Shame On Pennsylvania

Puppy Mill Propaganda Part I, by A&N Research

When A&N Research was asked to look into the PA puppy mill issue by this first (and bravest) dog site, our staff never imagined we would be taken on such a ride.

Dateline October 2006 - As we write this report, we are still unraveling the web we found. For those of you that liked to play "connect the dots" as a child, A&N Research will show you a whole new way to play the adult version.

Puppy Mill Propaganda

Governor Rendell is on a mission to eradicate puppy mills in Pennsylvania. What are puppy mills? How do they differ from top-notch breeding facilities? They don’t. Not to the animal rights crowd anyway, and this is where the shame and the problem begins.

There is a difference between genuine animal welfare and hard core animal rights beliefs and agendas. Breeding facilities that are not properly run and administered diminish the welfare of animals, and this problem should be addressed – with common sense.

However, animal rights activists do not believe dogs should be bred period. They have no first hand knowledge of a professional dog breeding operation and therefore, are not qualified to make blanket judgments regarding them. To them, all dog breeding facilities are “puppy mills.”

Interestingly, the term “puppy mill” was coined by the animal rights movement and they have cashed in on this propaganda, big time. “Puppy mill” has become such a hot-button, emotionally-charged concept, that donations to help the cause, i.e. shutting them down, began to flow into their coffers. That kind of money buys people of great power and influence.

The animal rights movement operates on manipulating public opinion and they are masters of the art. Keep in mind that these groups are non profit, tax free organizations. Shutting down animal related businesses is their one goal and they have the time and money to focus on their causes. In contrast, animal-related businesses focus on the care of their animals. Breeding and raising animals takes dedication, hard work and money that must be earned. Profits, if any, are taxed and reinvested into the business.

Our country was founded upon the principal that those who are taxed must have representation. Why are non profit agencies permitted to dictate laws to politicians and cripple our system of free enterprise?

Pennsylvania is the Puppy Mill Capital of the East

This is actually libel and slander on a big scale and every citizen who pays taxes in Pennsylvania should stand up and tell their legislators Enough is Enough! Has anyone taken the time to look behind the $500 a month billboards erected by Main Line Rescue to see how they are supported? Main Line is now asking other states who believe they have a puppy mill in any area to begin the "erect a billboard" campaign. All of these billboards promote the web site of the advertiser along with the H$U$ web site.

In early 2005, the Keystone Golden Retriever Rescue (KGRR) filed a lawsuit against the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and its Bureau of Dog Law. They claimed that the Bureau of Dog Law was not properly enforcing PA statutes. Ultimately, the controversy would lead to grandstanding by Gov. Rendell, who dismissed all 14 members of the dog law advisory panel.

A former chief inspector for the HSUS who is now consultant to the ASPCA said that the laws were good. Of course he would say that since he helped to write the 1982 dog laws. He claimed, however, that "if the existing laws were adequately enforced, there would be an 80% improvement in kennel operations." In many states, HSUS-affiliated humane societies contract with cities and receive large amounts of money for services such as writing studies on how to improve already existing city-run shelters; for becoming the city’s official shelter, for licensing cats and dogs; for spay neuter services etc.

They would take away state authority to write, monitor and enforce laws and give it to themselves while at the same time making a non-taxable profit!

Animal Welfare And Puppy Mills, Conflict of Interest?!

The Dog Law Advisory Board included fair representation such as animal welfare group members, animal researchers, dog breeders, farmers, police, county treasurers, veterinarians, sportsmen and pet shop owners. All these people were directly involved with animal welfare issues. Nonetheless, they were fired with short notice while an ad hoc committee was formed that would help the administration develop a “response to puppy mills.”

And who was appointed to the ad hoc committee? None other than Bob Baker, former chief inspector of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and current consultant to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Baker hired an undercover animal-right investigator to produce a video of an alleged puppy mill. Interestingly, the video and the PA Puppy Mill story are featured on the Animal Rights Liberation (ALF) site. ALF is on the FBI's list of the top 10 U.S. terrorist organizations.

Another terrorist group started a petition in Pennsylvania to have the Dog Law Enforcement Bureau removed from the "jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Agriculture." They claim that this will protect the companion animals from competing with farm animals. The Save-A-Dog group was promoting word changes to Pa. HB 1476. Such groups has have sent letters to all 27 representatives on the PA Consumer Affairs Committee. It is imperative to note here that both of these groups are Senator $antorum supporters (the guy who sold influence to AKC) and are very aware of, and promote the PAWS bill on their web sites.

Moving The Line On Rescue To Puppy Mills

Main Line Animal Rescue moved more than 150 dogs and cats from is original kennel in Valley Forge to a new, larger facility located in East Vincent Township. When they were then forced to move their kennel from Dee Solitario's property due to eminent domain claiming the land for a new highway, they discovered the Pickering Hunt Club. The property was complete with 58 acres that was protected and could never be developed. They now have a temporary kennel on that property and will begin construction in the fall.

One wonders how a small rescue organization could afford such an exorbitant expense? Enter SAC, a Pa. Non Profit Civic Action organization that helped Main Line Animal Rescue obtain the Hunt Club. It's interesting to note that Main Line claims to work closely with other rescue organizations and SPCA's. They claim that they take in dogs from all of Pa., NJ, NYC, St. Croix in the Virgin Islands and several other states, including Florida. These animals are sent to Main Line when others have a space limitation or if the animal needs special medical needs or is scheduled for euthanasia. Main Line arranges all the transport of these animals and boasts that over half of their dogs and cats come to them from other shelters.

By now, you must be asking yourself...if there are so many puppy mills in Pennsylvania creating such an overpopulation of animals, why would they need to transport animals from other areas to their facility? Answer is there is never enough money, power, and political influence. Just ask Senator Santorum and the AKC President who campaigned with him. See below...

The Enron incident and several others created a change in the thought processes of those that had or wanted to flaunt their power. Those that were in the limelight practiced the old trend of getting together the night before and having a nice dinner, sitting back to smoke the best cigars your money could buy while sipping favorite drinks at the local country club, and then going in to a rubber stamp meeting.

The most powerful person is the faceless individual who has the most connections within that dark endless web. They win season after season of survival and the most board seats. Political power is often unseen but ready to strike at a moment's notice. Power is not leadership. Power is working through others from a distance. And when it corrupts your state, it brings shame and ruin.

Shame on Pennsylvania for becoming known as the Eastern Puppy Mill State, the Capitol Of Canine Corruption. If you want to know more and perhaps protect your state and your pets, see part 2.

ref article Senator Santorum and the AKC President

go to Part II - Entering the Spider-less Web and then Part III, The Real Kicker Who Donates to Who!

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