All posts by Cindy Schonholtz

The Dark Side of Animal Rights

Humanewatch.org
Everyone believes animals should be treated humanely. But some groups want animal “liberation”–meaning people would not be allowed to own a pet, buy a wool sweater, or enjoy real ice cream. To them, using animals is immoral and is comparable to slavery or child abuse. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has compared eating chicken to the Holocaust, and argues that “it would have been in the animals’ best interests if the institution of ‘pet keeping’…never existed.”
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FEDERAL ACTION ALERT

FEDERAL BILL TO BAN THE PROCESSING OF HORSES FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION IS SET FOR A HEARING ON 1/29/20

H.R. 961 – Safeguard American Food Exports Act of 2019 – SAFE ACT

TEXT FROM BILL
the knowing sale or transport of equines or equine parts in interstate or foreign commerce for purposes of human consumption is hereby prohibited

HEARING : 01/29/2020 10:00 AM EST [House] Energy And Commerce 2322 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C.
Info on the hearing – you can livestream it here also:
https://energycommerce.house.gov/committee-activity/hearings/hearing-on-improving-safety-and-transparency-in-america-s-food-and-drugs
This is an equine welfare issue – there simply isn’t the infrastructure to support the unwanted horses that are currently being transported to Mexico and Canada to be processed for human consumption – this bill does NOTHING to address this. We need solutions, not an unfunded mandate that will make the situation worse for equine welfare in the United States.

If you are concerned about this bill you should immediately contact your U.S. Congressional representative and members of the Energy and Commerce Committee
Find your congressional representative: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

Members of the Energy and Commerce Committee:
http://clerk.house.gov/committee_info/index.aspx?comcode=IF00

Washington State Action Alert


THIS BILL NEEDS TO BE WIDELY CHALLENGED, PLEASE TAKE ACTION – ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE IN WASHINGTON STATE.

House Bill 2824 will ban certain animals at “any exhibition, public showing, presentation, display, exposition, fair, animal act, circus, ride, trade show, petting zoo, carnival, parade, race, or similar undertaking…
“HB2824 is sponsored by Representatives Appleton, Walen, and Pollet. It was referred to the House Public Safety Committee. Currently the bill excludes domestic horses and cattle but that could easily be amended in the future and includes many other species.
Text of bill: http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2019-20/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/2824.pdf?q=20200124092600&fbclid=IwAR0oX4BSqdFoJ215XFFrn8IZ2msrWS9js2TfnW-7Zh6GGC2gIwiYNiuWof4

As introduced, it includes the species and any hybrids below:(I) ARTIODACTYLA, excluding domestic cattle, bison, American buffalo, water buffalo, yak, zebu, gayal, bali cattle, suidae, sheep, llamas, or alpacas;
(II) CAMELIDAE;
(III) CANIDAE, including any hybrids thereof, but excluding domestic dogs;
(IV) CROCODILIA;
(V) ELASMOBRANCHII;
(VI) ELEPHANTIDAE;
(VII) FELIDAE, including any hybrids thereof, but excluding domestic cats;
(VIII) MARSUPIALIA;
(IX) NONHUMAN PRIMATE;
(X) PERISSODACTYLA, excluding domestic horses, ponies, donkeys, or mules;
(XI) PINNIPEDIA; and
(XII) URSIDAE.The only exemption applies to a program “that takes place at a nonmobile, permanent institution or other fixed facility.”The bill has been referred to the Committee on Public Safety.Email list: Sherry.Appleton@leg.wa.gov, Gerry.Pollet@leg.wa.gov, Amy.Walen@leg.wa.gov, Roger.Goodman@leg.wa.gov, Lauren.Davis@leg.wa.gov, Brad.Klippert@leg.wa.gov, Robert.Sutherland@leg.wa.gov, Jenny.Graham@leg.wa.gov, Dan.Griffey@leg.wa.gov, John.Lovick@leg.wa.gov, Tina.Orwall@leg.wa.gov, Mike.Pellicciotti@leg.wa.gov, Eric.Pettigrew@leg.wa.gov

Link to Committee information:
http://leg.wa.gov/House/Committees/PS/Pages/MembersStaff.aspx?fbclid=IwAR1f-6j8ofE_0hJdEvfZtJ-8ILjh-_5wjNDtpygojsF3K9TTW1sTNhlAiYY

Points to include in your messaging:
• I oppose House Bill 2824. Washington already has extensive animal cruelty laws including Chapter 16.52 RCW titled Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
• Current laws are adequate to protect animals in Washington State and should be enforced;
• This bill will have far-reaching, unintended consequences and hurt many animal industries in Washington State – taking away citizen’s rights to enjoy many activities involving animals;
• Reject the propaganda advanced by animal extremists who wish to ban the use of animals in industry, sport and recreation and listen to the experts who interact with these animals on a daily basis.

Will the IRS Crack Down on Animal Activists?

It seems harassment from animal activists is on the rise. And it’s high time the IRS and FBI do something about it.

Last week, we filed a complaint with the IRS and FBI regarding PETA and two California-based groups called Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) and Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation. These are radical groups lobbying to dictate lifestyle decisions on Californians–and we believe these organizations have abused the nonprofit tax code.

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Practical Biosecurity Tips

The Horse Magazine
By now you’re probably familiar with general equine biosecurity rules: Vaccinate your herdisolate sick horsesdisinfect tack and equipment between uses. But not all disease prevention practices are made equal. How you protect your field of retirees or your breeding stallion from disease differs from what you do when you haul your riding horse to a combined event.   Three veterinarians passionate about preventing infectious disease spread among horses have shared their best biosecurity suggestions for three scenarios: on the farm, at a horse show, and in the breeding shed. With each instance, we’ll show you exactly what good biosecurity for horses looks like.
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HSUS Exec Leaving After #MeToo Cover-Up Allegation

Humanewatch.org

HSUS’s bungling of former CEO Wayne Pacelle’s #MeToo resignation continues.

After credible allegations surfaced in national media in January that Pacelle had harassed women over a decade-plus period, the HSUS board of directors—shockingly—voted to keep him as CEO. The next day, facing donor blowback, Pacelle resigned. Meanwhile, he never apologized or admitted any wrongdoing, and the board didn’t apologize for its vote to keep the creep. In fact, one member, Erika Brunson, blew off the situation, telling the New York Times, “We didn’t hire [Pacelle] to be a choir boy.”

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Alliance: Animal rights activists focused on ‘animal liberation’

From taking extreme action to liberate livestock to discussing the reproductive rights of female animals, animal rights activists covered it at all at their latest conference. And the Animal Agriculture Alliance has all the details, releasing a report today with their observations from the Animal Rights National Conference, held June 28 through July 1 in Los Angeles, California.
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