HSUS Is Evil. And Proud Of It.

Lobbying, fundraising and vegan food fun

Donations to the Humane Society of the United States at work

How a national extremist agenda gets served with a smile in New York

With a scant three weeks left in the New York legislative session and not a whole lot to show for it yet, employees of the Humane Society of the United States--the largest, wealthiest animal extremist organization in the world--kicked in to high gear in late May.

Endgame strategy?

Convert brains at the state capital into gelatinous mush, the HSUS way.

HSUS Regional Director Patrick Kwan: Hey, that's how he rolls.

And Kwan appears to have packed his toothbrush and airline frequent flyer card as the critical end-of-legislative-session last week of May came to a close. As Kwan's Twitter log of activities documented, the HSUS's point man in New York didn't spend much time at home as the lobbying season reached its climax.

From social calls on hens roosters (oops! good the Farm Sanctuary supporter got that pesky detail ironed out), a cameo appearance on public radio, and a barnstorming campaign through upstate New York, Kwan racked up the mileage. And he kept up a steady barrage of tweets and twitters--keep those home fires burning!--as he did it.

Bliggety blogs, facey spaces and tweetie pages

So here's Kwan's own rendition of how he spent the last week of May, with notations in bold. [And, yeah, I removed the links plugging extremist websites. They can get their own damn blogs.]

May 24: Visiting the rescued roosters . . . b4 their trip to sanctuary

May 25: Met Bernadine, a broiler hen believed to have escaped from truck. . .

May 27: My interview w/ WNYC

Assm Lentol @NYSenate Stavisky bill to strengthen NY animal fighting laws

Note: Kwan's radio interview mentions neither Asy. Lentol or Sen. Stavisky. Lentol chairs the committee where HSUS's proposal is now stalled and Stavisky is the Senate sponsor of the proposal.

But hey, a free tweet is a free tweet.

May 27: 3 "hens" I transported . . .are roosters. . . .

May 28: Visits & meetings w/ @FarmSanctuary + Tompkins County SPCA today; Lobbying for Animals workshop in Ithaca tonight

Note: Sen. James Seward, representing Ithaca, sits on the NY Senate Agriculture committee. On May 28, several extremist proposals, including one endorsed by the Humane Society of the United States, were stalled in the the NYS Senate Ag. Com.

Taste of Thai in Ithaca Commons was awesome - seitan + labeled vegan desserts May 29: Great meeting w/ the fine folks of Citizens Campaign for the Environment who are doing amazing anti-CAFO work. Watertown, NY

Note: Watertown is home to Senate Ag. Committee chair, Darrel Aubertine.

Had privilege to meet his son Ken Wiwa at Amnesty AGM RT @amnesty Ken Saro-Wiwa: The Legacy of an Environ. Defender Jefferson County SPCA loves ZooToo and shows it!

Note: Aubertine's home, near Watertown, is in Jefferson County

Will get to Syracuse around midnight to celebrate their 1st anniversay. 30%off vegan milkshakes + free cupcakes!

Note: Syracuse is the home district of Sen. D. Valesky. Valesky is the third ranking Democrat in NY's Democratically controlled Senate, and he sits on the Senate Ag. committee.

May 30: Just spoke to an amazing + inspiring crowd of anti-puppy mills advocates


Back to NYC tmrrw nite after advocacy tour of Woodstock, Binghamton, Watkins Glen, Ithaca, Watertown, Delmar, + Syracuse!

Note: Sen. Neil Breslin represents Delmar and sits on the NYS Senate Ag. committee.

At Recess Cafe in Syracuse for every Sat all-you-can-eat $5 vegan BBQ. In a business suit. Ha! May 31: Demo today from 11am-Noon in Cicero, NY to urge Petland to stop supporting puppy mills + selling puppies. See you there? Syracuse Airport - GOOD: Free WiFi + Ziploc bags at security BAD: No soymilk at the Au Bon Pain. Urgh

So, connect the dots. What do you get?


On June 2, two anti-pet breeder proposals--disguised as anti-"puppymill" bills--moved favorably out of the NY Senate Ag. committee.

One proposal would shut down small, hobby pet breeders. The other one is a limit law which will close moderate-to-large kennels and catteries. Both are in perfect alignment with HSUS head honcho Wayne Pacelle's "One generation and out. We have no problem with the extinction of domestic animals." goal. HSUS backs similar proposals in many states, most notably California.

The New York State Ag. Committee is chaired by the senator from Watertown. Members include the senators representing Delmar, Ithaca and Syracuse. Coincidence?

I'm just saying. . .

Your donations at work: gelatinous mush through lower intestines


Patrick hasn't posted his Travel & Expense report on Twitter, but zig-zagging around upstate New York doesn't come cheap. New York ain't Texas, but its a far piece from Brooklyn to Woodstock to Syracuse to Delmar to. . .

Somebody's got to pay.

I'm thinking its going to be the animals. The ones that remain caged in shelters throughout the country--particularly the pit bulls--because HSUS chooses to spend its money on lobbying, public relations and expanding its own influence.

And leaves the messy stuff to others.

New York City Housing Authority Bans 27 Dog Breeds

Are some dog owners more equal than others in Big Blue NYC? Pet-friendly New York's Eve of Destruction On May 1, New York's NYCHA intends to enforce its new "pet policy" for the almost 178,000 apartments scattered throughout New York's five boroughs in its control. NYCHA provides homes to more than 400,000 New Yorkers.

Never much of a pet-friendly landlord, in 2002 NYCHA agreed to allow tenants one dog or cat, providing the pet was neutered and weighed 40 lbs. or less. But that was then. This is now. Seems that policy was just too liberal. Dig it. With explanations like "too many incidents of people’s dogs doing what they aren’t supposed to", NYCHA announced new rules, including breed specific prohibitions in a state that forbids breed specific laws. NYCHA's policy is in direct contradiction to an exisiting state law. As of May 1, 2009, the following dogs are prohibited (maybe):

Akita Inu, Alangu Mastiff, Alano Español, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Argentine Dogo, Bedlington Terrier, Boston Terrier, Bull and Terrier, Bull Terrier, Bully Kutta, Cane Corso, Dogue de Bordeaux, Dogo Sardesco, English Mastiff, Fila Brasiliero, Gull Dong, Gull Terr, Irish Staffordshire Bull, Korean Jindo Dog, Lottatore Brindisino, Neapolitan Mastiff, Perro de Presa Canario (Canary Dog), Perro de Presa Mallorquín (Ca de Bou), Shar Pei, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Tosa Inu. Also: any dog predicted to weigh more than 25 lbs. when full grown And even more: Even though this is all supposed to commence tomorrow, the list of breeds seems to change several times a day. The above list came from an NYCHA publication. Since then Boxers, Dobermans, German Shepherds, and Rottweilers have been included in assorted other news items. I think I saw Golden Retrievers on one. SNAFU at NYCHA Your guess is as good as mine as to which dogs are going to be illegal in six hours or so. I called NYCHA. Three times. NYCHA isn't talking. They're too busy "tweaking" their list. Who came up with that bizarre list of prohibited breeds? Was it their carefully compiled and well-documented records of dog-related incidents involving Gull Dongs ? How many problem Alangu Mastiffs live in the New York City public housing projects, anyway? Unexplained weight loss

Here's how it all began:

Dogs in public housing were becoming a headache. So, rather than work towards the enforcement of New York's comprehensive animal control laws (don't they watch Animal Precinct??? how do they avoid it???) the agency decided that 40 lbs. was "too much."

They figured 25 lbs. was a better number. And then . . . . . .the agency looked into popular breeds used for dog fighting. The result was a list of about 30 types of dogs that will be prohibited from being registered in public housing after May 1. NYCHA’s pet policy overview consists of an odd mix of large and small dogs believed to be aggressive, and rare breeds. Like a lot of other dog-bite related "science", the list seems to be stuck together with chewing gum and bullshit, and maybe a little 'net surfing. Poor people and their dogs don't count ? New Yorkers aren't crazy about BSL. Not at all. Big blue New York has resisted negative stereotyping of dogs and dog owners for years. Maybe NYCHA figures New Yorkers just don't want to know happens in the projects? Is this a "people like us" vs. "people like them" thingie? Poor people just don't deserve pets? Is that the reasoning? Rich people have more rights than folks in the projects?

Say whaaat? Enter Dracula Peter Vallone Jr., Stage Right

Proving once and for all that he is a complete media whore, Vallone couldn't resist the opportunity to shoot his mouth off uh make a fool of himself uh pander once again to the public's most fearful, most racist tendencies-- "Finally someone is realizing that these potentially dangerous animals have no place in a confined urban space," said City Councilman Peter Vallone (D-Queens), who has unsuccessfully lobbied state legislators to ban the dogs. Think Vallone has a clue about what he's saying? Any clue at all? How many out of control Bedlington Terriers are there in New York public housing projects ? I'm so excited. I just can't hide it. With the ASPCA in there "negotiating" with NYCHA, and May 1st just hours away. . . the tension's killing me. To calm my nerves, I'm gonna write a letter to the Chairman of the New York City Housing Authority, Ricardo Elías Morales. I'm going to ask him why rich people are protected by the laws of New York State, but people living in city housing projects aren't. Then I'm going to ask him what he's got against Boston Terriers and the people who love them. . .even if they aren't rich.

You should, too.

Pet Airways: No red carpets for "pit bulls"

Special requirements for "certain" dogs, plus a dose of corporate snark

What a way to run a pet-friendly airline!

The 8 per cent solution: Enough to make Best Friends look the other way on discrimination?

So, here's an interesting problem in corporate ethics. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary--the animal rights giant that makes a very big deal about how pit bulls are no different than other dogs--just announced a partnership with brand new Pet Airways.

Pet Airways has generously made a financial commitment to Best Friends and will also be donating flights to help transport rescued and adopted pets, says Namrata Chand, Best Friends cause marketing manager.

“Their services will not only provide a safe, comfortable and fast way to transport animals, but will also be a big cost savings for Best Friends,” Chand says.

In addition, eight percent of the price of each Pet Airways ticket purchased by Best Friends supporters will be donated to Best Friends.

Sounds like a sweet deal for everybody, right?

Wrong. And I'm here to tell you why.

No "separate but equal" for doggies

Looking past all the festivities and celebrations on Best Friends' website, the owners of "certain" dogs are going to find the following requirement buried in Pet Airway's contract of carriage:

SHIPMENTS SUBJECT TO ADVANCE ARRANGEMENTS The following shipments shall be acceptable for carriage by Carrier only upon Advance Arrangements: ... (D) Shipments of the following breeds of dog: Pit Bull, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Saffordshire Bull Terrier, Presa Canario.

Its kind of like the Alabama "Literacy Test." Sure, everyone gets to vote.

Blacks and Latinos just had to pass a little test first.

No big deal. Right?

Pet Airways spokespeople: snark and doubletalk

Consider this email exchange between a Pet Airways Customer Care professional--re-named "Dick"--, and a potential Pet Airways client:

Dick: . . .[Y]ou are not presenting owners of this breed in a very good light. It seems to me that you are the one that has the aggressive tendency, not your pet. We are trying to do something good for all breeds, so I suggest that next time a little less antagonism and a little more dialog would be a better way to approach a situation. If you have an issue, I suggest you talk before you jump to conclusions. We can always amend our policies based on calm dialog, can you amend your behavior?

["Dick" later continued]

You obviously have issues. We are trying to help, you are not. Please seek professional help. You are more aggressive than your pit bull.

In other words, Pet Airways responded with a defensive snit yielding condescension, negative stereotypes, and that old stand-by: deny, deny, deny.

"Dick" apparently thought his approach was best for dealing with gang-banging, drug-dealing, dog-fighting "pit bull owner." Did he get it from the Pet Airways customer care manual?

Another silver-tongued Pet Airways spokesperson showed up over at Yes, Biscuit. This time, the explanation was that. . . The reality is this we work with Best Friends to transport those very dogs that you say we are discriminating against. In fact, we are the only airline that even would consider transporting dogs with aggressive pasts. Dogs with aggressive pasts" ? WTF? Sometimes it's best to just step away from the keyboard, guys. Really. Crap, they had to haul out a dictionary to explain what "discrimination" means over at Yes, Biscuit. "Selecting some breeds for different consideration" . . .hellloooo ? Partnering up with Pet Airways: what Best Friends brought to the table

I'm getting this vision of the deal struck between Best Friends and Pet Airways.

Best Friends gets 8%, and in exchange Pet Airways gets a slice of that sweet, sweet Vicktory Dog pie. I'm thinking maybe a little clip on "Dog Town" as Pet Airways delivers one or two "fighting dogs" -- infant puppies that managed to survive their rescuers, duly delivered for $190,000's worth of rehabilitation, each, in Kanab, Utah.

Quid pro quo. Business. "Cause Marketing", even.

But what do you wanna bet "national pit bull stakeholders" would lap it up?

Let's predict the future! Why not?

Take Blue Dog's poll! Make your voice heard!

After all, your wildest imaginings, and most bumbling verbalizations, couldn't be any worse than Pet Airways' performance.

How will it all end? With a bang, or a whimper?
	BFAS, in a fit of shame and embarrassment, will force Pet Airlines to mend their ways.
	Pet Airlines is in it for the money, and will walk away from the flying pit bull market rather than fix the problem.
	After thinking it over, Pet Airlines will completely refuse service for "pit bulls" and Presas, but also 30 other breeds and types. Hey, why not?
	Other (go for it! -- use the blog's comments section)
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Blogger's note: Roughly six hours after this blog went up, and 18 hours after Yes Biscuit's blog went up regarding Pet Airways' policy on "pit bulls" and Presas. . .the offensive wording was deleted from the Contract of Carriage on Pet Airway's website.

Hey, Pacelle! Suck it up and fire John Goodwin!

Talk's cheap, Wayne. Why don't you ditch the criminals working for HSUS?

Then maybe. . .just maybe. . .you'll have a basis for conversation with true "pit bull stakeholders."

Too much talk, not enough action.

HSUS's long-promised meeting of "national pit bull stakeholders" in Vegas was held on Wednesday. Everybody went home days ago.

It seems that Best Friends managed to forgive the Humane Society of the United States and wag its tail over HSUS's change of heart: no more automatic killing of innocent dogs. Maybe.

Is the "breakthrough" all its cracked up to be?

Future protocols and updated manuals: pesky details not available.

Forgive me if I refrain from doing cartwheels across the lawn, Wayne.

Not while "animal protection" for pit bulls remains exponentially missing in action and HSUS's Dogfight Czars remain on the job.

HSUS's new position on dogs seized during dogfight busts is like swiss cheese. . .plenty of places for the lives of vulnerable dogs to get lost.

Little feet are tap-tap-tapping, Wayne.

Here are some real deal stakeholder recommendations for the Humane Society of the United States:

1. Fire John Goodwin, HSUS's ranking "fighting dog expert" -- and Animal Liberation Front terrorist. HSUS foisted Goodwin and that "HSUS says pit bulls must die, die, die" policy on the public for years. Goodwin has no place in a reformed Humane Society of the United States, and no credibility with the sheltering community.

2. Fire Amanda Arrington and Chris Schindler -- the two HSUS employees who testified that nursing pit bull puppies are a threat to public safety. They are liars.

3. Fire Patrick Kwan, HSUS's New York director, too. Kwan is busy telling people that New York law treats dogfighting spectators like people who don't put enough spare change in parking meters, and claims that, accordingly, hordes of dogfighters from Jersey travel to New York. The myth Kwan is struggling to create is almost as ridiculous as the "baby pit bull puppies are too dangerous to live" thing. See point two above.

Put some effort into it, Pacelle.

Stop employing liars and criminals. Because the sworn testimony of Humane Society of the United States state Director, Amanda Arrington, during the February 16, 2009 hearing in Wilkes County (NC) Superior Court makes one thing very clear: the "animal protection" racket knows no shame. Fifteen minutes of HSUS "expertise" killed 146 pit bulls Two months ago, Ms. Arrington -- backed up by HSUS's Chris Schindler -- appears to have based her assertion that it was Best Friends Animal Society that set the $190,000 per dog cost for rehabilitating "fighting dogs" on an amicus brief signed by 11 amici in November, 2007, during the wild scramble of the Michael Vick prosecution. The amicus brief originally estimated a rehabilitation cost of $2,500 per dog. The figure mysteriously staggered on up to the astronomical $190,000 that Arrington used in court. The later version of the amicus was amended to read-- Rehabilitation of fighting dogs is a time consuming, labor intensive effort which requires 4 to 6 hours each day per dog. Qualified trainers earn between $50.00-$75.00 per hour. At 5 hours a day, 30 days a month, this is $9,750 dollars per month of training. To this, add food and veterinary care, and the price to rehabilitate a fighting dog is a little more than $10,000 per month. If training and rehabilitating a dog takes 18 months, the cost rises to $180,000 plus the run cost of $10,000 or $190,000 per dog. With "amici" like that. . . Was the insane overstatement of likely costs a case of lawyerly maneuvering? Did the amici put that astronomical number out there in order to soak the target (Vick) for the max? Did avarice get in the way of common sense? On their own website Best Friends gave a base estimate at $40,000 per dog for a lifetime of care in an institutional setting, (with the warning that the cost could be higher in the case of the Vick dogs).

Heartless in Wilkesboro: the Humane Society of the United States Arrington simply asserted that, "in their own words," Best Friends said it would take about $190,000 to rehabilitate each of Ed Faron's dogs. Even the nursing puppies. HSUS's "experts" didn't protest the outrageous guesstimate of $190,000 for each dog. HSUS didn't offer to rehab the dogs for less. In fact, HSUS didn't offer a dime from their own extensive resources -- not surprising since in 2007, the Humane Society of the United States contributed less that 4% of its $91.5 million budget to the sheltering of pet animals. HSUS was out to kill those dogs.

Two months later, you're asking us to believe that four days in Las Vegas changed all that ?

Nathan Winograd's got the skinny on how things went in Vegas, and he's not too optimistic on how the "bust summit accords" will shake out.

[W]e hold back comprehensive progress because Wayne Pacelle won’t allow for more, and we accept it for no rational, financial, or practical reasons other than Pacelle refuses. It doesn’t have to be this way. It is only this way because we let it be. The power he has is the power we give him.

Let me add a big fat raspberry from Blue Dog State. Like Winograd, I'll believe it when I see it.

HSUS on Pit Bulls: Better Off Dead

$190 Thousand per Pup: Price tag for an innocent life? HSUS's sworn court testimony pushes for puppy slaughter The two HSUS baby Dog Fight Czars -- Amanda Arrington and Chris Schindler -- that testified before Superior Court Judge Ed Wilson Jr. in Wilkesboro, North Carolina in February, got what they wanted: The deaths of every last one of Ed Faron's dogs. The dogs had been seized as evidence in a dogfighting prosecution. A number of the puppies held by Wilkes County were born after the seize took place -- they had never lived at Wildside Kennels at all. All of them, even puppies like this one -- so young they were still nursing -- were killed following HSUS's "expert testimony." There were no evaluations of the individual dogs. No assessments of their histories, their health, their temperaments, their potential. Nothing. HSUS arranged for them all to die. HSUS's weasel words in open court Arrington and Schindler agreed, in court and under oath, that all of the Wildside Kennel dogs had to die. To quote Arrington's rendition of standard HSUS die, die, die policy: "I think it is an unrealistic expectation for us to ask these dogs that have been bred generations for fighting to become regular pets. " Arrington--an HSUS Regional Director--is apparently in total denial of how well the Vick dogs have done. Figures, since HSUS wanted the Vick dogs dead, too. Chris Schindler, HSUS's Deputy Manager, Animal Fighting Enforcement, put it this way: "These dogs have been bred for generations upon generations for a single purpose of animal fighting; the puppies included." What a crock of shit. That is the history of every "fighting dog" in the world. Its the history of every terrier worth its salt. Yet they can be excellent pets. Pit bulls -- bred for fighting for generations and yadda yadda -- have won the hearts of Americans for centuries. James Thurber's short story about life with a pit bull that came from "fighting lines" ran in the New Yorker in 1935. Find a copy at your library, and keep the Kleenex box handy. The $190,000 question: perjury? or extortion?

During her February 16, 2009 testimony, Arrington said something halfway unusual, though.

She testified that Best Friends Animal Society put a price tag on the cost to rehabilitate the Wildside dogs: $190,000. Each. Arrington: [Best Friends is] offering to assist. That is their language that they used. That means it would still be the county's responsibility. And in their own words, it costs about $190,000 per dog to rehabilitate them. THE COURT: $190,000 to rehabilitate a dog? MS. AMANDA ARRINGTON: Yes, sir. THE COURT: That's what Best Friends says? MS. AMANDA ARRINGTON: Yes.

Sounds like the Court had a little trouble digesting that figure, but HSUS's Chris Schindler backed her up on it:

"THE COURT: Sir, did you want to add something?

MR. CHRIS SCHINDLER: I'm Chris Schindler. I'm the Deputy Manager, Animal Fighting Law Enforcement, Humane Society of the United States. Your Honor, basically agree with all the things that everyone else has said. . ."

Pennies from heaven? Not hardly.

So, where did that $190,000 figure come from?

Did Best Friends Animal Society, which walked off with a huge chunk of Michael Vick's money, really hope to get $190,000 per dog for the Wildside Kennels pups?

Or did the Humane Society of the United States just make up more shit--also known as perjury--in order to impress the court?

Hard to say, isn't it? Plenty of questions, not many answers

Yes Biscuit is building quite a list of unanswered questions.

Caveat's got some good ones, too.

Me? I'd like to know if Arrington and Schindler are going to just -- poof! -- disappear, now that HSUS's heartless, sick fuck up in Wilkes County is becoming public knowledge.

Kinda like what happened to Laura Maloney, LA SPCA's former director.

The woman who okayed the slaughter of Floyd Boudreaux' dogs made a hasty move to Australia, beyond the reach of subpoenas, reporters and pesky bloggers, before Floyd's trial began.

Will HSUS disappear Arrington and Schindler? HSUS's date with "national pit bull stakeholders" in a no-tell hotel in Vegas is fast approaching and Arrington and Schindler are pariahs.

If HSUS wants to convince the world that "change" is a word in its vocabulary, too, I'm thinking Arrington and Schindler's days are numbered.

Not that ditching two little baby Dog Fight Czars will make a difference.

The final question

Does the Humane Society of the United States speak for you?

Or are you as revolted by all the lies, killing and fund-raising masquerading as "animal protection" as I am?

What's it gonna be?

Dogfighting: Does HSUS speak for you?

Baby Dogfight Czars press the flesh at state capitals Humane Society of the United States barnstorms the country Does Wayne Pacelle, and John Goodwin, speak for you? Don't look now, but the world's largest, wealthiest animal extremist organization claims to represent us all as it delivers its twisted message to legislators coast to coast. After insisting for years that nursing pit bull puppies are too dangerous to live, HSUS wants to consolidate its position in the minds of elected officials as the supreme source on all dogfighting questions. It just doesn't get any sicker. Doubletalk and weasel words: Patrick Kwan works the New York crowds Kwan's large travel budget goes without saying. But, impressive T & E funds only go so far. Baby Dogfight Czar Kwan laid a couple of big ones as he struggled to charm. HSUS's relentless campaign in the Empire State includes "Lobbying 101" classes that hammer New York's dogfighting statutes, and presentations to groups like the Ulster County Democratic Women. As they shake their heads over the abuse of kittens and puppies, I wonder if those nice ladies realized that HSUS does not operate a single shelter for the abused pets it claims to champion, despite its over $100 million in assets? Playing footsie with the facts The alternate version of "reality" Kwan puts out as he criss-crosses New York doesn't stand up to scrutiny. For example. . . Kwan and HSUS insist that New Jersey's dogfighting laws are "better" than New York statutes. According to HSUS, New York should copy New Jersey laws. But HSUS doesn't mention that there are four current proposals to "strengthen" New Jersey dogfighting laws. HSUS will keep on promoting the need to "strengthen" laws until pit bulls are "protected" right into extinction. Want to be the world's capital of dogfighting? Get in line. For New York crowds, HSUS's position is that New York is the "world's capital" of dogfighting. Even though New York is a weak contender for the title. In California, it's California that's in crisis. Or maybe the world's capital is North Carolina? After all, according to HSUS, North Carolina is the "hub of professional dogfighting." Or Maryland? Was it was Maryland that's so soft on dogfighting?

Confused yet? That's because there's no substance, no fact, behind any of these HSUS assertions. Caravans of dogfighters on the NYS Thruway You didn't hear about that one? No? Kwan insists that hoards of Jersey dogfighters are swarming to New York -- which of course they aren't, but what the hell. . . Geez. With all that toll revenue coming from New Jersey wallets, New York better leave their dogfight laws "as is." Where's the fire, baby Dogfight Czar? The truth is that New York averaged only four dogfight convictions annually over the last ten years. The ASPCA confirms that dogfighting is not prevalent in New York City. God knows what Kwan, who moonlights as Super Vegan the restaurant critic, has been smoking. And HSUS won't be satisfied until all pit bulls everywhere are dead. HSUS knocking on state Capitol doors When HSUS speaks to legislators, it lies. It distorts. It makes shit up. HSUS claims a membership of 10 million people . Kwan claims 800,000 New York members, or one out of 24 residents. That's enough to get any legislator's attention. . .unless someone mentions to their public servants that HSUS's 2007 tax returns indicate 420,000 members. Globally. Pressure on legislators from animal rights extremists has never been more intense, and it's going to get much worse. Does HSUS speak for you? HSUS will be in the New York state capital, Albany, on March 30. HSUS will be in your state capital soon, too. If they haven't been there already. So, are you okay with puppy slaughter, manufactured "statistics" and the wild imaginings of baby Dogfight Czars? Looking forward to a bunch of new laws based on lies and fear-mongering? Me? I'm damned if I'll allow my elected representatives to assume that the Humane Society of the United States speaks for me.

It doesn't.

Wayne Pacelle Blinks

Pitbull Puppy Slaughter Campaign puts HSUS on the defensive Did Wayne blink ? Or wince ? Whole lotta butt covering going on at HSUS Turns out the Humane Society of the United States can't throw its weight behind the slaughter of defenseless, un-weaned puppies without hearing from its own constituency. The furor over HSUS's merciless extermination plan for the Wildside Kennels dogs caught some very tender parts of Dogfight Czar John Goodwin--and his boss Wayne Pacelle--in a vise. And then, guess what happened ? Its magic! HSUS's new policy: evaluate dogs before they're killed! Amazing! Five days after the day Wilkes County, NC, bowed to HSUS pressure and killed every single dog seized from Wildside Kennels -- including 60 or more puppies (some born after the seize) -- and 4.99 days after HSUS's shit hit the fan, Wayne Pacelle announces . . .

"an interim policy recommending all dogs be evaluated as individuals. . .[HSUS] is calling a meeting of leading animal welfare organizations concerning dogs victimized by dog fighting."

Wayne was going to do the right thing. Of course he was! Wayne was setting up a conference and everything!

Nevermind what Dogfight Czar Goodwin said : "the dogs have been bred for fighting and it would very difficult and expensive to re-train the dogs, even the puppies. . ."

Nevermind what HSUS's North Carolina Regional Representative, Amanda Arrington, said : "these particular dogs have been bred for aggression." The proper audience response is. . .

Shock and awe

So get with the program. And assume the position.

The magic wand has been waved. Pixie dust is in the air.

Or maybe not.

Will Pit Bull owners and advocates buy into the reformation of HSUS?

I don't know about you, but I'm not about to forget the thousands of helpless dogs that died, and still die each year, because HSUS says they must.

Every shelter dog deserves a fair evaluation. Yes, Biscuit is right.

Does HSUS think their "experts" are up to the task? Cause HSUS brought in an "expert" to look at Pat Patrick's dogs, and we all know how that went.

Kick HSUS the hell out

The Humane Society of the United States needs to get out of the pit bull "rescue" biz.

They have no credibility. They are not "stakeholders" and have no place among the "national stakeholder organizations that deal with pit bulls" that Pacelle says he invited to his little conference. History cannot be rewritten.

Core values won't go away after a kissy-kissy weekend in Vegas.

Wayne Pacelle wants my dog dead.

He wants your dog dead.

Pacelle hired a convicted ALF terrorist, and made the freak his "issues expert" on dogfighting.

He's offering a $5000 bounty for report-a-neighbor "dogfighting" tips.

It doesn't get more irresponsible, more hate-driven, more pathological than that.

Tell ya what, Wayne

Invite Floyd Boudreaux to speak at your little conference. Floyd would likely be the only one in the room with any true expertise on the evaluation, care and handling of high drive, real deal "pit bulls."

Acknowledge the AADR, or the ADBA, or crap, even the UKC, as a "national pit bull stakeholder." Invite them to your Vegas shindig.

Maybe then folks might, just might, believe you aren't still shitting them.

HSUS Kills Puppies

HSUS Kills Puppies
Die, die, die says Dogfight Czar John Goodwin

Newborn puppies are too dangerous to live

127 dogs, including 60 puppies, were killed by Wilkes County, North Carolina this week after their owner plead guilty to dogfighting charges.

His dogs, including 60 puppies -- including newborns like this one -- are all dead.

Newborn puppies are too expensive to save
 
The world's largest, wealthiest "animal protection" organization -- one with over $113 million in assets and a reported income of over $100 million -- stood by while dogs are slaughtered. HSUS advocated it, in fact.

Why?

Goodwin sez. . .

"it would very difficult and expensive to re-train the dogs, even the puppies. . ."

Blogosphere's on fire

This is going to leave a mark, Pacelle.

Some of my favorites--

Caveat has an excellent summary-- Time to Take the "Humane" out of HSUS

Lassie, Get Help: Worse than Vick Yes, indeed.

Yes, Biscuit's got HSUS cold: Pants on Fire

Even HSUS's usual apologists aren't happy. Wayne's trying to change the subject, but the stink of HSUS's role in slaughtering innocent dogs is everywhere.

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No more dead dogs

Sickened by extraordinarily wealthy multinational "animal protection" organizations that advocate the death of tiny puppies? Got a problem with donations to save animals that instead fund killing sprees?

Me, too.

Help get the truth out. Put up the widget, get yourself a blog, newsletter, whatever.

Be a part of the solution.

Racism and intolerance at Westminster: PETA puts on KKK robes

Racism and intolerance at Westminster PETA puts on KKK robes Who's under the sheet and pointy hat? Ingrid Newkirk Those zany kids at PETA planned to embarrass exhibitors and spectators at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show by dressing up in KKK robes. The crowds are supposed to appreciate a provocative, gratuitous comparison between the American Kennel Club and the Ku Klux Klan. But PETA blundered. Ingrid exposed her own intolerant, racist and violent agenda. PETA, the animal rights extremist organization that operates a death camp for pet animals, characterizes certain dog owners as "pimps and drug dealers" and heartily congratulated Lancaster, California, on its racially-motivated anti-gang law, is no champion of pet ownership. Does that robe and hood fit, Ingrid? Then wear it. Bring me your tired, your poor Residents of New York City -- one of the most racially and ethnically diverse cities in the country -- will likely take one look at those robes and hoods and draw their own conclusions. New Yorkers are gonna have a problem with the repugnant sight of white supremacists on the streets of Manhattan. A city that routinely elects gay, Catholic, Jewish, ethnic minority and/or non-white public servants isn't going to be cool with the Klan in Midtown Manhattan. NAACP has a problem with PETA So does the Southern Poverty Law Center. And the Jewish community. PETA's exploitation of racial tragedies and human suffering has a long, sordid history. Back in 2005, PETA encountered intense criticism to their depictions of black people in chains.

“PETA operates by getting publicity any way they can,” said John White, an NAACP spokesman. “They're comparing chickens to black people?” Mark Potok, director of the Intelligence Project with the Southern Poverty Law Center, in Montgomery, Ala., called the exhibit “disgusting.” “Black people in America have had quite enough of being compared to animals without PETA joining in,” he said. PETA officials apologized earlier this year for a campaign that compared the suffering of Jews during the Holocaust with that of factory animals.

Nothing funny about the Klu Klux Klan PETA's own support groups have problems with this latest animal extremist assault. The Superbowl masturbation-with-food video was bad enough, but even Eccentric Vegan displayed more common sense, and more sensitivity, when it came to use of Klan imagery.

"This is not “unfortunate moments in human history” as some anti-PETA spokepeople call the KKK, this is real life, current racism, hate, murder. No one should dress as a Klansman, not even as part of a protest. It’s too confusing, it’s too provocative, it’s too racist. It’s not funny, it’s not safe, it’s not OK."

What would Al Sharpton say ? I have to wonder what New York's Rev. Al Sharpton would have to say at this point. PETA successfully recruited Sharpton, who made a video urging black people to boycott Kentucky Fried Chicken. . .even though Sharpton has no problem with eating fried chicken at all. Is Rev. Sharpton happy to see hoods and robes on 7th Avenue? I'm just saying. . . What would President Obama say ?

How about our president, whose intricate and thoughtful "race speech" included . . .

". . .for all those who scratched and clawed their way to get a piece of the American Dream, there were many who didn't make it - those who were ultimately defeated, in one way or another, by discrimination. . . .For the men and women of Reverend Wright's generation, the memories of humiliation and doubt and fear have not gone away; nor has the anger and the bitterness of those years."

What would President Obama say about animal extremist whackjobs, dressed as Klu Klux Klan members, wandering the streets of New York?

I'm thinking President Obama will have a problem with it, too.

Write President Obama a letter.

The sooner, the better.

There are lots of good reasons to despise PETA's hate-filled Ku Klux Klan campaign. Really, a lot of them. Keep in mind that PETA serves as the advance guard, the shock troops, in the extremist war against pet owners. These pathetic people draped in sheets are expendable. They're cannon fodder. PETA only wants to get the [your choice: racist/intolerant/bigoted/animal rights] ball rolling. Plant the seed. Start the conversation. This won't end with Westminster. So write Barack a letter. Ask him what he thinks of a group that puts on KKK robes and tries to draw a parallel between a dog show and a racist secret society that brought violence, death and destruction to untold numbers of people in the past. . .and continues to do so today. Cause I don't think President Obama will like it. Not at all.

Profiling dog lovers in Lancaster, California

Profiling dog lovers in Lancaster PETA's Ingrid Newkirk does her happy dance California's SB 861 slices off human testicles, too Mayor Parris wants certain dogs, and certain dog owners, gone by sundown. Basing himself on HSUS's "pit bulls are the preferred dog of gang-bangers, drug dealers. . ." fake factoid, Parris and the City of Lancaster are proud of their new breed specific mandatory spay neuter ordinance. They see it as an anti-gang tool. Dog law? Or covert racism? Sucking up to his audience's worst fears, Parris says he has no problem with calculated harassment of certain residents and welcomed the ordinance, which is based on extreme negative stereotypes of both dogs and owners. Critics fear the Lancaster ordinance will lead to profiling of young black and Latino men seen with "pit bulls" or Rottweilers as gang-bangers. Parris wasn't concerned: "I have no desire to help [gang-bangers]. The only thing I want to do is crush them and remove them from the community." Kindly, gently annihilating dogs California's infamous SB 861, supported and co-authored by members of the "humane" movement, opened the door for local ordinances like Lancaster's. Breed specific mandatory surgical removal of reproductive organs is spreading in California. Now Rottweilers and Rottweilers owners have been caught in the crossfire. Love does not discriminate, except in the Golden State where the "humane" movement helped dismantle the protections state law once offered by prohibiting breed profiling. Bad Rap's Excellent Adventure in Legislation The slickest pit bull "rescue" in the country helped write SB 861 -- rationalizing what they did as "re-tooling the preamble of the bill to outline the intent of the bill and to remove the 'dangerous and vicious' language that was going to flatten all of us." As Bad Rap tap dances as best they can, they claim they "officially" opposed SB 861. But how can you collaborate on a proposal and oppose it as the same time? Bad Rap hasn't had a whole lot to say about the Lancaster ordinance, but PETA and Ingrid Newkirk are thrilled. Of course, Ingrid would happily kill every dog Bad Rap wants to find a home for. R. Rex Parris' hate campaign for the eradicatation of pit bulls gang-bangers Bad Rap thinks they removed the language that was going to "flatten" us. Apparently not. It looks like everyone didn't get that memo. Successful lawyer and newbie Mayor R. Rex Parris of Lancaster, California campaigned on a law-and-order, gang-eradication platform. And he sure loves to shoot off his mouth: "I want gangs out of Lancaster," Mayor R. Rex Parris said in a recent interview. "I want to make it uncomfortable for them to be here. Anything they like, I want to take it away from them. I want to deliberately harass them.... "It's really like [gangs] having a weapon that they are allowed to display and intimidate people," Parris said. "If they have a pit bull, they may as well put a sign on their head saying, 'Come get me.' " Then there was:

“I want to deliberately harass the gangs. We will take their dogs; we will take their cars,”

Making it easy for Mayor Parris Think I'm coming down too hard on old Bad Rap? Did I singled them out unfairly? Self-inflicted wounds hurt the most, but let's run the list of the other "humane" organizations and supporters of SB 861. Bad Rap wasn't the only adventurer that took part in the SB 861 feeding-frenzy. Who else helped enable Mayor R. Rex Parris' fear-driven eradication campaign? Step out from the shadows and hang your heads in shame. . . . City and County of San Francisco Counties of Los Angeles, Napa, Tehama Cities of Apple Valley, Concord, Fremont, San Jose, Santa Rosa, West Hollywood Ace of Hearts Dog Rescue Action for Animals Animal Defense League Animal Issues Movement Animal Legislation Action Network Animal Place Animal Switchboard Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights California Animal Control Directors Association California Association of Nurse Anesthetists California Lobby for Animal Welfare Contra Costa Humane Society Doris Day Animal League Friends of Long Beach Animals League of California Cities Peninsula Humane Society PETA United Activists for Animal Rights United Animal Nations Lessons learned? Mayor Parris is busy keeping his hate campaign alive. He doesn't have time to thank those that paved the way for him. I just hope that the members of some of these groups are beginning to understand the terrible repercussions of bad legislation. Innocent dog owners, and innocent dogs, are being hurt by SB 861. Good dogs are dying. There's no such thing as "just a little discrimination." Discrimination cannot be "retooled" into anything more acceptable. Love Does Not Discriminate Pit bull owners know it. Rottweiler owners know it. I believe most dog owners know it. Never, never let public servants -- or humane organizations -- in your community get away with it. _____________________________ Couple of other things: Noted with pleasure: Dogs White People Like Department of "forgot to mention before": Handy dandy contact information for Lancaster, CA

• City Council phone number: 661-723-6019
• email Mayor Parris at rrparris@cityoflancasterca.org

and, last but not least. . .

• Report a hate crime in Lancaster, California (877)728-7322 (7-AT-PEACE)

Dog Owners Stand Up to Abuse of Power In Sioux City, Iowa

First Blue Dog State Feist Award Ever!

Dog Owners Stand Up to Abuse of Power in Sioux City, Iowa Just say no to intimidation Rick and Deborah Borg, pit bull-owning residents of Sioux City, Iowa, spoke out against Sioux City's breed ban and testified against it during city council meetings. They encouraged their friends to do likewise.

In other words, they took part in the democratic process.

City officials, apparently, mailed threatening letters, drafted a "hit list" that sent Animal Control officers to some dog owners' homes to check if the dogs had been licensed and took other actions against residents that testified against the proposal.

Unequal enforcement of the law is a bad, bad thing

By its own admission, Sioux City's dog licensing compliance rate is only 10 - 15%. Unlicensed dogs are NOT a "pit bull" thing in Sioux City.

Wise public servants struggle against the mere appearance of retaliatory tactics and negative profiling of segments of their own constituencies.

Letter to Des Moisnes

The Borgs wrote to William Angrick, ombudsman for the State of Iowa:

"We would like to have your agency investigate this matter and a report be issued including any recommended remedial action."

Good. Let's hope the Borg letter touches off all kinds of remedial action.

May I have the envelope, please?

Meanwhile, Blue Dog State offers its first ever Feist Award to Rick and Deborah Borg. Go forth and take no shit, Rick and Deborah.

Running a close second for the award, by the way: just about the entire State of Montana. Rep. Robyn Driscoll's fear-based and uneducated proposal to ban "pit bulls" from the State of Montana met with the overwhelming scorn it deserved during a hearing at the state capital.

In attempting to defend her proposal, Driscoll dragged out that miserable piece of Humane Society of the United States mythology: "The vast majority of people that are attracted to pit bulls are attracted to the macho reputation of the animal as a living weapon."

Driscoll's proposal required the death of any dog accused of being an unregistered pit bull in the State of Montana.

And Driscoll thinks pit bulls are living weapons???

Heh.

What does she see when she looks in the mirror? _______________________________________________

[original post date of following article: November 24, 2008]

Persecution of Pit Bull Owners Public servants retaliate against breed ban opponents Participation in the democratic process lands dog owners on the shit list Fear and loathing in Sioux City, Iowa Earlier this year Sioux City, Iowa joined the list of pathetic U. S. municipalities that allow hysteria and political pandering to drive public policy. Sioux City showed that negative profiling is alive and well in the heartland when it moved to ban "pit bulls". Mocha, the pup pictured above, isn't welcome anymore. Incredibly, if members of Mocha's family went to a town council meeting and testified against the breed ban -- exercised their right to freedom of speech, in other words -- they unwittingly made themselves a target for special, selective attention from the city clerk's office, and animal control. Sioux City? Not pet-friendly.

Sioux City already required cat licensing, and it has a limit law in place that allows residents a maximum of two dogs per household. Anti-pet and anti-pet owner ordinances are traditional, it seems. Owners of Sioux City dogs accused of criminal pit bull resemblance, and unable to prove that their dog is NOT a pit bull, have ten calendar days to find a way to get their dogs out of the city. That's assuming the dog owner can afford the impoundment fees and other costs associated with seizure, impoundment and prosecution on charges of looking like a pit bull. Because the first thing the city does is take the dog away from his or her owner. If owners don't have the cash, or don't have a place outside the city limits to stash the dog, then Sioux City will kill him. Or her. Heartless in the heartland: "pit bulls" are born guilty Alleged pit bulls are presumed guilty of the crime of being a "pit bull." The burden of proof lands on the dog owner -- who must somehow "prove" to the city manager's satisfaction that their dog is not a "pit bull." Good luck with that, owners of short-haired, medium-to-large, mixed breed or otherwise unpedigreed dogs. Cause you're fresh out of "proof." It doesn't exist. Putting the squeeze on veterinarians The AVMA veterinarian's oath doesn't include becoming a tool in the extermination of innocent dogs. Local vets balked at making breed determinations that will cause the deaths of their patients, and they're beginning to bail on the city's licensing program. We want to take care of the animals --we don't want to I.D. the ones that are supposed to be banned," said [Dr. David] Ray. Lesson learned: Vets involved in law enforcement are gonna have trouble sleeping at night when collaborating with animal control becomes unethical. Push came to shove pretty quickly in Sioux City.

Will Sioux City vets betray their clients' faith and trust? Or will they disengage themselves from breed profiling?

City clerk collects names, addresses

Elected officials in Sioux City have been going around, taking names.

The names and addresses of residents who testified before the city council against the breed ban were databanked by the city clerk's office. 28 households received an intimidating letter from the city clerk threatening them with a $750 fine for failure to license their dogs.

Only people who testified against the breed ban got a letter, even though--by its own admission--Sioux City's license compliance rate is a dismal 10 - 15%.

Chilling effect on the democratic process?

Ya think???

Sioux City's elected officials apparently thought that abuse of power is okay if the victims are just pit bull owners. Maybe they thought no one would care what happens to drug dealers and gangbangers like Mocha's owners.

But trying to shut down opposition through selective enforcement of the law is a recipe for tyranny.

The Iowa State Constitution includes a Bill of Rights. Section 20 reads. . .

The people have the right freely to assemble together to counsel for the common good; to make known their opinions to their representatives and to petition for a redress of grievances.

So what the hell happened in Sioux City? What were Mayor Mike Hobart and City Manager Paul Eckert thinking?

Rights and liberties in Sioux City

In Iowa, cities with a population in excess of 29,000 people -- like Sioux City -- are required to maintain an independent local civil and human rights agency.

The Sioux City municipal code includes a human rights section, and the Sioux City Commission on Human Rights in on 6th Street.

Dog lovers in Sioux City need to have a conversation with the Human Rights Commission.

Abuse of power, retaliation, intimidation. . .is the daily dose for pit bull owners.

But that don't make it right. I'm not okay with any of this, and I'm betting plenty of Sioux City residents aren't either.