Founder Patti Strand has been hard at this for decades and her expertise in the legislative arena is phenomenal. NAIA also hosts an annual convention with a focus on attorneys who specialize in animal legislation, trying to spread the word about both stopping bad legislation and helping those who are victimized by it. Her site is a fantastic resource for anyone who owns a pet or livestock.

The Louisville Kennel Club which, along with a dozen or so plaintiffs (cat clubs, veterinarians, hunters, sportsmen, boarding kennel operators and the guardian of a disabled child who relies on a Rottweiler assistance dog), recently won a decision that will come to have national impact.

There is was a federal suit filed in February in Northern Kentucky where a woman had her entire Beagle pack seized for ‘cruelty’. When she couldn’t pay the huge seizure bond demanded, every one of her 30 dogs were immediately destroyed by the shelter. A few days later, all charges against her were suddenly dismissed. She is suing not only the county, but the shelter director and all ACO’s involved as individuals. Based on the Louisville ruling, she is certain to win her case.

Our lawyer, Jon Fleischaker of Dinsmore & Scholl, has had dozens of calls from Police Chiefs, Mayors, County Attorneys, Legislators and other lawyers scared witless by the implications of this decision and scrambling to change existing or proposed laws in their communities.

You are right about forming coalitions–it’s what made our lawsuit possible in the first place. You are right in saying this is about an erosion of our Constitutional rights. The hunters and sportsmen are way ahead of everyone else on understanding that–they’ve been fighting for their 2nd Amendment rights for decades and have loads of excellent political connections. Contrary to popular belief, they’re not about running wild in the woods and shooting everything in sight. Serious sportsmen are dedicated to the protection and preservation of wildlife and our natural resources (see how easily we can be made to hate/fear one another based on propaganda?) What affects my dog affects your cat and your neighbor’s iguana and you uncle’s chickens.

And, while you are also correct in saying this is about the end of pets in America, it’s also much more sinister. (Here comes my zealot reveal!) If you follow their agenda to its logical conclusion, the Animal Extremists ultimate goal will result in nothing less than the collapse of the American economy: no more cattle ranching, chicken farming, dairies, chicken growing, egg producing or cheese-making. Your grocery stores won’t have meat or dairy departments or carry anything made with any meat or dairy ingredients. Restaurants will offer a choice of grilled, pan-seared or flame-broiled tofu and that’s about it.

Think I’m crazy? HSUS and PETA both operate websites aimed at “educating” your children. Both have classroom programs where they are invited into schools around America from K thru college to discuss “animal ethics”. PETA also operates two religious-themed websites: What Would Jesus Eat? which attempts to convince Chrisitians that Jesus was a vegetarian (sorry abot that Passover lamb problem); and another aimed at Muslims, convincing them that the Koran really intended for them to all be vegans.

All this begs another question. Just exactly when do zealots become terroists?

I try not to come on over the top and I just love the way you carefully followed the steps from limits to no dogs at all–and we are doing it to ourselves. I will be on line again before bedtime so hope you can help me out.

Do you know Jim Nesci, Cold-Blooded Creatures inc? He is a neighbor and he used to bring animals to the school I worked in.