From a member of We The People for Pets:
There's actually something REALLY awful happening in New Brunswick, Canada, right now, this minute, today. Apparently a pol (they call them MLA's) snuck a LAW into the legislation that no one caught.
For the past several years, New Brunswick has had Breeder Permits for over 4
intact dogs that were being used to breed. Apparently you went down to the
New Brunswick SPCA office and told them about your dogs (as in, very voluntary) and they issued you a permit. It cost about $100. People did it to be "responsible" and to support the NBSPCA. There was no real reason not to except to avoid paying the $100.00. They even gave you coupons and crap at the local pet stores and groomers and vets.....making it almost pay for itself or better if you used a lot of these services.
My breeding partner and best GF in NB went in to pay. She had 4 breeding dogs. They KINDLY explained it was only if you had OVER 4, but thanks for coming and you can still donate to the NBSPCA if you want.
THEN, as of June, they passed what they called "Mandatory Breeder Permits".
Try imagining PAWS and PUPS and MSN all bundled into a nice neat package.
NO ONE had ANY clue what was really in the "law" that was passed. They all
seemed to believe it was just a way to get ALL the dog breeders in the area to pay their $100 and go on about their business, so if they DID see the proposal, they MIGHT have even voted for it as it was described as a law to STOP the "PuppyMills".
Even when my GF mentioned it back in June, and me, being completely paranoid due to living here in Calif., told her it didn't sound so "simple" because part of the language included a clause about "breeder inspections". I was assured that ONLY applied to those "awful puppymills" so they could be stopped." and that she, and the other "responsible hobby breeders" were fine, because they keep their dogs inside their homes, etc. and are not breeding for income, hence they are not "puppy mills". Except......
1. The new Breeder Permit costs $250 for a SINGLE INTACT dog.
2. The NBSPCA is being run by AR's and my GF's friends that worked there are
gone. Plus, they refer to HSUS "policies" in their "checklists", including no
inbreeding, no bitches bred under 18 months, only TWO litters allowed per bitch and TWO stud covers that result in pups allowed per dog. There are no
provisions for working or service dogs; if it's intact, it's in trouble.
3. They are doing physical inspections of people's PRIVATE homes and
VIDEOTAPING it even if you ONLY have a SINGLE intact dog.
4. They are physically handling each dog in your PRIVATE home to determine if
you pulled dews, cropped or docked, or haven't groomed it. (each carries a $500 fine per dog)
5. They are doing these "inspections" UNANNOUNCED! Dog owners and breeders are freaking out because they walk in during whelpings and ties and other private business and some lady had her Dane nearly die of bloat because she was feeding him when they burst onto her property.
6. They bring the RCMP (police) with them and are threatening getting warrants if you won't let them into your house or ....are not home. They have told people it is an "offense" (criminal) if they are not home when you have nursing pups. They were told to hire someone to take the children to school or the market because you must not leave your home.
7. They are chasing down co-owners and puppybuyers because they copy ALL your paperwork. If they find your co-owner or puppy buyer lives in the Province and has a still intact pet, they descend upon them for the $250 with videos and other demands.( I have found an argument in here, as Canadian law does not allow the sharing of private third party information)
8. They DON'T have a Rabies law, so they cannot even say this is why they are doing this.
9. The requirement checklist to breed a single dog was taken right from the
HSUS recommendation list, "impervious floors, 8 inch baseboards, no crating, clean metal water dish, affixed to floor" for EACH dog, .....basically NO ONE can afford to remodel their home to keep an intact pet, effectively forcing them out of breeding.
10. Parvo is spreading like wildfire (documented) because these NBSPCA IDIOTS are going from one home to the next and TOUCHING all the babies looking for crop/dock/dew violations.
11. My GF lives in a 3500 sq ft fabulous new home on SIXTY acres which has been in her family for 100 years. Her dogs have the life of luxury, every need is immediately met. There has never been a single complaint from anyone about her dogs. Because of the limit law stuff in Calif, I have a couple of my finished, intact, AKC Champions living with her. Now there is a fear they could be taken.
If anyone here knows anything about Canadian law, and their constitutional
rights in preventing this nightmare from continuing, I'd appreciate the help,
since my dogs are there.
They have formed a group similar to WTPP and have a Yahoo list. Due to a bunch of unannounced Nazi style inspections on completely naive owners last week, many of the owners are planning to approach their respective MLA's (like our senators, etc.) on Monday.....
I have heard that my GF's MLA (whom her father contributed heavily to his
campaign) is utterly aghast at how this is being enforced. Supposedly he
was under the impression it was just a law to get more money from people
who were making income from more than 4 active breeding dogs.
I am working on providing her with any constitutional violations that I can
find, along with having her vet provide documentation of the Parvo outbreaks.
Also I'll put together something about the No-Kill info from.....hello? Canada....that demonstrates how this new law will result in MUCH more costs
than income.
The actual checklist and the CVMA Guidelines are what the Inspectors are bringing with them along with videocameras and copy/fax machines to usurp paperwork. Also warrants to enter homes if they are refused and the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) to carry out the warrants.
They are REQUIRING a RECORD of daily puppy weights from BIRTH ......my God......
I spoke with another breeder friend in Montreal, which is in the Province of Quebec. She was quick to point out that "her" Province hadn't passed anything like this and she didn't think they would. I was almost yelling when I told her that was how New Brunswick got screwed.....no one actually believed that something like this could pass. They think someone else is watching the freakin' henhouse while the chickens are getting fried. I told her she had to get involved in her local lawmaking NOW or forever live with a choice that could leave her without her beloved dogs....
Here’s a question for you: Is it wrong to feel good about yourself? It is, according to the animal rights crowd.
Here’s the scenario:
I watched a “Today" show program where Matt Lauer interviewed a woman who
suddenly realized she was an animal hoarder after the “Animal Hoarder" show
came to her door. Before, she thought she was helping animals, but they
made her realize she was in it to make her feel good, purely selfish reasons.
Barbara
Can you imagine? The woman actually thought she was simply trying to help animals! And she had the sheer audacity to feel good about herself for helping the little furballs. Oh, yeah. The animals were in good shape and her house was, too. Seems her only problem was a) having the animals and b) feeling good about helping them.
Of course, those of us who have been “educated” by the animal rights folks know better. We know that it’s wrong to feel good about ourselves or anything we do for animals. That might lead to us wanting to keep animals enslaved as pets. We’re not supposed to take pleasure from helping animals or (gasp!) living life. We’re lowly humans and the sooner we slink off the planet, the better. That will just leave domestic animals to fend for themselves until their numbers dwindle and they die off, too. But beautiful Gaia will be left in all her pristine beauty, unencumbered by such crawling, unworthy creatures as humans or animals to mess things up.
Of course, those of us who really love animals know better. Doesn’t it just make you sick that ARs are convincing people that it's wrong to feel good about helping animals? I guess if you donate a kidney to someone, which most people would consider a generous act, you would need some mental help if you felt good about yourself. By this line of thinking, why should anyone donate to a charity or non-profit? It might make them feel good about themselves. Tell that to HSUS when they ask for money.
What I actually believe is that animal rights people do try to suck all the joy out of the world. For whatever reason, they only see the negative. They see the world in black and white — mostly black. To them, every owner is an abuser; every breeder only cares about money; every dog and cat are suffering. I think it’s the animal rights people who are mentally ill because they are incapable of seeing the beauty in the world or feeling the love. They can’t see all the people who love their pets — yes, pets, not “companion animals” or some other euphemism, and certainly not “slaves.” They can’t see all the breeders who adore puppies and raise them with the greatest care and love. They can’t see all of the happy, well-cared for cats and dogs in the world who would never be happy without their owners (not “guardians” or “caregivers”). How sad is it that these animal rights people are blind to so much of the happiness in the human-animal relationship?
Instead, they live like old-time Puritans, hating anyone who enjoys life, and looking for sin everywhere. Or, in their case, looking for anyone or anything that they think suggests animal abuse or “hoarding.” It would be laughable if it weren’t so sad and if it didn’t have such terrible consequences for innocent people and their pets, like raids and seizures, ruined lives, and animals euthanized.
The world outgrew the Puritans. We can hope that our time will move away from these animal rights puritans, too. It is all right to feel good about yourself for helping animals. It doesn’t make you a bad person or a person who needs mental help. It makes you perfectly normal — a good, generous person with a big heart. Don’t let these fanatics stop you from helping animals. They’re the ones who are sick. Not you.
Ding Dong!! SB 250 is dead.
http://capetlawnews.blogspot.com/
It really was no miracle. What happened was just this...
The wind began to switch
The house, to pitch
And suddenly the hinges started to unhitch
Just then the Witch
To satisfy an itch
Went flying on her broomstick, thumbing for a hitch!
And, oh, what happened then was rich!
The house began to pitch
The kitchen took a slich
It landed on the Wicked Witch in the middle of a ditch
Which was not a happy situation for the Wicked Witch!
Ding Dong! The Witch is dead. Which old Witch? The Wicked Witch!
Ding Dong! The Wicked Witch is dead.
Wake up - sleepy head, rub your eyes, get out of bed.
Wake up, the Wicked Witch is dead.
She's gone where the goblins go,
Below - below - below.
Yo-ho, let's open up and sing and ring the bells out.
Ding Dong' the merry-oh,
sing it high, sing it low.
Let them know
The Wicked Witch is dead!
As Mayor of the Munchkin City,
In the County of the Land of Oz,
I welcome you most regally.
But we've got to verify it legally,
to see
To see?
If she
If she?
Is morally, ethic'lly
Spiritually, physically
Positively, absolutely
Undeniably and reliably Dead
As Coroner I must aver, I thoroughly examined her.
And she's not only merely dead, she's really most sincerely dead.
Then this is a day of Independence
For all the Munchkins and their descendants
If any.
Yes, let the joyous news be spread
The wicked Old Witch at last is dead!
CHROMOSOMES-GET YER GENES ON!
by Geneva Coats
Why is Spot larger than Rover? Why does Trixie have a golden coat while Muffie’s is black? And why are Muffie’s ears floppy while Rover’s stand upright?
Specific characteristics of living organisms are determined by their “GENES”. Genes are “coding” segments made up of a substance called DNA. The DNA in your genes is arranged in specific patterns. Different genes are strung together in long rows to form a rope-like chain called a “chromosome”. Each chromosome contains thousands of genes.
Chromosomes are instruction panels; they provide the blueprint to make an organism what it is. They carry all of the information necessary to help living things grow, survive and reproduce. Chromosomes are located inside the cells of the body in a central control area called a “nucleus”. These chromosomes determine not only what you look like, but also how your body functions and, to a large extent, how you act, think and feel.
The DNA that makes up genes and chromosomes is like a computer code of instructions. Chromosomes in the nucleus build an instruction copy of themselves and send that instructions to other parts of the cell, the ribosomes, and the ribosomes in turn manufacture proteins according to instructions provided. These proteins might be enzymes for body metabolism, or proteins for building body tissues.
During normal cell division for growth or cell replacement and repair, chromosomes double and then split apart to form two cells form from one. Now both of these cells will end up with identical chromosomes within their nuclei. However, there is a special type of cell division that happens to produce the unique reproductive or “germinal” cells. Instead of doubling, the germinal cells are produced by by splitting up the original chromosomes. These reproductive germinal cells, the sperm and the eggs (ova), therefore will contain only HALF the number of chromosomes as do the other cells of the body. When a sperm cell combines with an ovum, VOILA! there is then a complete set of genes with a full set of instructions to create a new living being. This new creature will have half his genes originating from his father’s sperm, and the other half will have been contributed by his mother’s ovum.
This process involves something known as “random fertilization”. What does that mean?
The chromosome combination contributed by a sire to his offspring is random, and can vary considerably. Half his chromosomes will end up in that sperm cell…but how many different possible combinations of chromosomes can there be in any one sperm cell?
Let’s check it out. Humans have 46 chromosomes, arranged in 23 pairs, that divide and split up to form germinal cells, and they assort independently. To form a germinal cell, there are 2^23, or 8 million, possible different assortments of chromosomes that could be inherited for each individual cell!! The ovum also has 8 million possible different chromosome combinations. 8 million X 8 million = 64 trillion possible unique combinations of chromosomes for every human offspring created from any given mating! See how unique you are! Even your siblings may have quite a different genetic makeup than you do!
A human cell has 46 chromosomes, arranged in 23 pairs. A dog cell, however, has 78 chromosomes, arranged in 39 pairs. Each sire can produce roughly 550 BILLION different assortments of chromosomes in their sperm cells. Multiply that by the 550 billion possible combinations of chromosomes in the dam’s ova, and there is a possible 300,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 DIFFERENT combinations of chromosomes that can be produced for any individual dog created from any specific pairing.
WOW! that’s a lot of zeros. How do you read such a number? It is 30 billion trillion....roughly the same number as the estimate of the number of stars in the visible universe! Each dog from any certain mating is as unique in his genetic makeup as a star! That's a very nice comparison, I think.
But wait! There is another factor that can further increase genetic variety in offspring. This is the phenomenon known as “genetic crossover”. Crossover commonly happens during cell division to produce sperm and ova. What does “crossover” mean? Let’s see….remember we said that each chromosome has a partner chromosome with similar genes on it. During cell division, part of one chromosome may break off and swap material with its partner. This means that sometimes the chromosome that you inherit is totally different from the original one your parent has. The crossover process “shuffles the deck” so to speak, to produce even more variety in offspring. It would be impossible to estimate how much more variety this effect produces! But we would need millions more universes filled with billions more stars to get close to the number of unique combinations of chromosomes possible to achieve with any specific mating.
This vastly inconceivable number implies a rich potential to produce dogs who have a very unique and highly individualized genetic makeup. This inherent variety in the dog genome is how man has been able to create so many different breeds with characteristics as different as those noted between a Chihuahua and an Irish Wolfhound. Compare the variety in dogs to that of humans, who all look remarkably similar….even people of different races. We have fewer chromosomes to reassort and recombine, and less chance of isolating and promoting different specific traits.
Now do you still think that one or two litters is enough to judge what your dog can produce? Although, I am sure there are animal rights “overpopulation” handwringers out there who believe that every intact dog will produce billions of puppies in just seven years. Hmmm, I only wish I could get more than three or four in a litter to select from!
And just think, each and every chromosome contains thousands of individual genes!
Diagram of a chromosome, (looks like an "X"). It's looks chubby because it is composed of tightly coiled strands of DNA (see detail portion showing unravelled strand of DNA)
If I miss the expiration date on his license, I will have to have him
neutered.
If I’m training him at the park and he’s heeling off leash, I will have to
have him neutered.
And in all of these cases, according to SB 250, the result of having my dog
sterilized for these or other minor infractions, none of which have to do
with his potential breeding capacity, will be fewer dogs euthanized in this
state.
And this makes sense to you?
SB 250 is nothing but a carefully worded, devious and mean-spirited
mandatory spay/neuter bill.
Which, by the way, has NEVER worked ANYWHERE and has ALWAYS cost a fortune.
L. A. County, in the first year after instituting MSN, saw its budget go
from 6 million to 18 million a year – that’s a 269% increase.
L.A. City, which had been showing a continuing downward trend in euthanasia
figures despite a large increase in the human population, ignored all the
evidence and gave us our own MSN law, whereupon the numbers jacked right up
and continue to do so.
Your own Finance Committee says this bill will be hugely expensive. You
can’t even get a workable budget but you’re voting to ADD to it! And for
what? NOTHING!
In forty years of owning dogs, I have never bred a litter, accidentally or
otherwise. Yet my government seeks to punish my dogs, not me, by ripping
out their healthy organs, which, according to recent studies, is NOT good
for their health. Because I apparently am TOO STUPID to prevent my dogs
from having sex.
Even if I choose to breed, look around! There is a SHORTAGE of adoptable
animals in many parts of the country. Just because L.A. has a problem with
gangbangers’ pit bulls doesn’t mean Massachusetts has overcrowded shelters.
That’s why dogs are shipped cross country every day to fill the demand.
That’s why we have a smuggling problem with dogs flooding in from Mexico to
fill the void.
That’s why we have many more coming in from China, Romania and other third
world countries.
Yet Florez and other shortsighted politicians insist we need mandatory
spay/neuter laws, and in this case, nasty, vindictive, divisive ones.
At last count, 40 of your fellow legislators GOT IT. If Florez sneaks this
travesty of a bill back in on Monday, I hope you too will look at the facts,
reconsider and vote NO.
Put SB 250 in the trash where it belongs.
Here's an interesting post from Best Friends Animal Society online forum. Dogs were surrendered by a former rescuer turned "hoarder" in Kern County. Were they "rescued" by HSUS just so they could be turned over to Best Friends and subsequently killed by the SPCA?
That's not very 'Best Friendly', now, is it.
Life with a so-called "hoarder" at least means you get to stay ALIVE.
But consider for a moment the unholy origins of this group. "Best Friends" is a group that used to be known as the Process Church. This is noted on their website under the information on their history. Just google them for information on that unholy group. Years ago, the Process Church discovered it was fairly easy to get donations for an animal charity. Great way to finance their covenstead! Hopefully the days of animal sacrifice are behind them, but who knows for sure?
Can we trust a group that has ties to Charlie Manson? Brrrr....
Here's the snip from their forum.
http://network.bestfriends.org/campaigns/pitbulls/forum/p/44459/172435.aspx#172435
Sid(Sweet Pea), Petey, and Nancy, all pit bull terrier mixes, have until 6pm on Friday, August 27th to be saved. ......This picture shows their nervous behavior when they first came into SPCA after being rescued from the hoarder in Kern County. If you can help Sweet Pea, Petey or Nancy please contact.....
Gosh I'd be "nervous" too if I were taken to an unfamiliar location with strange people. What a crock.
THE TAIL WAGS THE DOG!
National Pomeranian club adds new pattern description to breed standard based on minority vote
AKC suggests a 2/3 supermajority vote to approve any changes to important documents like a breed standard. Most clubs include such a stipulation in their by-laws. One would assume that to ADD a new pattern description into a standard, the membership would have to approve the measure with a 2/3 majority vote. Right?
Well, throw that assumption out the window. In this case, a very vocal minority was allowed to prevail. The American Pomeranian Club recently approved a revised breed standard. The club members are being told by the APC board of directors that the updated standard will include this statement in the pattern section:
Merle – Blue, Chocolate, Sable. A base color with contrasting lighter and darker areas giving a mottled appearance on allowed colors or patterns.APC members are being TOLD, not ASKED, that this merle description will be added to the standard....without any vote of approval! This is in direct violation of the club's constitution and bylaws.
In the recent standard revision balloting, a line-item vote was taken on the issue of a disqualification for merle. A whopping 59% of the club members voted for the disqualification for merle. A landslide! Not only do these members not wish to have merle described in the standard, but they felt strongly enough about this issue that they actually voted for merle to be a disqualification.
Ignoring the will of the overwhelming majority of club members, a minority opinion was apparently sufficient justification to add in new verbiage describing blue merle, chocolate merle and sable merle. (Sable merle? Which color class do I enter?) Claiming direction from AKC, the APC board of directors added a completely new pattern description into the Pomeranian breed standard WITHOUT a vote of approval! How was this accomplished? In fine print on the ballot we find:
Lack of disqualification does not equate to acceptable. A DQ that fails to attain supermajority vote status does not legitimize an existing problem, it merely spotlights the issue.Mari-Beth O'Neill is AKC's Assistant Vice President of Special Services and was the club's advisor for the standard revision process. When questioned regarding the legality of the addition of this pattern description, Ms. O'Neill responded:PLEASE NOTE: If the Merle DQ does not pass the following will be added to Allowed Patterns: Merle: Blue, Chocolate, Sable and the merle description will be added to the pattern descriptions
'The membership was provided with the description of the merle pattern as it is what was voted on as the DQ on the ballot. The statement that followed explained if it failed that description would be added to the Pattern description. I realize what a controversial issue this is for the breed, and fully appreciate your concern.'
"This issue will not end with the vote. It has divided the club in half and it's unlikely things will ever be resolved. Regardless of how the vote went . . . it did not change my mind about where the merles originated, and I'm sure I am not alone in this. All it does is destroy our faith in the parent club and the AKC."
"We're more than Champion dogs. We're the Dog's Champion".