POV

HBO Monday May 12 – l0 PM EST- HORSE SLAUGHTER

A friend of mine named Jude sent this e-mail out this morning about horse slaughter. 

“Horrid practice and we can’t get this STOPPED!!!!   Well, now we don’t allow slaughtering here (maybe) but they still get slaughtered-  horribly- in Mexico and Canada although Canada may use a bullet.  Mexico slaughtering is such an abomination it makes one actually ill. And our congress will NOT pass a bill to REFUSE to allow horses to be sent to these countries to be mercilessly killed.  THEY WILL NOT!!!!!!   Please encourage people to watch this HBO program.  It follows thoroughbred race horses from the track to the auction and nearly to the slaughterhouse.  Pass it on.”

Click to write to Jude if you have any questions on this.

Thanks,

Helen

Last night, I was at my dog obedience club’s weekly practice. I’d recently enrolled Luigi in our Novice Handling class. Luigi is the epitome of what most people think of when they think *Dobermann*.

Before Luigi, I’d taken Baby to class for years. Baby is all natural. That means she has her tail and ears as-is from birth. Adorable!

So it was amazing to me that during last night’s class, it was the first time anyone has said to me they had a bad experience at a dog park because a Dobie had “taken down their dog.”

Luigi is a big lug and most times gets bossed around by the littlest girlie dogs in our household. He is even-tempered and when company comes over, he is the first to greet them with his ball for a good game of catch.

But when we lined up for sits and downs, I knew the woman next to us was telling me that from fear. It’s a darn shame. A shame the incident at the dog park happened. Mishaps between dogs often emerge from mis-management from their owners. I don’t trust dog parks for that very reason. I have seen people walk into a dog park with a dog that was too aggressive and unruly to be there in the first place. And in the second place, the owner has no responsible nature nor dog management skills to be there.

Once upon a time, when Baby and I did go to a local dog park, I got mauled by two jumping dogs. They wanted the Frisbee I had brought for Baby. Their people were trying to get control of them, but they ended up winning and scratched my leg so deep, the blood gushed out like the non-stop leak in my bathtub faucet, and it took huge amounts of paper towels to stop it so I could drive home. That didn’t stop us from going, though. What stopped us was the time Baby drank the contaminated water the park had to offer and when I came home from work the next day, she had thrown all over the entire house and thensome. That was a night in the emergency hospital I refuse to repeat. And that was what stopped our dog park days.

Helen

From the HSUS

Make the Sexual Abuse of Animals Illegal in Florida

Dear Helen,

While 34 states make bestiality a crime, the sexual abuse of animals remains legal in Florida. The sexual abuse of animals is not only cruel but also an indicator of other violent and sexually deviant crimes. A study published in 2002 found that 96% of juveniles who had engaged in sex with nonhuman animals also admitted to sex offenses against humans. Because bestiality is legal in Florida, prosecutors are unable to address this cruelty.

Fortunately, legislation (S.B. 744/H.B. 1227) has been introduced to make the sexual abuse of animals a crime in Florida.

Please contact your state senator, Steven Geller, and state representative, Perry Thurston, to express your support for S.B. 744/H.B. 1227.

TAKE ACTION
Please make a brief, polite phone call to Representative Thurston at (850) 488-1084 and Senator Geller at (850) 487-5097 to urge support for legislation to make the sexual abuse of animals illegal.

When making your call, you will likely speak to a staff member who will pass your message along to your legislator. Remember to be polite and professional, and leave your name and address so it is clear that you are a constituent. You can say:

“Hello, my name is [your name] and I am calling from [your town] to ask [legislator’s name] to support S.B. 744/H.B. 1227 to make the sexual abuse of animals illegal in Florida. 34 states make this a crime and Florida needs to join them. Thank you.”

After making your calls, please send a follow-up email to your legislators in support of legislation to make the sexual abuse of animals a crime in Florida.

And please don’t forget to tell your friends and family in Florida how they can take action, too.

Thank you for all you do for animals.

Sincerely,

Michael Markarian
Executive Vice President
The Humane Society of the United States

———-

PLEASE TAKE ACTION!
Thank you – Helen

Here is Avid’s reply:

Hi Helen

Avid is aware of the move by Fl Vets. Each State’s Veterinary Practice Act is unique for their state. For example, California had the same restrictions in their Act but later rescinded that decision.

An Avid representative tesified and answered questions in late ’07 at the FLVMA board meeting on the benefits of microchips.

Mary Metzner, Director
Shelter Operations
Service and Support
Avid ID Systems, Inc
314-487-5842
——————————

Hi Mary,

Thank you for your reply. I’m still left with a couple unanswered and important questions.

What is Avid’s stance on this move by the Florida vets? What actions is Avid taking to back this stance?

How do veterinarians have the power to take such a role as to limit who in society can administer a microchip? Why is that?

Helen

———

From: Avidsaveslives@aol.com

To: dobermannrescue@earthlink.net

Subject: Microchip Question

Date: Mar 10, 2008 3:44 PM

Helen, in answer to your recent email, Avid recognizes the independence and authority of each State Veterinary Board around the US that has the authority to set guidelines and regulations pertaining to the practice of veterinary medicine and to define that to protect pets and the public.

Avid has met with the FL Board to discuss proposed regulations concerning microchipping. We presented historical overviews of other states and their actions over the years. Some States regulate microchipping and others do not. I know of no states today that do not exempt shelters for the animals they are microchipping prior to adoption. Most if not all States allow the ‘owner’ of an animal to perform procedures on their own animal. The issue is when privately owned animals are involved and that a fee is charged for these services. My understanding is that this is within the authority of a Veterinary State Board to so regulate these actions.

We feel it is critical that manufacturer instructions are followed for microchipping and have provided that information. Please let me know if you have other questions. I encourage you to let your legislators and the Veterinary Board know of your concerns as a FL citizen and caregiver to animals.

///Mary