[ SHOWGSD-L ] Fw: PAWS Opponents Force Congressional Standoff

"Jennifer J. Smith" <CALLISTOGSD@xxxxxxxxxxx> · Sun, 16 Oct 2005 17:16:52 -0700

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Jennifer J. Smith=20
480-983-8451 {home}=20
480-296-4569 {cell}=20
Callisto German Shepherd Dogs & Great Pyrenees
~~We use ShowStopper!!~~
www.callistogsd.com<http://www.callistogsd.com/>
Arizona Great Pyrenees Association=20
www.azpyrs.com<http://www.azpyrs.com/>
----- Original Message -----=20
From: =
saova_rocky_mountains@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:saova_rocky_mountains@ma=
ilman.montana.com>=20
To: S_Rocky Mountains<mailto:saova_rocky_mountains@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>=20
Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2005 8:56 AM
Subject: PAWS Opponents Force Congressional Standoff

A SAOVA message to sportsmen, pet owners and farmers concerned about =
protecting their traditions, avocations and livelihoods from =
anti-hunting, anti-breeding, animal guardianship advocates. Forwarding =
and cross posting, with attribution, encouraged.=20
Dear Friends,
It's time for a short PAWS celebration! Senator Santorum, S1139's =
author, the bill's cosponsors and its supporters, the AKC, HSUS, DDAL, =
PETA and other animal rights groups have suffered a very significant =
setback. On July 27, 2005 Sen. Santorum made the following statement on =
the Senate floor.=20

As chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on =
Research, Nutrition and General Legislation, which has jurisdiction over =
PAWS, I intend to convene a hearing and mark-up of PAWS shortly after =
the August recess to make technical corrections, and to clarify some of =
the bill's language to better reflect our intentions as set forth in =
this statement.=20

PAWS opponents were excluded from the "technical corrections" =
deliberations of the Senator and also denied the opportunity to deliver =
testimony at PAWS subcommittee hearings planned for September and =
October. Both of these hearings were subsequently canceled and it's =
extremely unlikely that any PAWS hearing will be held in 2005.

Our analysis of the current situation is that the Senate Agriculture =
Committee members have heard and read so many substantive objections to =
S1139 (PAWS) that Sen. Santorum isn't confident that he can pass the =
original bill or an AKC-HSUS approved, amended bill in his subcommittee, =
let alone have the full committee act favorably on it. The fact that his =
2006 reelection polling has plummeted since he introduced PAWS may also =
be a factor in his delay decision.

Formal opposition by tens of thousand of individuals and over three =
hundred clubs contributed to the current congressional standoff. Some =
dog owners almost immediately recognized PAWS for the disaster it is, =
contacted legislators to oppose the bill, urged owner networks to do =
likewise and created anti-PAWS webpages. Anyone and everyone that took =
the time to learn about PAWS's dangers and contacted a legislator should =
be proud that the American political system responded the way that it =
should when citizens become aroused.=20

PAWS isn't dead by any means, but it's sorely wounded. A largely =
unorganized and publicly disparaged group of amateur animal owner =
advocates taught the sophisticated, high-priced lobbyists and public =
relations flacks a thing or two.=20

DON'T MESS WITH OUR SPORT AND ANIMALS!

Some of you may have noticed that SAOVA formed an ad hoc partnership to =
pursue the PAWS fight. Let me introduce Kelly Wichman of the Dog =
Federation of Wisconsin<http://www.dfow.org/paws.htm> and Susan Wolf of =
the North Carolina Responsible Animal Owners =
Alliance<http://www.ncraoa.com/alerts.html>. Kelly and Susan both have =
state legislative lobbying experience on dog issues and were among the =
very first PAWS critics. Kelly owns Pugs and a Rhodesian ridgeback, =
while Susan has Shetland Sheepdogs. Both know infinitely more than I do =
about conformation, show people, related topics and politics. My chief =
expertise is in hunting dog owner advocacy and general legislative =
lobbying.=20

This is an instance where synergies make the whole infinitely greater =
than the sum of its individual parts. The three of us have been smoothly =
cooperating and coordinating our anti-PAWS efforts since early July and =
filed an extensive, joint opposition statement with Senate Agriculture =
Committee in late August. That opposition package was well received and =
also shared with selected Washington D.C. lobbyists. Additionally, many =
individuals and clubs have recently contributed funds to permit us to =
more effectively respond to the well-financed pro-PAWS faction and to =
pursue our NO PAWS program this year and next. We're sincerely grateful =
for your generosity and faith in our legislative knowledge, resolve and =
lobbying abilities.

The carefully crafted opposition statements and telephone calls of =
everyone involved contributed to our current positive position. No =
single group of volunteers can accomplish anything by itself in =
Washington. Lobbying is a team sport. In recognition of that fact, the =
three groups have developed a website dedicated solely to this =
legislative fight. As we move forward, please visit the NO PAWS =
<http://www.nopaws.org/index.htm>resource frequently for the latest =
pertinent news, suggested lobbying strategies and new contact =
information. This site will soon suggest a significant redirection of =
your PAWS opposition efforts.

I opined on June 21st, "There is virtually no chance that PAWS can pass, =
without very much broader support. Its defeat is assured if =
organizations and individuals vigorously oppose it."

The last four and one-half months have been hard, grueling ones, as we =
attempted to counter the AKC's PAWS misinformation and slander =
campaigns, while informing animal owners of PAWS's extreme dangers and =
how to oppose this bill. Numerous other interest groups also oppose =
PAWS. It's crucial that we not permit the AKC, HSUS, et. al. to divide =
and weaken us, as it's now clear they must do to move S1139 or HR2669. =
PAWS can't be amended to make it acceptable. Its entire basis is fatally =
flawed, as outlined at NO PAWS FAQ.<http://www.nopaws.org/faq.htm> Thank =
you for your support and efforts to protect our sport and animals.

Please forward and cross post widely.

Sincerely,

Bob Kane=20
Sportsmen's and Animal Owners' Voting Alliance -
Working to identify and elect supportive legislators
** NO PAWS **=20
http://saova.org/1139.html<http://saova.org/1139.html>

       =20

   =20

The message above was posted to Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, =
Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico residents by the Sportsmen's and Animal =
Owners' Voting Alliance (SAOVA) on one of ten regional elists.=20

SAOVA is a nonpartisan volunteer group working to protect Americans from =
the legislative and political threats of radical animal rightists. It is =
the only national organization fighting this struggle for both sportsmen =
and animal owners, natural allies, in these arenas. Visit our website at =
http://saova.org for this program's goals, methodology and list signup =
details.

To unsubscribe from this list, exercise that option at =
http://mailman.montana.com/mailman/listinfo/saova_rocky_mountains      =20

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