSMO is a DNA Database partner) blew right by the ethical issues:
"This will be an important tool. They can tie animals back to one or more convicted dogfighters and show they're from the same bloodline. It's a solid piece of evidence in a criminal case."
Exactly. If your dog goes back to fighting dogs, you're going to jail and your dog has to die. The database "proves" it.
Its all so simple. And Tim Rickey should know.
Rickey is a "graduate" of the National Cruelty Investigations School -- a 5 day program costing $600 - $650 (10% early bird discount!) -- run under the auspices of the University of Missouri and established in partnership with. . .wait for it. . .
the Humane Society of the United States.
Rickey may even have been taught by HSUS "experts."
Under the new partnership, HSUS experts on animal cruelty will teach some of the classes. This partnership is part of The HSUS’ Humane Society University, which provides professional development opportunities
Feeling better yet?
Hopping aboard the Dogfight DNA Gravy Train
It's not just Merck and the ASPCA lining up to kill dogs based on cheek swab results.
In addition to Missouri Humane, there's the Louisiana SPCA -- the very people that killed Floyd Boudreaux' pit bulls on arrival at the shelter, and tried to brush off the slaughter as "an assumption."
And the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory at the University of California at Davis.
They've all partnered up with Merck and the ASPCA. They all want a piece of that sweet, sweet CSI Humaniac pie.
Like the ASPCA, LASPCA and HSMO, Davis has its hand out, too. Its not just the "humane community" that uses dogfighting as a fundraiser.
Persistent concerns from civil rights-minded advocacy groups about racial profiling and genetic privacy?
Calls for "ethically rigorous and practical guidance for investigators and research ethics boards"? Not a U C Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory problem.
Davis apparently sees no conflict in genetically profiling dogs which will almost certainly be exterminated as a result, participating in the misuse of genetic research in a pathetic and desperate attempt to convict dog owners of felonies, their joined-at-the-hip partnership with the extremist animal rights ASPCA, and their mission as veterinarians.
When public universities ally themselves with private corporations in order to make money, kill dogs and send people to jail, I've got a problem with that.
U C Davis' School of Veterinary Medicine has a Dean, and an advisory council.
Could they all be okay with prostituting the University of California at Davis?
Let's find out.
________________________
June 22 post script:
Blue Dog State is hearing from APBT owners and breeders that previously used U C Davis to screen for genetic illnesses. They fear DNA from their animals was used in the "dogfight" database.
I encourage any dog owner, and especially any "pit bull" owner that used Davis for genetic testing, to contact the Dean and his advisors and express your concerns in a frank and uninhibited manner. Be sure to mention that the DNA in their database appears to have been stolen, placing them in receipt of stolen property. U C Davis could (and should) be sued.
See link above for contact info, or for phone calls, faxes and snail mail:
Dean Bennie I. Osburn
University of California
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616
Phone: (530)-752-1360 FAX: (530) 752-2801
Manager: Linda Ybarra
Executive Associate Dean - Academic Programs: John R. Pascoe
Manager: Erin Seay Phone: (530) 752-1324 FAX: (530) 752-2801
Associate Dean - Academic Programs: Jan E. Ilkiw
Manager: Erin Seay Phone: (530) 752-1324 FAX: (530) 752-2801
Associate Dean - Clinical Programs: David Wilson
Manager: Bill Herthel Phone: (530) 752-2992 FAX: (530) 752-9620
Associate Dean - Student Programs: Rance LeFebvre
Manager: Yasmin Williams Phone: (530) 752-1383 FAX: (530) 752-8315
Associate Dean - Research and Graduate Education: Kent C. Lloyd
Manager: Juanita Humphrey Phone: (530) 752-6865 FAX: (530) 752-2801
Assistant Dean - Research Development: Juanita C. Humphrey
Phone: (530) 752-6865 FAX: (530) 752-2801
Associate Dean - Public Programs: Donald J. Klingborg
Manager: Jan McCarthy Phone: (530) 752-6895 FAX: (530) 752-7563
Assistant Dean - Administration: Doreen E. Franke
Manager: Kathleen Spurr Phone: (530) 752-1370 FAX: (530) 752-2801
Assistant Dean - Development: Kelly J. Nimtz
Manager: Willa Weiand Phone: (530) 752-6261 FAX: (530) 754-8774
Be sure to communicate with the referring vet you used, and feel free to post a copy of any correspondance here.
Way to go, Davis. Partnering up with the ASPCA is a wonderful way to encourage confidence in your clients. Not.
Am wracking my brains - -
ReplyDeleteand - -
can't see any reason this is of value;
don't know WHY anyone would think this was legit;
AND - UC Davis has made one hell of a stupid mistake! I have lose ALL respect for them!
of course they got their permission to take the dogs' dna when the people took deals and signed over their dogs. signing over the dogs means signing over rights to their dna too.
ReplyDeletethat is obviously part of why they were in a big hurry to get those cases closed. that, and that it isn't over yet, plenty of people from the MO stuff not only turned over their dogs for the further persecution of others but are also giving them information in that regard as well.
We are looking into the information for our clients and will be forthcoming with further information as we get it. Please be assured that all client information is confidential and is not released to any organization or person unless authorized to do so by the dog owner. The article stated that the University of California at Davis Veterinary Genetic laboratory is the testing laboratory for the SPCA. The registries (ADBA, UKC and AKC) all use MMI Genomics for their DNA analysis and these two genetic laboratories use different systems that are not similar. ( i.e. they analize different alleles) For idenity or parentage you have to compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges for it to be valid. I know this sound like a witch hunt, but we still have courts of law that requires legal use of evidence.
ReplyDeleteA fighting dog is a dog that is trained, conditioned and has been fought. It is not a dog bred from fighting lines. In the same way that a search and rescue dog is a dog that has been trained and used for search and rescue. Just because his mother and father have been used for search and rescue does not mean that he will be a search and rescue dog, unless he is trained and conditioned and used for this purpose. He might have inherited all of the physical and mental abilities to excell in this function, but unless he is trained and use for this purpose, guess what …. He is NOT a search and rescue dog. This is the same situation that we have when folks try to say that your dog is a fighting dog because one of his ancestors was used for fighting. Considering the breed history, if the SPCA, HSUS and others could use this argument in court, then there is no APBT or American Staffordshire Terrier that would stand a chance, because as our history shows, ALL come down from fighting dogs, as this was the original purpose of the breed back in the day.
Be assured that the ADBA is fighting for the breed and its owners and we will use all of our resources to protect and safeguard. We want responsible owners to get their dogs out to our clubs show and pulls to show off these dogs in a positive light. The only dog owners that have anything to fear are those that are using their dogs for illegal purposes.
Regards,
Amy G. Burford
American Dog Breeders Association Inc.