Legislation Issues:
Sportsmen Win Major Courtroom Battle Over Hunting on Public Lands Anti Hunting Protesters
While we are all waiting for spring, it seemed like a good idea to take a few minutes to try to preserve our rights to what we do with our dogs, which are under constant attack. This is a general letter than can be sent any time and often, to keep reminding our elected officials of our concerns.
To make it extra easy, the links to e-mail our legislators is also included below.
Feel free to pass it along to your clubs and urge all your members to help us to be heard in Albany.
Please make informed choices about animal welfare for the benefit of New York State
Dear (Bill, Annie, Nancy),
Once again we urge you to be aware that New York State is poised in the crosshairs of the "Animal Rights" movement.
We strongly recommended that extreme caution be used when considering their claims. With a mantra of "NO ANIMAL USE", these groups appeal to public emotion (for media attention and funding) and count on general ignorance of fact in their (often hidden) agenda to end the use of animals for meat, dairy, eggs, pets, service animals, clothing, entertainment, hunting, fishing, etc. Allowing these slick and well-funded groups to determine New York's legislation concerning animals is like allowing the fox to guard the hen house.
These extremists do not represent the views of the majority of New York Sate voters, though their voices may be loudest in the media, especially in NYC. Please keep in mind their agenda is counter to the fabric, culture and history of life in New York State, and has a monumental impact on our economy.
Before even considering any bills sponsored by "animal rights" advocates, please look for:
1) STATISTICAL (not emotional) VERIFICATION for any claims they make, and
2) The exact COSTS for our State in enforcing any such legislation. (This is key-especially
when many longtime state employees are being terminated due to lack of funds)
3) The financial records of the groups who say they are doing good for animals. Closer investigation has shown the reality is that the vast majority of monies raised goes to their own administration.
As NY voters, we expect our elected officials to lessen government intrusion into our private lives and only initiate necessary laws that are more than emotional reaction to special interest pressure and agendas. Most of all, we need a government that will not add to the State's debt if enforced.
Please take a few moments to learn another more objective side of these issues by visiting http://naiatrust.org/ We truly appreciate your continued support.
Sincerely,
Legislators' websites with contact info:
Nancy Calhoun
William Larkin
1, Legislation Pertaining to New York State:
To search bill text, status, summaries, sponsor memos, floor votes http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/menuf.cgi
NYS Assembly: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/ (enter your zip code to find your Assembly member)
Nancy Calhoun http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=096
Annie Rabbit http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=097
NYS Senate http://www.nysenate.gov/ (enter your zip code to find your Senator)
Bill Larken http://www.nysenate.gov/senator/william-j-larkin-jr
http://www.ussportsmen.org/Page.aspx?pid=1490&storyid2905=110&ncs2905=3
Sporting Dog Owners Continue to Take Fire
Thursday, February 17, 2011 4:47:17 PM
By Evan Heusinkveld, Director of State Services
-Over the past couple of years, sporting dog owners from coast to coast have been under a constant barrage of legislative attacks that would threaten their way of life. Be it a bill mandating the spaying/neutering of prized hunting dogs or an overly-zealous attempt to crack down on abusive commercial breeders, sportsmen have consistently been in the crosshairs.
Make no mistake; these efforts are part of a larger, coordinated push by animal rights and anti-hunting groups to ban commonly accepted practices. If antis are unsuccessful in obtaining outright bans, they turn to efforts to over-burden responsible dog breeders and kennels with massive new regulations and astronomical compliance costs, forcing many out of existence.
The major push started with Pennsylvania in 2007 and now more than 150 bills have been introduced over the last two years alone. In 2011, we're tracking more than 50 bills in 21 states; and we're barely six weeks into the year.
Below are examples of just a handful of recent bills that have popped up across the country.
Illinois House Bill 1247 prohibits the tethering of a dog for more than 15 minutes between 10:00 P.M. and 6:00 A.M. unless the dog has access to shelter, even if the owner is present with the dog
.Nebraska Nebraska Legislative Bill 427 would create costly new standards of care requirements for those considered to be a "commercial dog breeder" under current law, including anyone who owns more than four dogs that are intended for breeding. New requirements include mandatory micro-chipping, nearly continuous access to an outdoor exercise area all times, and mandatory inspections by the Department of Agriculture.
Rhode Island Senate Bill 140 prohibits keeping a dog penned, tethered, or confined outside for more than one hour at a time without access to a housing facility or unless someone is outside with the dog. It also would eliminate all outdoor kennels in the state by prohibiting a dog from being kept penned for more than 14 hours in a 24 hour period regardless of how big the pen or cage may be. Maybe worst of all, the bill would allow the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and animal control officers to enter onto an individual dog owner's property to search for violations. This allows enforcement officers access to private property without probable cause or without a warrant under the guise that they are simply "checking" for violations.
So what do we do from here?
Sportsmen, sporting dog owners, hobby breeders and kennels must continue their vigilant fight against these dangerous bills. We must not let up. their goal is to wear us down. to make us give up the fight.
You can be sure that the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, our Sporting Dog Defense Coalition and many other groups and organizations across the country will continue to fight for your rights, but we need your help too.
Sportsmen should contact their state legislators and educate them on the danger these bills pose to legitimate and law-abiding dog owners. To find your state representative's contact information, please visit www.ussportsmen.org/LAC. You can also help in the fight by joining the USSA today by visiting www.ussportsmen.org.
Organizations Fighting Anti-Dog Legislation
National Animal Interest Alliance
The National Animal Interest Alliance is an association of business, agricultural, scientific, and recreational interests dedicated to promoting animal welfare, supporting responsible animal use and strengthening the bond between humans and animals. Our members are pet owners, dog and cat clubs, obedience clubs and rescue groups as well as breeders, trainers, veterinarians, research scientists, farmers, fishermen, hunters and wildlife biologists. The membership roster of NAIA includes some of America's most respected animal professionals, advocates and enthusiasts.
Sportsmen and Animal Owners Voting Alliance
What is SAOVA? The Sportsmen's and Animal Owners' Voting Alliance (SAOVA) is a nationwide, nonpartisan group of volunteers seeking to elect politicians who will oppose the "Animal Rightist" (AR) threat to our rights as Americans. It is the only national group working to protect both sportsmen and animal owners, natural allies, in the legislative and political arenas. SAOVA's members hunt, fish and own livestock, dogs, cats and other pets. We study political candidates in all states to identify those who understand and resist the AR threat, as well as those who are in the pocket of the Animal Rightists.
AKC Legislative Alerts
The AKC Government Relations team is working hard to protect the rights of dog owners, breeders, and fanciers throughout the country.