Listers, Pat had a great suggestion ! Here are some folks who "get it", and perhaps if they see how much support there is for their position, they will do more. I just spent a couple of hours composing a private letter to them, and would urge you to do the same. If you go to: http://fox40.trb.com/about/site/feedback/ktxl-cordova_form,0,7139204.htm lstory?coll=ktxl-feedback-1 you can send email to Donna Cordova, who was the news anchor who did the story PLEASE DO ! And, if there are other stations around the country who have also taken similar positions, please post them here, with contact details, so we can all communicate with all of them. The Rufus win is a huge opportunity to start getting some momentum going - but timing is everything !! Please, do it NOW !! I am including my letter below, but PLEASE do not copy it - it will have little or no impact if they get the same letter from lots of people. Please spend the time to do your own.. Thanks !!! Margy Golant PRIVATE EMAIL - NOT FOR PUBLICATION Thank you very much for making the point regarding Rufus, the Westminster Kennel Club Best in Show Winner, and how this lovely dog would be illegal in many localities, potentially including Los Angeles, due to breed bans. You have touched on an extremely serious problem: a terribly cruel and unfair problem which is spreading through various cities and states around the United States (and Canada). This legislation is supported in most cases by well-meaning people who don't realize the terrible unfairness and harm that results from these laws, but the actual sponsors are extremist groups dedicated to the elimination of the keeping of domestic animals. The result is cruel, unfair and unreasonable. People are forced to give up their beloved pets, dogs are seized and KILLED, exterminated solely because of their breed, or even because they RESEMBLE a banned breed ! Sadly, this has actually happened, is actually happening, all over America ! A recent example is Denver, CO, where hundreds of dogs have been seized and killed, due solely to their breed ! Generalizations because of an animal's breed are just as unfair as generalizations because of a person's race, or gender, or religion. The result, quite literally, is genocide! Instead of legislating against entire breeds of animals, legislation should be directed against the "bad actors" human or canine, who create or perpetuate problems, not the innocent animals. Sadly, there are groups who, under the guise of "animal rights", are the sponsors and architects of this sort of unfair thinking. In truth, these groups are dedicated to restricting and limiting our rights to keep dogs, even when done in the most loving, caring and responsible way. Many of them have stated that their goal is the elimination of the keeping of domestic animals ! Often times, the result of these breed bans is, quite literally, the seizing and killing of privately-kept pets, from good and caring homes, merely because they are (or look like) banned breeds. It is totally fallacious to conclude that any breed of dogs is "bad", merely because. Virtually any dog can be trained to be a "bad actor", just as any child can be raised to be, or be allowed to become, a criminal. Dog breeding programs can be focused on producing animals that are most aggressive, most tenacious, hardest-biting, worst-tempered. These are dog-fighting breeders, and the next troublesome sorts of breeders are "puppy mills" and "backyard breeders", either avaricious or inhumane 'entrepreneurs', or uninformed novices who don't have the first clue how to breed properly. Poorly-bred dogs may still turn out to be good pets, but it is a matter of luck when they do, not of informed people making intelligent choices to produce quality dogs. Dog fighting is illegal, and efforts should be focused on exterminating it and prosecuting its enablers, not on the poor dogs who are its victims. Although I am speaking for myself only, I am the Recording Secretary of the German Shepherd Dog Club of America, Inc. the national "parent club" of the German Shepherd Dog in the United States. We, and other breed "parent clubs" have become increasingly appalled at this spreading restriction on the rights of Americans to their dogs and other animals. No one can seriously deny the contributions made by German Shepherd Dogs to Search and Rescue, leading the blind and assisting in service to the handicapped, working in military and police K-9 activities, and many, many other kinds of tasks geared to be of assistance to mankind. In addition, these wonderful dogs are a joy to live with and to be around. Yet, even they are targeted in some localities by breed-specific legislation ! In truth, no breed of dogs is safe from this spreading evil, since the real goal of those behind these laws is the elimination of domestic animals of ALL breeds. They are very well-funded, and very clever. They hide behind names including positive-sounding words like "humane" and "ethical". The highest level of management of these groups freely admits that ".The bottom line is that people don't have the right to breed dogs or cats. If people want toys, they should buy inanimate objects. If they need companionship they should seek it with their own kind. One day we will put an end to the breeding of dogs and cats." .and "We have no problem with the extinction of domestic animals. They are creations of human selective breeding." This issue is VERY serious, and has manipulatively been slipped into mainstream America via photos of adorable puppies and kittens behind barbed wire, and photos of victims of animal attacks. The members and management of the German Shepherd Dog Club of America, Inc. (www.gsdca.org) are lovers, proponents and supporters of dogs, and many of our members are also fanciers of cats, horses, birds, and other domestic animals. We do not in any manner sanction or condone cruelty, neglect, abuse, inhumane treatment, poor temperament or unsound animals, neither do the many other breed clubs (there are many hundreds of them), nor do the thousands of responsible breeders, admirers and fanciers of pure-bred dogs. We are horrified at the agendas of the groups behind breed-specific and other anti-animal legislation, and greatly appreciate the efforts of your station to "get the word out" that this movement is not what it appears to be, and that the effects of its efforts are to infringe on the rights of dog-owners and dog fanciers. We applaud the efforts of your station to unveil this terrible situation, and would be very happy to assist you in any possible manner you would find useful. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I, or the German Shepherd Dog Club of America, Inc., can be of help in this regard. Margery E. Golant ----------------------------------- mgolant@xxxxxxxxxxxxx -----Original Message----- From: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Patty & Chet Sent: Friday, February 17, 2006 11:56 AM To: GSD show list Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] FOX news story On the late evening news last night on the Fox affiliate in Sacramento, CA, they aired a story regarding Rufus and how he should not make a nation wide victory tour due to legislation that has passed in various areas regarding the ban of bull terrier type dogs. Also mentioned was the bill signed recently by Gov. Schwarzenegger in CA allowing cities to determine breed bans. Maybe they received a copy of your letter Paul?? Perhaps it would be a good idea today if many of us e-mail them regarding our support of their story & gave them some more brief information. Their e-mail address is fox40.com They do air some viewers comments on their late news program. If then get enough of them they may air them. Pat Larsen ======================================================================== ==== POST is Copyrighted 2006. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. 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