IS THERE A PETA CONSPIRACY?
Barbara "BJ" Andrews, Journalist, AKC Master Breeder - September 1992
Dateline 1992
- Canine
Chronicle Column keenly predictive, see inserted links to Legislation and
Domestic Terrorists.
Another writer's observation of
the "similarity between animal rights rhetoric and Nazi propaganda" got my attention due to the
political implications. She
said "animal extremists are just the latest hate group, pure and simple, and the
animal rights issue is just a vehicle to disguise its character." I consider Patti Strand among the
most informed on the issue of animal rightists and she really nailed it
this time.
Other writers have also pegged these groups pretty
accurately. William Tapply, writing in Field & Stream 6/91 quotes
Kathleen Marquardt, Director of "Putting People First" as stating, "People just
don't understand how dangerous, how radical, the animal extremists are."
Nowadays it's hard to even know who the good guys are. Cleveland
Amory, founder of the Fund For Animals, when
asked if he would sacrifice an animal in order to get medicine needed to save
his child's life said he'd let his children die
before he would harm an animal. Radical? Extreme? Mr. Tapply says these people scare him to death. Me too.
They frighten me, and not just because of the
ownership
rights we're losing, not just because many of us can no longer enjoy our
hobbies. It's not even about the Dog
Pedigree Registries Bill, wherein Californians must declare in writing that their
dog may not be purebred. These are problems but they are only the tip of the
iceberg!
What scares the hell out of me is the warning of a
broader conspiracy destined to undermine democracy by peeling away our
Constitutional rights as
American citizens. World-watchers are saying it and America is waking up to some
pretty weird happenings - while the dog fancy just snoozes on, dreaming of
ribbons and ratings.
Look at the basic rights we're giving up without a
fight, then multiply dog breeders and owners by hundreds of other hobby or professional groups which are
also being threatened. Ask the National Rifle Association. Whether you hunt
or not, you have the constitutional right to bear arms in defense of
your person and property. The examples could go on and on but I'll spare you.
Sally Stewart Bishop gave a brilliant lecture on the Humaniacs and
Animal Rightists
groups at the Judges workshop in Washington State. Other than the opportunity to
present my own breed, her talk was one of the highlights of my trip. Later that
evening, Sally was about to explain the possible political ramifications of
groups like PETA when the rest of our party arrived. We never got back to that
subject but I'll bet Sally knows a lot more than how to breed great Corgis!
Think for a moment. How can the PETA movement become so powerful that its
political agenda is on the table in almost every state in less than five years?
See Domestic
Terrorists and think about the international growth of Animal Rights groups
but that it seems
to be spreading only within the democratic countries. PETA's legislative power and
especially, the source of the funding which fuels that power is a perplexing
mystery of intriguing implications.
Where did PETA's immense capital to fund animal
rights groups come from? Even with the national respect accorded to the AKC, I
very seriously doubt that the American Kennel Club, the Cat Fanciers
Association, and all the dog and cat breeders in America could raise a
hundred million dollars in a few months time so where did PETA get its initial
millions? Other extremists groups are amassing huge war chests and I fear Patti Strand
may be right - these are not animal rights groups -they are
anti-American groups! How ironic. Buzzards in polyester. No sheep's clothes
for these clever, twisted, political activists!
For example. Many counties banned "bull breeds" and we were astounded. We griped
and said "How dare they?" but it didn't stop. Today many breeds are banned by
entire countries. Dogs today -farm animals tomorrow! What's happening here? And
why are we not up in arms, marching, protesting, rallying like the Animal Rightists? We
drive 500 miles to show a puppy but would we drive 200 miles to attend a rally
for our right to own and show that puppy?
Perhaps I'm overreacting. Perhaps the leader of some wacko
group is chuckling and dialing my number as he reads this, knowing I'm a
candidate for the loony bin - ergo, for his subversive group. But truly folks,
what more insidious way to undermine our Constitution and the inalienable rights we think we have than to start taking away
that which we love second only to our friends and families?
Where is the American Civil Liberties Union? Probably lobbying for PETA!
Discrimination? In some counties, you can keep a houseful of birds, hamsters, or
goldfish but you can't own a Rottweiler without paying a special tax. Civil
rights? We set convicted child molesters free after serving a fraction of their
sentence but we kill a dog and put the owner in jail because he was irresponsible
and his dog scared or bit someone.
And where are the Animal Rightists when an innocent dog needs protecting? Out demonstrating
against the right to own animals, that's where! If we give up our God-given
dominion over the animals, it will be an easy next step to give up our
constitutional right to eat meat or scrambled eggs or to drink milk. Farfetched?
I think not!
Animal rightist groups say we should not own any animals. As Sally Bishop
pointed out, we better be prepared to give up leather shoes, cashmere sweaters,
silk blouses, and lanolin skin creams! If we allow our rights to be usurped in
ways which we as dog owners are aware of, just think how our Constitution and
democracy is being
broken down in other areas of which we're not so acutely aware.
By the way, how did PETA get listed in the new Encyclopedia Britannia? Do you
know how many of our tax dollars are passed through Federal Funding to
organizations such as PETA? Have you heard about the Puppy Lemon Law? No? Would
you want to reimburse an owner three times the price of the puppy for alleged
vet bills which could be for something over which you had no control? I've only
mentioned one incredibly bad portion of an incredibly bad bill. Let's hope the
Maryland crowd can stop it from becoming a national law.
A conspiracy to take away your constitutional rights? Yep, I really think so. We
don't have to worry about the "bomb" blowing our lives to smithereens - the loss
of our individual rights, pride, pleasures and freedoms will make our lives so
miserable, they'll have won anyway.
Page 2 Canine Chronicle – May 1992
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