I am cross posting the following from an American site. I am doing
this as I beleive that we are already facing the same problems eg.
the desexing issue in Qld, the tail docking and not discounting the
way ACES has been implemented and the implications of rejecting dogs
from the gene pool on one genetic fault. Sure it is politiclaly
correct not to breed a dog with ANY health issues, but is it
practical? Could it impact on the gentic diversity within breed - YOU
BET it will. Do you think what we can and can't breed might end up
being legislated - like tail docking? I am NOT saying we should
automatically wage war on any suggestion that is put forward - but we
do need to understand full implications, impacts, and whether it
reduces our rights as breeders. I can't help but think we are all
facing a slippery slope. For those who have not been watching what is
happening in America - take note. It is more than scary and most of
this is being run by the Animal Rights people. These people are alive
and well in Aust too. Check out the following. We all have to be more
than "fence sitters" if we want to continue to be breeders.

Cheers Mim

a message dated 10/9/2007 10:46:16 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
HoneyPotHounds@... writes:
PERMISSION TO CROSSPOST.
This is the story of the founding of the Missouri Federation by their
president Karen Strange. I can closely relate to a lot of this story,
especially
the parts about the indifference or the criticism by the do-nothings
and then
they expect you to ride in and save their bacon. It does wear thin.
I thank God frequently that my club "gets it" and is very supportive
of my
efforts.
Elizabeth Brinkley
Legislative Liaison TRSSCGP

Karen Strange <kjeeper@...> wrote:
Several things really get under my skin also, and my line of sympathy
grew very dim a number of years ago. I remember when Anne and I
started
MoFed nearly sixteen years ago, we spent our own money and countless
hours of our
time driving all over our state talking to various groups about the
pending
animal rights movement. We were met with big yawns, eyes rolling and
eyebrows
raised in total boredom. Not much has changed in a number of circles.
We
trudged onward.Legislation was introduced, each year more devastating
than the
last, and we tried to enlist help in killing the bills. Not much
came, so we
did it ourselves. People were too busy; there was a show to go to;
they needed
to groom; they had laundry to do, dinner to fix and shopping to do.
So did
we. We spent all our extra time killing legislation and talking to
groups who
didn't care.
We built strength, membership and a reputation for taking no
prisoners where
animal rights was concerned. We were criticized, ignored, punched in
the gut
for our efforts and even called on the carpet for not being
sympathetic
enough to the rights of bleeding hearts. I even received a call from
a "wannabe"
who told me we really needed to soften MoFed so that the show person
and the
everyday, middle of the road people would like us better. I can't
repeat what
I told that person! Devastating legislation passed right after that
in their
state; we killed ours! We attended fundraisers, worked on campaigns,
helped
get AR sympathizers out of office and ones on our side in. We spent
hours and
hours on the road talking to more groups, and were excited if one or
two of
their members joined our fight. We walked the halls of the capitol,
day and
night, testifying to unfriendly committees who literally put us on a
pedestal
and made us dance with snickering animal rights activists filling the
committee rooms behind us as we answered question after question from
legislators
trying to trip us up. We were called into legislative offices and
told to
back off and sell our members down the river but we refused at all
costs,
regardless of the threats or outcome.
We made deals, wrote letters, hand delivered testimony and factual
information, plotted strategies, answered countless phone calls,
explained
legislation over and over and over to those who didn't understand,
and went
home so exhausted we couldn't sleep only to start over the very next
day
because we had no choice.
We watched the animal rights movement grow more wealthy and powerful,
and
shook our heads because no one seemed to care. "Someone else will
take care of
it", they said. "Besides, I don't have time." And we did?!!!!! While
my
national breed club worried about health issues, specialties and who
would judge
the next show, the AR's were sneaking in the back door. I wrote
an article for their national magazine well over a decade ago,
warning them
about what was coming and that our breed was in grave danger. The
article was
published but was totally ignored. Now that breed is being banned
altogether
in some places. Rather than worrying about health issues and type,
they
needed to worry about the breed becoming extinct through legislation.
Now it's
too late.
I now receive calls wanting help. One asked me recently what it would
cost
for me just to come to their state and kill that awful bill. I told
her
it didn't work that way. THEY had to do it in their own state.
It's like someone opened the gate and let the wolf in with the sheep.
The sheep scurry around in a panic, not knowing what to do or where
to turn.
For nearly sixteen years, we have said that each state needs a MoFed
or a
like organization. How many states have an organized group to fight
pending AR
legislation? How many of you on this list belong to a group actively
working
to protect your rights? How many of you hide your head in the sand
and think
it will go away? Many of you do nothing, give nothing, and yet you
want us to
ride in on a white horse and save the day, all at our own expense, of
course. If only I had a dollar for every call I have received from
someone wanting
help who says they are not a member of MoFed, never were a joiner,
heard of
us but never got around to joining, or have never
heard of us at all, but they "sure would like us to pay for them a
lawyer
and get them out of trouble". And , when we don't, they slam us
because "we
never do anything for anybody. All we do is take their money and do
nothing with
it."
After awhile, the old sympathy towards complacency wears mighty thin!

Karen Strange, President & Lobbyist
MoFed
Thank Heavens New Hampshire founded our association in 1976. Dog
Owners Of The Granite State DOGS




Barbara L. Schwartz
IMPROMPTU' COLLIES