[ SHOWGSD-L ] Stand with Rio Grande KC
- From: Windwalkergsds@xxxxxx
- To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 10:38:24 EDT
:
High Noon in Albuquerque
NAIA urges supporters: Stand with Rio Grande !
Over the last 30 years, the breeder-enthusiasts who belong to local kennel
and cat clubs have led the way in promoting responsible pet ownership. They've
developed community outreach networks to educate; provided low-cost dog
training classes; hosted microchip, spay/neuter and rabies clinics; done breed
rescue; funded shelters and rescue groups; developed sales contracts with
spay/neuter requirements; and they have volunteered in shelters and on animal
control
and humane advisory boards. Their efforts and dedication have contributed
enormously to the huge decrease in surplus shelter animals nationwide.
But many lawmakers today, especially ones who have been educated by animal
rights activists, don't seem to be aware of these facts. They have a
distorted
idea of today's animal control problems, little awareness of positive trends,
and they identify members of the organized dog and cat fancies as the
problem, rather than recognizing them as an important part of the solution. The
result is that the ordinances they draft hinder even the most dedicated pet
owners
from being able to produce healthy, well socialized dogs and cats. Even worse,
some of these ordinances show an alarming willingness to trample on the
individual rights of their pet-owning citizens.
A case in point is Albuquerque 's Humane and Ethical Rules and Treatment
(HEART) Ordinance, signed into law and due to take effect in October of this
year.
A careful review of the 67-page ordinance shows that many of its signature
provisions are virtually unenforceable unless the city is willing to use
oppressive and authoritarian means of enforcement against responsible,
respectable
citizens.
Among these citizens are pet owners, local veterinarians and members of the
Rio Grande Kennel Club (RGKC), a 70-year old New Mexico not-for-profit
corporation that is affiliated with the American Kennel Club (AKC) and
dedicated to
promoting responsible dog ownership. Besides breeding and showing purebred
dogs, many RGKC members do breed rescue at both local and national levels, work
with 4-H clubs, participate in annual public-education events that focus on
responsible pet ownership and volunteer at local shelters and on local boards.
In
addition, their annual dog shows bring several hundred thousand tourism
dollars to Albuquerque each year.
To counter the many wrongs enacted by the new HEART ordinance, the RGKC has
filed a complaint to void the ordinance and seek injunctive relief. Among other
specifications, the lawsuit asserts:
Mandatory spaying and neutering constitute "a taking by the government"
(Fifth Amendment violation).
Ordinance infractions are petty misdemeanors, settled by a City
Administrative Hearing Officer rather than heard in a court of law (Fourteenth
Amendment
violation).
The City would have the right to inspect premises and documentation at will
and to seize animals if compliance is in question (violation of US and New
Mexico constitutions).
The ordinance would require veterinarians to provide the city with
information regarding their clients and practice, which exceeds regulations
given in the
State Veterinary Practice Act. RGKC financial resources, which would normally
be earmarked for causes that advance the human-animal bond and the best
interests of community animal care and control, are being diverted to fight
this
case. We applaud RGKC's courageous stand against this ordinance and encourage
our supporters to send whatever financial contributions they can to help.
Every dollar sent is a much appreciated act of solidarity. Please make
checks payable to the Rio Grande Kennel Club and mail to:
Rio Grande Kennel Club
PO Box 25672
Albuquerque NM 87125-5672
Please feel free to click the forward button below to send this to your
friends and associates.
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