[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: showgsd-l Digest V2 #3507

  • From: culzeans1@xxxxxxx
  • To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:23:21 -0500

Stormy,
Thank you for posting this, it is very well worth the read and very true.
Pam

Msg: #3 in digest
ate: Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:26:51 -0800
ubject: Potentially Dangerous Animal Owners  VERY Long...
rom: stormy435 <stormy435@xxxxxxx>
Begin forwarded message:
otentially Dangerous Animal Owners
Wed Dec 10, 2008 7:12 pm (PST)

he following was published in the December, 2008 issue of Top Notch 
Toys. 
 
ermission to Cross Post
 
L*
 
 "Potentially Dangerous Animal Owners" - Linda D. Witouski - November, 
2008 
 
t a recent show, I couldn't help but notice the availability of space.  Not 
nly was the parking prime, but the space around the rings inside 
the building 
as incredible.  There were dozens of empty chairs ringside - a commodity 
enerally not so available.  It was at that moment that I looked around the 
uilding and a queasy feeling crept over me.  Not only was this building 
bare, 
ut the people in attendance were mostly my age.  That age where you hope 
you 
an begin your downward decent into living in peace and quiet after having been 
nvolved in this sport since the crib, and looking forward to those "twilight" 
ears or a dirt nap, whichever.  I reached for the judging schedule to see 
how 
any Juniors were entered. Nine. Only nine.  I realize that the economy 
could 
ery well have a definite impact on our s
port, however, there are other factions 
hat have a hand in it.'  It hit me like a brick !  When Wayne Pacelle 
of the 
umane Society
f the United States said, (1993), "One generation and out. We have no 
roblems with the extinction of domestic animals. They are creations of human 
elective breeding,”  it dawned on me that he wasn't only referring to 
the 
nimals - he was talking about US.  
 
ONE GENERATION AND OUT IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK
 
he animal rights movement pressed into school systems and devised an 
ducational program for every animal venue.  Farming, exhibits, zoos, 
wildlife, 
nvironment, veterinarians, companion animals - no stone was left 
unturned.  
t doesn't matter what we do, it's surely not in accordance with the animal 
ights activist groups. Looking around at the very few young people at dog 
hows,and the lack of newcomers of any age, it's become quite clear that 
the 
eaning of "one generation and out" wasn't only meant for the dogs.  The 
nimal rights activist movement has taken over the media, veterinarian, public 
 private schools, animal control & training of those animal control officers 
s well as lobbyists and legislators. They've infiltrated every thread of 
what 
e hold dear. Working together, they have managed to convince everybody and 
nybody that they are "THE" experts and anything 
that we do is wrong and a 
isservice to animals.  Young people
hat we should have taken under our wings have turned to assisting the movement 
nd most unfortunately, will never know the joy of our sport.  They will 
never 
earn what animal husbandry truly is nor will they ever understand the pride 
of 
aving bred, loved, cared for and promoted something that upholds the 
standards 
hat reputable breeders honor.  They'll never know that special bond 
that 
evelops nor will they learn to distinguish between the joy of victory and the 
gony of defeat.  Worse, they may never learn that people are supposed to be 
ble to make choices that best suit them - before it's too late.  It's 
up to 
ll of us to take back what has been stolen from us and to 
learn, quickly, to 
ork together as one.  If we don't take the time to reach out and touch 
someone 
ow, our sport, our animals and our rights are doomed.  If we don't make 
every 
ffort to bring new people into our fold, who will take over for you when 
ou hang up
our leads?  Who will preserve and continue to improve your breed and your 
tandards?  What difference will all of the health research mean when the 
esults are returned - too late - because you are no longer permitted to have 
nimals or the ones you do have must be spayed & neutered?  How will 
all of 
hat research help when breeding is no longer permitted or the monetary 
xpense to breed far outweighs logic?  Are you content to see it all 
fall by 
he wayside knowing the only animals the future will see will be in museums 
or 
ooks?  The animal rights movement is taking away our future, and we, the 
ajority of the showing populace, are dangerously & extremely close to 
being  
 One generation and out.  
 
ENTICING NEWCOMERS or SHOOING THEM AWAY?
 
 great majority of the showing populace has always had an attitude, 
articularly when a new person would approach them at a show inquiring about 
heir breed or the dogs being shown. This anomaly existed way back when 
and it 
till exists today.  Looking back, it's clear that this attitude that some 
till carry with them, is a great part of the problems today.  We actually 
hooed people away, thinking that our world would never come to an end and there 
ould be plenty more opportunities to advance our 'lines.'  The showing fancy 
asn't thinking about the future and judging by some still existing attitudes, 
till aren't realizing the bleak future of our sport confronting us.  We 
live 
n America and we can do what we want, can't we?  Dog shows will always 
xist...won't they?  Worse yet, there are still those individuals that 
just 
annot
 seem to get along with their own club members and those within their own 
reeds, insisting on making life
ifficult for others by continuing to add fuel to whatever fire some disgruntled 
erson started for no apparent reason other than their own agenda.  Some 
would 
uggest that those reasons include selfishness, jealousy and just plain hatred 
or anybody that might be doing better in the sport than others or those really 
angerous persons that think that "they know it all" without having the 
xperience of those before them whom they should be learning from.  All of 
hese factors are nothing more than additions to the animal rights movement.  
f you are one of these, you might as well join forces with the opposition 
and 
top hiding behind your animals. If you believe that your actions against 
thers will keep you safe, be forewarned that you are not exempt from that knock 
n the door. Every person within your club or breed that you destroy, demean 
or 
therwise terrorize, adds another nail to the coffin we are all facing.  
What 
ind of message are
ou sending to younger people or any other persons that might have an 
interest 
n our sport when they discover that those who have been in the sport 
forever' seem to be hell bent on destroying each other and that they are 
ncapable of working together or helping each other?  How in the world can 
you 
ducate or assist a NEW person intereste
d in the sport or your breed when you 
an't seem to find the time to stop fighting amongst your peers and become that 
elpful educator?  
 
IT DOESN'T AFFECT ME - WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT
 
 actually have grown fond of this ridiculous comment because it gives me the 
pportunity to explain what it actually means and why those who use this lame 
xcuse are definitely closer to being one generation and out than those who 
nderstand the circumstances.  Let me set the record straight using a few of 
he popular "reasons" I have been given over the years.  Everything that goes 
n in the animal world, especially legislatively, affects everybody.  
Cropping 
nd docking.  You don't crop or dock, either by choice (while still 
available) 
r because you don't have a breed that requires or prefers it.  That doesn't 
ean that you should sit back ignoring that ban, law or ordinance and not 
ssist those breeds that DO, for rest assured, along with that cropping/docking 
ssue, another issue will follow that WILL affect you and your breed. By not 
ssisting, you are allowing for your own loss of freedom of 
hoice.  Mandatory spay/neuter laws.  You
on't live there so it doesn't affect you, but if you don't assist that area, it 
urely WILL affect you in short order for it will continue to spread like a 
alifornia wildfire if everybody continues to believe that 'it does
n't affect 
e'.  Maybe not today, but what will tomorrow bring to your neighborhood, 
tate, city, town or county?  BSL, breed specific legislation.  You don't 
have 
one of those breeds".  Are you sure?  It wouldn't take more than an 
animal 
ating neighbor, mailperson, meter reader, delivery person or some unruly 
kid 
rom up the street to report your five pound, barking, snarling, fence 
unning 'potentially dangerous dog'  even if the dog wasn't lucky enough 
to 
et a bite in !  The next thing you know, officials are at your house and 
you 
re subjected to defending yourself and trying to get your dog out of 
rotective custody all at great expense.  It IS important for everybody to 
work 
ogether for make no mistake, it
ill come to you just like it came to the other guy.  You remember him - the 
ne that kept saying that it didn't affect him?  So, those of you that use 
the 
ld 'it doesn't affect me' excuse, think about it before you say it or come up 
ith something better.  
 
f all the emails I receive, the most common is "What can I do about it?  
It's 
ust the way it is."  This is not true and you are only deceiving yourself if 
ou believe that.  You, we, are the only ones that CAN do something about 
t. We are the ones that are losing our integrity, pride an
d reputations and 
he irony is that it's being taken from us by those who don't have near the 
expertise' that we have.  What they do have is talent in "marketing, 
promoting 
nd fund raising".  It's up to all of us to become astute in these same 
areas, 
everse the current trend and take back what is ours.  Need a few common 
uggestions?  Here, let me help you out ...Advertise for new club members, 
tart a kennel club/breed club blog, hold fun events for the public, stop by 
hat place that you are 'sure' is a puppy mill, visit that commercial kennel 
 get to know them before you make any comments, offer tips and 
uggestions, help them, listen to
hem, befriend them, educate them and be educated in return - go over to 
armer Bob's, step over those cow paddies and talk to him, ask him if he knows 
is right to farm or raise livestock is endangered, go to schools and ask to 
peak to the children, make arrangements to take dogs with you, get media 
ttention by working with children -  sponsoring adoption days (purebred or 
therwise) or turning your club classes into a class to teach responsible 
nimal ownership and safety around dogs and invite parents as well as senior 
itizens, get them to help with fundraising, stop by your town hall and ask for 
he meeting agenda, check for any agenda subject animal related and attend the 
eeting, talk to churches, hunters, any sportsmen, cal
l a special kennel club or 
reed club meeting of those members that are still active (before they hang up 
heir leads or take that dirt nap) and discuss ideas, research your towns and 
articipate in events
ffered, check with girl scouts, boy scouts, invite them to your shows or 
ublic events, attend council meetings, introduce yourself, (invite them to your 
vents & shows,too), and get involved with rescue work in your breed.  Pure 
reed rescue is one of the biggest problems that we have - every time one shows 
p in some shelter, every breeder is accused of putting it there - the fingers 
on't only point to the irresponsible breeders.  We are all affected and the 
ime has now come to be effective rather than affected.
 
SE THAT TOOL THAT'S ON YOUR SHOULDERS 
 
he AKC has many informative brochures, flyers and pamphlets that can be 
placed 
n assorted locations and they have educational programs that can be used in 
chool systems.  They can provide you with CD's, DVD's, classroom workbooks 
for 
eachers and a large assortment of other publications that can be used 
for just 
bout any venue, including legislators.  Take advantage of them.  Utilize 
the 
ools that are available to you, especially that one that sits on your 
houlders... and get creative.  We are losing everything that we've worked so 
ard to achieve.  We're losing our 'expert' title, our rights, our freedom of 
hoice, o
ur animals - and it just keeps coming with no end in sight, except our 
emise.  There are many other organizations, pet law lists, and breed 
egislation lists that are jam packed with good information that you can 
use.  
ll you need to do is ... DO IT - before it's too late to do, and my friends, 
hat time is quick
pproaching.  The plane is circling the airport for a landing and we need 
more 
eople standing on the runway....!
 
THE CHALLENGE
 
he dog fancy is generally not very laid back and those that I know will fight 
o the bitter end about any subject  We've always had the spit 'n' fire to 
trike back.  Where is that aggressiveness now?  For those that have told 
me 
hat they fear some sort of retaliation, know that the more visible you are, the 
ess likely you are to be targeted.  With that said, how many of you will 
step 
p and start working toward reversing the travesty befalling us?  How many of 
ou will make an effort to stop using derogatory terms or take the time to 
ducate?  How many will prove that they are part of the dedicated fancy and 
ork together to make a difference?  
 
nd, last, but not least, I don't want to forget about those in the sport that I 
entioned earlier who are still intent on being vicious towards their 
omrades.  Those who can't seem to get past making their own breed and club 
embers miserable an
d those who can't stop complaining about or accusing their 
eers of some heinous crime, hi volume breeders or commercial facilities.  
ou have a "special gift" and it's time for you to put it to better use 
against 
hose who would see you dog-less, or just let us all know when you fall off the 
ence into the AR pit so we can start working on a "potentially dangerous animal 
wner" law. 
 
 
 
inda D. Witouski
KC Judge & Delegate
KC SC Legislation Representative
egislation Chair, BOD & Delegate - Myrtle Beach Kennel Club, Inc.
egislation Chair - Minature Pinscher Club of America, Inc.
egislation Chair - Yankee Miniature Pinscher Club, Inc.
C Camo Coalition Steering Committee
C Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses
egislation Editor & Investigative Reporter - National Pet Press/The Dog Press
o-Author - Monthly National Legislation Report - 
ttp://mnlreport.typepad.com/the_monthly_national_legi/
wner: DogLegislation@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
wner: MinPinInReview@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
wner: SC Animal, Sportsmen & Wildlife Voting Coalition









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