The ABCs of Texas Poli-Tex

ABC's of Texas Politics

I'm back. Guess I will jump in with all 8 legs and give you the very basic ABCs of Texas Animal Politics (TAP).

That way the stage will be set with the cast of characters and usual suspects. The following list is by no means complete, but it is a start. This web is a tangle, to be sure!

The Humane Legislative Network (THLN).
Their website reads,"We are a mainstream voice for the animals of Texas: companion animals, homeless animals, horses, farm animals, native Texas wildlife and exotic animals alike. THLN is the voice at the Texas Legislature for untold numbers of animals throughout Texas who suffer horrific abuse and tragic neglect at the hands of callous humans. If you agree that animals deserve compassion and their abusers deserve punishment, we invite you to answer the call to justice by joining the Texas Humane Legislation Network today. Protecting those who cannot protect themselves is a noble cause for which your life will be much better for having served."

Texas Federation of Animal Care Societies (TFACS)
"The Texas Federation of Animal Care Societies (TFACS) was established in 2008 by a group of dedicated animal care and control professionals who wants to provide information and vital links for shelters all over the State."

Texas State Bar Animal Law Section (ALS)
"The Animal Law Section of the State Bar of Texas was established in 1996. Its purpose is to promote the study and understanding of laws, regulations, and court decisions dealing with legal issues involving animals. The section hosts a list serve; sponsors educational seminars; publishes a newsletter, the Animal Law Reporter; and holds an annual meeting."

Student Animal Legal Defense Fund (SALDF)
"Student Animal Legal Defense Fund (SALDF) chapters are student groups that are affiliated with the Animal Legal Defense Fund and share its mission to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system."

Metroplex Animal Coalition Dallas (MAC)
"M.A.C. is an alliance of 501(C)3 animal welfare organizations in Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties whose members have joined together in order to reduce the killing of dogs and cats in municipal animal shelters and humane societies. We are "Making Animals Count!"

Dallas Animal Advocates is a joint initiative between Companions For Life and Metroplex Animal Coalition in support of Dallas Animal Services (DAS).

Dallas Animal Shelter Commission (DASC) and Animal Control Board of Dallas

Animal Connection of Texas (ACT) in Dallas
"Animal Connection of Texas is a grassroots group dedicated to ending animal suffering."

Association of Certified Cruelty Investigators (ACCI)

Texas Animal Control Association (TACA)

Meet some of the web spinners:

Rick Bousquet is the Executive Director of THLN, the President of the South Central Chapter (San Antonio area) and also the President of the Wichita Falls Chapter. Bousquet had a 10 year career as a deputy sheriff and sergeant with the Texas Dept of Criminal Justice. He is on the BOD of the North Texas Air Conditioning Contractors of America *(ACCA) in Arlington.

Next is the North Texas Chapter which includes the Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) area. The chapter President is Stacy Smith. She is also a member of the Humane Society of Flower Mound. Meetings are sometimes held at the *ACCA office at 2008 E. Randol Mill Road, No. 106, in Arlington, where Bousquet is employed. Stacy also volunteers at the Black Beauty Ranch in Murchinson, which partners with the Fund for Animals and HSUS.

The Southeast Houston Chapter is headed by Brian Craft. See "The Texas Humane Legislation Network Makes Houston its New Home." Craft is also a member of the Society of PEACE -People for the Earth, Animals, Compassion & Enlightenment, a grassroots outreach organization dedicated to promoting compassion for all beings. (except for animal breeders, perhaps?)

They recently hosted a "World Go Vegan Days" dinner, featuring Professor Gary L. Francione, in October. (Professor Francione is a prominent philosopher of animal rights law and ethical theory, known for his abolitionist theory of animal rights, and his promotion of veganism and nonviolence as the baseline principles of the abolitionist movement. He is also the author of numerous books, including his most recent, Animals as Persons.

The President of the Central Texas Chapter which covers the Waco, Temple and Austin region is Karomy Harmel. She is a big supporter of the HSUS and is active in the Humane Society of U.S. Youth which brainwashes, er I mean, "educates" impressionable children about HSUS. They certainly get them started on the AR KoolAid young. See her comments on Wayne Pacelle's blog where she gushes her misguided sentiments and asks God to bless the HSUS for "exposing all the horror that goes on behind closed doors and the undercover investigator who found it!!!"

Paul O'Neill oversees Midland, Odessa and Big Springs for the THLN West Texas chapter. He is the director of Midland Animal Control and an officer of TACA - Texas Animal Control Association.

Lynda Barron represents the East Texas Chapter, covering the Tyler, Longview and Marshal areas. Lynda is a certified Legal Assistant in Tyler, Texas and also the secretary for the Tyler Association of Legal Professionals. She works for Attorney Ronald D. Stutes.

Mike Larson heads the El Paso chapter of THLN. As such, he networks with El Paso Animal Control, the Humane Society of El Paso (both located on Fred Wilson Rd) and the Animal Rescue League of El Paso.

The South Texas Chapter (Corpus area) President is Cheryl Martinez. She is active in the Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society, Peewee's Pet Adoption in Corpus and Prevent Unwanted Pets (PUPS). Written on the front of the Corpus Christi Animal Rights Effort van: "If your pet won't wear a condom, get him fixed." The back of the van reads: "It takes balls to neuter your pets." Under that is the phone number where anyone can call to report "animal cruelty and abuse."

Officers and Directors of THLN are Cile Holoway, President; Susan Hendrix VP; Dena Fisher, Secretary; Skip Trimble, Treasurer; Yolanda Eisenstein; Sherry Ferguson and Paula Miller.

Cile Holloway is the founder and President of THLN. She lives in the wealthy Dallas suburb of Frisco. After graduating from the University of North Texas, she worked as a vet tech for 12 years and volunteered with the Garland Humane Society. She has served on the Dallas Animal Shelter Advisory Commission. Holloway is a sales rep for the National Safety Association which manufactures products such as Bluespan ion Technology which assists in monitoring and finding people, pets or property.

Susan Hendrix is a principal of Hendrix Coughlan Media (HcM) and was formerly past principal of the Texas Media group. She has 20 years' experience in media production, creative advertising, marketing strategy, message development, public relations, and copy writing, in areas including politics, public affairs, green technology, nonprofit organizations, start-up businesses and entertainment. Not surprisingly, her interests include animal protection issues, journalism and travel. She is a member of THLN and Chain Free Austin, a non-profit that helps "get dogs off chains."

Susan Hightower is Secretary of the THLN. Though she does not handle animal law cases, she does teach animal law as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas School of Law. Before attending law school, Susan worked as a journalist, including two tours of duty covering the Texas Legislature for the AP. Hightower is a founding attorney of the Pirkey Barber law firm. She volunteers at Austin’s Town Lake Animal Center and Pets America Partnership that instructs people how to supervise shelters for pets who are evacuated with their families in the event of a disaster.

Lisa M. McClain is an Assistant Attorney General in the Transportation division of the Office of the Texas Attorney General, Greg Abott. She works in environmental and eminent domain proceedings in federal and state court and in administrative proceedings. McClain took the animal law course taught by Pamela D. Frasch, who is a co-author of the text Animal Law: Cases and Materials, and who serves as VP of Legal Affairs for the ALDF. McClain served two and a half years as the chair of the ALS of the State Bar of Texas, and she currently serves on the Board of the THLN and is on the City of Austin Animal Advisory Commission. She volunteers regularly at Town Lake Animal Center and AustinPetsAlive!.

Dena Fisher practices criminal defense law in Houston. She is a former Harris County Assistant District Attorney. Fisher does a small amount of pro bono animal related cases, mostly in the area of equine law. She is a member of ALDF, THLN, Texas Federation of Animal Care Societies (TFACS), the Texas Wildlife Coalition and Fund for Horses. She does extensive volunteer work with Houston area animal organizations.

Sherry Ferguson began as a volunteer at the Houston Humane Society in 1982. She served as Board President for two years before taking the position as Executive Director. Currently, Sherry serves on the THLN and TFACS boards.

Yolanda Eisenstein is a solo practitioner with an animal law practice in Dallas. She represents clients in animal-related matters including dangerous dogs, deceptive trade practices, contract disputes, estate and emergency planning for pets, transactional work, and wrongful death. She is co-chair of the international law subcommittee of the ABA TIPS Animal Law Committee and a board member of the THLN. She is licensed to practice law in Texas and New Mexico.

Paula Miller is the founder and president of PM Communications, a management consulting practice. Specializing in creating and managing operations for non-profit organizations. Paula has served as consulting executive director with numerous non-profits since 1991. She is active with local rescue organizations, their neighborhood association, and with Save A Stray, a program she founded that saves, rehabilitates, and finds homes for stray animals.

Anne Coller, Joel Hailey, Jack Knox, Gigi Ray and Dorothy Wilson are Advisory Board Members.

Anne Coller is on the BOD of the Animal Protection Voters in New Mexico which is the equivalent of a NM version of THLN. She was a past President of THLN when their office address was The Nokonah Bldg on 901 West 9th St in Austin. (a former Catyln/Trimble property handled by the now inactive Catlyn Nokonah, Ltd) She was very active in supporting the horse slaughter bill and campaigns to shut down "puppy mills."

Joel Hailey has a private practice of probate law in San Antonio. He has been actively involved in numerous local animal causes. He is a former Chair of the ALS and in 2007 was a coordinator of the Animal Law Institute. He remains very active with ALS.

Gigi Ray has been active with THLN for 13 years as a board member, and most recently as an advisory board member. She graduated from UT Arlington with a Masters in Criminal Justice and has worked in the law enforcement/criminal justice field the majority of her career. The last 10 years, Gigi has worked for the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office as the Senior Death Investigator.

Dorothy Wilson was very active in Ark4Pets, established in 1975. Other members included Lou Guyton, Mary Nash. Kaufman, Jack Knox and Patt Nordyke (formerly Davis). Patt is the Executive Director of TFACS. She has produced numerous Animal Care Conferences that provide training for all animal welfare agencies in Texas. She has been a presenter at conferences on a national and local basis and previously headed the Texas Federation of Humane Societies Evaluation Program.

Jack Knox is a Dallas business man (Sixx Holdings, Six Flags Over Texas Fund) and many others. He donates millions of dollars to various political candidates as well as to the Humane USA PAC. More about him next time.

Be sure to check out ""The Friends" of THLN - people who help finance this network.

You can be sure that THLN is heavily involved in the Puppy Mills campaign rhetoric. They even produced a video about it which you can watch, if you have the stomach for it. Click this link THLN's Puppy Mill Video on YouTube

Holey Moley!


A major part of the Animal Legislative/Enforcement Network includes the law and those who practice at it. Let me introduce some more members of the State Bar Animal Laws Section (ALS) team leaders.

Randy Turner has been practicing law for almost 30 years and is a partner in Turner and McKenzie in Fort Worth, Texas. Turner regularly represents rescue groups, humane societies, and animal rights activists in civil and criminal cases and is a frequent lecturer on animal law. He has worked as a volunteer in orangutan conservation in Borneo, elephant conservation in Kenya, and black rhino conservation in Zimbabwe.

Sandra K. Patton is an attorney with the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission. Based in Houston, her responsibilities include all aspects of legal work. Sandra volunteers her time with the Humane Society and the SPCA of Houston and is a foster mom for Homeless and Orphaned Pet Endeavors (HOPE), an all-foster, no kill animal adoption group.

Bill Davis practices appellate law at the office of the Solicitor General in Austin. He has published commentaries on animal law in The Federal Lawyer and the Lewis and Clark School of Animal Law Journal. Davis was one of the presenters at the Fourth Annual Animal Law Institute hosted by the State Bar of Texas ALS. He is a member of the ALDF and the Farm Sanctuary.

Amy Bures Danna practices law with The Clary Firm in the areas of Civil Litigation, Toxic Tort, Wills & Trusts, and Animal Law. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Houston Law Center, where she lectures on a full range of Animal Law topics. She has presented Animal Law educational seminars which are attended by veterinarians, lawyers, rescuers, vegans, animal control officers, shelter administrators, and pet enthusiasts. Danna was appointed to the City of Houston/Harris County Task Force on Animal.

Don Feare practices civil litigation and criminal defense in Arlington. He regularly handles a large volume of animal law cases and a variety of seizure and dog bite related cases. Don is a member of the board and the legislative committee of the THLN and on the TFACS BOD. He is also a photographer and contributor to Nature Photographer magazine. In addition, he speaks to civic and animal groups throughout the country. Don lives on the sanctuary he established in the late 80’s known as the Wildflight Rescue Foundation. Don is also an Adjunct Professor at Texas Wesleyan School of Law where he teaches Animal Law.

Dawn Reveley has practiced law for 20 years and is licensed in Texas and in Michigan. She practices business law and litigation representing small businesses, most of which are animal care providers. Dawn is one of the founding members of the ALS, and she has spoken nationally on animal law and equine law issues and on the establishment of State Bar Animal Law Sections for other states. She serves on the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and is active in animal-related businesses and hobbies. She has bred, trained and shown horses and golden retrievers for over 30 years.

This brings us back to the center of the web. Yep, “Skip” Trimble again. He's a member of this group, too.
And the ALDF....and the THLN....and API ... and DASC....and MAC.

So while we are here, we'll take a closer look at some more members of the Big MAC and the Friends of the MAC.

Some former MAC members include Bob Walton of the Urban Animal Magazine, Lou Guyton of HSUS, Tammy Hawley with the Humane Society of North Texas and Kent Robertson of Dallas Animal Services.

We know that Skippy is a member. He is the Secretary/Treasurer. This man has way too much time on his hands imo. Oh, and by the way, the MAC address is the same as Skip's business address (Catlyn Capital Corp). 8333 Douglas Avenue, Suite 1350.

Elaine Munch is President and also the President of the DASC (Dallas Animal Shelter Commission). She is affiliated with the Humane Society of Greater Dallas, the Humane society of Dallas County and a member of the HSUS, Operation Kindness and the SPCA of Texas. She is a former board member of the Garland H.S., the Irving H.S. and the Weimaraner Rescue of North Texas. She works on the MAC Marketing and PR Committee.

Hilary Hurst is the MAC VP and a self employed management consultant. She is an active fundraiser for animal causes and was a former Paw Cause co-chair.

Jonnie England is a Director of MAC and past Executive Director of Operation Kindness and ongoing member.

Beverly Fyfe is a member of Angie's Friends in Richardson, TX, the Humane Society of Dallas County and the Humane Society of Greater Dallas

Becky Haisma is active with Paws in The City, a founding director of A Different Breed (Dallas), the online contact for Dog and Kitty City - a no kill shelter operated by the Humane Society of Dallas County.

Holly Germin is on the MAC Operational and Focus Committee. Susan Kilgore is with Feral Friends and works on the MAC Fundraising Committee. James Bias is the President of the SPCA, Texas. Paul Carroll, DVM sees his animal patients at the Midway Hollow Pet Clinic. Jan McMann is the Director of outreach at the SW Regional HSUS office. Angie Thomas is also the Executive Director of KittiCo. Rebecca Poling is head of the MAC Member Groups Committee and active with Companions for Life.

Before I forget, let's look at a few more directors of TFACS and their membership list of organizations.

Jacqueline Lee Byrd's involvement in animal welfare began in 1994 as a volunteer for The Humane Society of Harlingen. She was elected to their BOD in 1995 and served as VP, Secretary and Chair of the Animal Care committee. She has served on the Harlingen Animal Shelter Advisory Committee as Chair and is currently serving as President of the People and Pets Coalition. Jackie is the Supervisor of the Brownsville Animal Regulation and Care Center (BARCC) located in Olmito Texas. BARCC is a shelter, animal control office and a low cost spay neuter clinic operated by the City of Brownsville. She also owns Byrd Dog Productions digital video in Harlingen. Prior to opening BDP, she worked in the electronic media: radio, television and advertising agency.

Jamey Cantrell began working with animals in 1993 where he learned the "business" and eventually worked his way up to the position of Staff Coordinator. He briefly worked as an Animal Services Officer for the City of Benbrook, but eventually returned to HSNT where he took over the position of Director of Shelter Operations. He held that position for five years, managing the day to day operations of the largest full-service animal shelter in North Texas, until leaving in July of 2003 to become the Animal Services Manager for the City of Lubbock. Cantrell now works as the Animal Services Manager for the City of Plano.

Leila Moore has been rescuing dogs and cats all her life. In 1978 she left her 15 year position as Supervisor of Data Entry for the State and moved to the country with her family of rescued pets. In 1991, she attended a Bastrop County Humane Society meeting and was immediately made treasurer of the organization. At that time, there was no animal control in her area so she and a neighbor began their own "humane society" and animal control. They used her pickup and for six years, she "doctored and socialized" many strays and put them up for adoption. She also became a certified cruelty investigator and worked with the Sheriff's Department. Leila also became active with the SN program and was eventually asked to join the Texas Federation of Humane Societies where she has been on board almost l4 years.

Kappy Munzer has worked in the field of animal protection for 34 years. She began as a volunteer in 1974 for Citizens for Animal Protection (CAP) and was one of the founders of the CAP Shelter which opened in 1981. She served as their Board President for almost ten years. and as Executive Director of CAP. Kappy served for over 20 years on the board of the THLN and was President for two years and VP for four years. She's also been on the Advisory Committee for Houston’s Bureau of Animal Regulation & Care (BARC), and she currently serves on the Advisory Committee for the Houston Community College Paramedic Veterinary Program.

Stan Parker has been a member of the Big Spring Police Department for nearly 20 years. He supervised the Big Spring Animal Control for five years. In 2008, Parker was elected Sheriff of Howard County.

Sallie Scott has more than 35 years experience in the animal welfare field. She began in the 1970’s on the Board of Man & Beast, Inc., going to schools to present programs. She was Executive Director of the Animal Defense League for over 12 years that appeared on all major TV networks, newspaper, and radio with pets for adoption. The Pets & Baby Class was introduced to San Antonio by Scott. She has received grants to fund workshops that point out the links between animal abuse, child abuse and family violence. She was on the Animal Resource Center (ARC) board which is a spay/neuter clinic. Scott founded Animal Friends Humane Society in 2001 and is currently President of Friends of Animal Care Services and a board member of the Humane Society of Williamson County. She has served as a board member as well as secretary of the Texas Federation of Humane Societies for over 20 years. She is Secretary/Treasurer of Alamo Area Partners for Animal Welfare, and is on the San Antonio Animal Care Services Advisory Board.

Bert Stratemann works for the City of San Marcos as the Animal Services Manager which also serves the city of Kyle and Hays County. He is the Vice President of the Southwest Texas Animal Care and Control Association (TACA).

And finally, here is a brief overview of people who manage the Association of Certified Cruelty Investigators.

Mitzi O'Dell, of Fayetteville, Arkansas is the President. Jamey Cantrell (remember him?) is the VP and the Animal Services Manager of the Plano Animal Shelter. June Boyd is the Secretary for the Rockwall County Sheriff’s Posse in Rockwall, Texas. Chris Williams, Treasurer works for the Washington County Sheriff's Department in Arkansas. Marcos Ybarra works for Midland Animal Control in Texas. Board member, Jill Hatfield lives in Fayetteville, too.

Cynthia Armstrong is with the SW region of the Oklahoma HSUS office. Jerry Roy is employed by the Calcasieu Parish Animal Control in Lake Charles, LA, Lawerance Hopkins is with Grapevine Animal Services in Grapevine, TX. Theresa Maxwell and Diana Morales are is Advisory Board Members.

Whew! That is enough for today. Keep in mind that this list is just a basic intro and does not cover every group and organization that each of these people belongs to or has belonged to or will belong to. We are sure to run across some of their paths in the future because they all wear many, many hats. Just like Skippy.
My legs are tired from trekking thru THIS Texas web. I thought I'd rest a bit and report back. Where to begin...Where to begin? There is so much ground to cover in this big ole state.

Let's go back to the center of this tangle - to Skip Trimble, the outspoken attorney/activist. He is closely affiliated with a host of organizations, councils and coalitions but is best known as spokesman for the Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN). Their home office is in Austin and they have nine chapter offices around the state.

Trimble is a very active member of the Animal Legal Defense Fund out of California and has yet another set of hats he has worn with that group. Those people give me the creeps. Skippy has held, and still holds, positions with many other animal-based organizations and commissions and so he has an extensive network of people to work with in Texas as well as in other states. In 2005, he was even a member of the Dallas Real Estate Task Force for the city government.

Is there anything animal related in Texas that Trimble hasn't had an impact on? For one example, the Dallas Fort Worth PetNet is used to help find lost and found pets through internet postings, emails, Neighborhood Associations, etc. The program partners with other organizations and municipalities to share data of “stray” animals coming into the shelters. All this is done through the Community Relations Department.

PetNet has evolved over the years since 1988 when it began. It has now entered the computer age and in 2007, the SPCA of Texas decided to take it even further and began a program called E-Pole. E-Pole allows people without access to the internet to provide information via the phone, which will then be put on the web. This program is currently being funded by none other than Robert L. “Skip” Trimble. By the way, he and his wife, Mary, just happen to own 6 dogs and three cats which are all rescues.

Mary Mitchell Trimble is also quite the animal activist and holds a position on the Board of Directors of Born Free and the API (Animal Protection Institute) which have merged.  This group is focused on taking away the Constitutional rights of those who own domesticated exotic animals. BF & API have an extensive grassroots system which they use to lobby the local, state and federal levels. They support various litigation campaigns and draft model "canned" legislation, which is available to legislators via databases such as the Council of State Governments or the General Code Advantage.

Mrs. Trimble also sits on the Advisory Board of Operation Kindness, based in Carrolton, Texas, where she networks with fellow members and officers which include Lou Guyton of HSUS and Elaine Munch. Lou is the Director of the HSUS SW Regional Office's Spay Neuter Clinic and Animal Wellness Center. She is also member of the Metroplex Coalition Advisory Board; the Humane Society of Greater Dallas; the Humane Society of Dallas County and the S.P.C.A of Texas - [the former employer of ACO Dave Garcia, who was the subject of several in depth exposes regarding the unethical methods he used to obtain animals for the shelter.] Munch is a former board member of the Garland Humane Society (now HSGD), the Irving Humane Society (now DFW Humane Society) and the Weimaraner Rescue of North Texas.

And as if that isn't interesting enough, I ran across information that "Skippy" has received awards from both PeTA and HSUS for his work, even though he enjoys hunting and fishing and owns a $5 million dollar ranch where he keeps cattle, horses and other animals. I guess they follow the old "Do as I Say and Not as I Do" do mindset to the extreme!

True to form, he appeared in a November 2008 Pre-Election interview on Vegan World Radio (episode # 16 : 3) November 2008 along with Nancy Perry (HSUS VP and Government Affairs advisor), Gene Bauer of the Farm Sanctuary and Brian Cates - the President of the Houston chapter of THLN.

These people and others of their ilk push for more and more restrictive laws. The problem is not a lack of laws, but lack of qualified personnel to enforce them. The job generally doesn't pay well, can be dangerous, depressing and unrewarding. Few people want to be the dog catcher - no matter how dressed up they make the title. It's unfortunate that more experienced people in animal husbandry don't take up some of these jobs. The animals would certainly appreciate it if somebody truly cared about their welfare, rather than their worth. Animal Control departments need more knowledgeable and experienced hands-on workers and less AR Kool Aid drinkers and AR brown shirts.

HSUS and PeTA have millions of dollars in their war chests that could help both people and animals, but still they push, and often pass, more laws. What most people fail to realize is that the ultimate goal behind the AR's efforts is the eventual end of all animal ownership. Period. Many of the people doing the dirty work for the biggies like HSUS/PeTA/API/ALDF don't even understand this. PeTA and HSUS don't mind funding mandatory spay/neuter programs, and even the old shelter gas chambers, because taking care of the animals we already have is not what they are about.

Spidey is seeing more and more illegal raids and seizures on well maintained sanctuaries and non-profit rescues. These are animals that HAVE been well taken care of. The owners are devastated and often cannot raise the funds to hire an attorney and fight "city hall." Before they can even begin to gather the resources to fight back, it is too late.

Their animals are sold (i.e. adopted out for a fee), transported, or many times simply auctioned off to the highest bidder. Sometimes the new owner will sell the cage and animal to make their own profit. The animals are taken from a stable, loving home and pawned off to strangers, who may or may not take proper care of them. This is cruel and inhumane.

Which brings us back to Skip Trimble, who was in the middle of the Primarily Primates fiasco that revolved around seven chimpanzees and two capuchin monkeys that retired to this San Antonio sanctuary when a research program at Ohio State University was shut down. PeTA butted in and decided the chimps should be transferred to Chimp Haven in Shreveport, LA. In the process, horses, ponies, birds and other animals were taken away from the Texas refuge. Trimble, as an ALDF board member was the attorney for the government- appointed receiver of the seized animals.

This happened fast and the people at Primarily Primates didn't have time to contest the action when the Chimp Haven vans showed up to cart their animals off. (Believe me, it has happened many times before and continues to happen.)

Trimble and the AR gang fought long and hard to shut down the Texas primate center. Why? PeTA claims they oppose animal research, but the seven chimps would have been sent to Chimp Haven in Louisiana only later to be returned to the former Ohio research program! They harass people just because they have the power and money to do so and it was never about the animals, really. They just let the chimps fall where they may as long as their followers send in money to "help them save the animals." In reality, the animals need to be saved from them!!

Primarily Primates fought the good fight and eventually won. (that's "Won" for Our Side) The executive director told the media that it took them over a half a year to clean up the mess left by the court appointed receiver who took over operations, temporarily.

One of the most well-funded organizations in Texas is the Humane Society of North Texas (HSNT) in Ft. Worth. In 2007, they listed assets of $9,256,721. So how much revenue does animal adoption bring in? According to their 2007 990, they made only $346,113 in adoption revenues! They made nearly twice that much on dividends and interest from securities, savings and cash investments and from sales of other assets. They claimed $818,856 in pledges receivable and $22,511 in monies from fundraisers. The bulk of their money ($5,819,643) is in securities, bonds, treasury notes and mutual funds.

Page three of their 990 reads, "Grants and allocations of $221,364 for "Cruelty Investigations to respond to all reports of animal cruelty in 19 counties in North Texas area. The investigations can lead to "Animal Rescues." AHA - it plainly states the true mission behind the investigations. Herein lies incentive to rustle up animals and with a $9 million dollar budget, they can certainly achieve that goal. See "Attachment 2" The Texas Humane Legislation "Worksheet to Calculate the Amount of An Appeal Bond and "Attachment 3" - Typical Housing and Care Costs."

The HSNT and many other such organizations routinely receive grant money from large Foundations such as the Animal Charities of America Federation and its Member Organizations or state and local Community Funds. The HSNT's most recently recorded donation from Animal Charities was for $102,611.

They received $27,929 from the Dallas United Way. The United Way makes it possible for military and federal employees to give to various charities of their choice through Combined Federal Campaigns, or CFCs. HSUS receives money this way, too. So do other animal rights groups.

In fact, Animal Charities of America, based in California, gives thousands of dollars each year to the Animal Legal Defense Fund, the Animal Protection Institute, the ASPCA, PeTA, PCRM, SNAP (Spay/Neuter Assistance Program), the United Animal Nations and the HSUS International's World Society for Protection of Animals to name just a few.

HSUS, in turn, donates thousands of dollars each year to groups such as the Animal Welfare Society, Best Friends Animal Society, Born Free, the Farm Sanctuary, Kittyco Cat Rescue, NAHEE (HSUS Education programs), an many more. Among those receiving HSUS money are the Harris County Veterinary Publications group in Houston, the Houston Humane Society, the Houston SPCA, the Humane Society of Fort Worth, Operation Kindness, PAWS in Dallas, SNAP of Houston, SPCA Texas, TACA, the Texas Veterinary Medical Program and of course, the Texas Humane Legislative Network.

Spidey's head is spinning. I need to climb out of this vortex and take a deep breath before I venture deeper.

Skip Trimble - At the Center of the Texas Web

Putting the Pieces Together in Texas

 

My legs are tired from trekking thru THIS Texas web. I thought I'd rest a bit and report back. Where to begin...Where to begin? There is so much ground to cover in this big ole state.

Let's go back to the center of this tangle - to Skip Trimble, the outspoken attorney/activist. He is closely affiliated with a host of organizations, councils and coalitions but is best known as spokesman for the Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN). Their home office is in Austin and they have nine chapter offices around the state.

Trimble is a very active member of the Animal Legal Defense Fund out of California and has yet another set of hats he has worn with that group. Those people give me the creeps. Skippy has held, and still holds, positions with many other animal-based organizations and commissions and so he has an extensive network of people to work with in Texas as well as in other states. In 2005, he was even a member of the Dallas Real Estate Task Force for the city government.

Is there anything animal related in Texas that Trimble hasn't had an impact on? For one example, the Dallas Fort Worth PetNet is used to help find lost and found pets through internet postings, emails, Neighborhood Associations, etc. The program partners with other organizations and municipalities to share data of “stray” animals coming into the shelters. All this is done through the Community Relations Department.

PetNet has evolved over the years since 1988 when it began. It has now entered the computer age and in 2007, the SPCA of Texas decided to take it even further and began a program called E-Pole. E-Pole allows people without access to the internet to provide information via the phone, which will then be put on the web. This program is currently being funded by none other than Robert L. “Skip” Trimble. By the way, he and his wife, Mary, just happen to own 6 dogs and three cats which are all rescues.



Mary Mitchell Trimble is also quite the animal activist and holds a position on the Board of Directors of Born Free and the API (Animal Protection Institute) which have merged. This group is focused on taking away the Constitutional rights of those who own domesticated exotic animals. BF & API have an extensive grassroots system which they use to lobby the local, state and federal levels. They support various litigation campaigns and draft model "canned" legislation, which is available to legislators via databases such as the Council of State Governments or the General Code Advantage.

Mrs. Trimble also sits on the Advisory Board of Operation Kindness, based in Carrolton, Texas, where she networks with fellow members and officers which include Lou Guyton of HSUS and Elaine Munch. Lou is the Director of the HSUS SW Regional Office's Spay Neuter Clinic and Animal Wellness Center. She is also member of the Metroplex Coalition Advisory Board; the Humane Society of Greater Dallas; the Humane Society of Dallas County and the S.P.C.A of Texas - [the former employer of ACO Dave Garcia, who was the subject of several in depth exposes regarding the unethical methods he used to obtain animals for the shelter.] Munch is a former board member of the Garland Humane Society (now HSGD), the Irving Humane Society (now DFW Humane Society) and the Weimaraner Rescue of North Texas.

And as if that isn't interesting enough, I ran across information that "Skippy" has received awards from both PeTA and HSUS for his work, even though he enjoys hunting and fishing and owns a $5 million dollar ranch where he keeps cattle, horses and other animals. I guess they follow the old "Do as I Say and Not as I Do" do mindset to the extreme!

True to form, he appeared in a November 2008 Pre-Election interview on Vegan World Radio along with Nancy Perry (HSUS VP and Government Affairs advisor), Gene Bauer of the Farm Sanctuarywww.farmsanctuary.org and Brian Cates - the President of the Houston chapter of THLN.

These people and others of their ilk push for more and more restrictive laws. The problem is not a lack of laws, but lack of qualified personnel to enforce them. The job generally doesn't pay well, can be dangerous, depressing and unrewarding. Few people want to be the dog catcher - no matter how dressed up they make the title. It's unfortunate that more experienced people in animal husbandry don't take up some of these jobs. The animals would certainly appreciate it if somebody truly cared about their welfare, rather than their worth. Animal Control departments need more knowledgeable and experienced hands-on workers and less AR Kool Aid drinkers and AR "brown shirts."

HSUS and PeTA have millions of dollars in their war chests that could help both people and animals, but still they push, and often pass, more laws. What most people fail to realize is that the ultimate goal behind the AR's efforts is the eventual end of all animal ownership. Period. Many of the people doing the dirty work for the biggies like HSUS/PeTA/API/ALDF don't even understand this. PeTA and HSUS don't mind funding mandatory spay/neuter programs, and even the old shelter gas chambers, because taking care of the animals we already have is not what they are about.

Spidey is seeing more and more illegal raids and seizures on well maintained sanctuaries and non-profit rescues. These are animals that HAVE been well taken care of. The owners are devastated and often cannot raise the funds to hire an attorney and fight "city hall." Before they can even begin to gather the resources to fight back, it is too late.

Their animals are sold (i.e. adopted out for a fee), transported, or many times simply auctioned off to the highest bidder. Sometimes the new owner will sell the cage and animal to make their own profit. The animals are taken from a stable, loving home and pawned off to strangers, who may or may not take proper care of them. This is cruel and inhumane.

Which brings us back to Skip Trimble, who was in the middle of the Primarily Primates fiasco that revolved around seven chimpanzees and two capuchin monkeys that retired to this San Antonio sanctuary when a research program at Ohio State University was shut down. PeTA butted in and decided the chimps should be transferred to Chimp Haven in Shreveport, LA. In the process, horses, ponies, birds and other animals were taken away from the Texas refuge. Trimble, as an ALDF board member was the attorney for the government- appointed receiver of the seized animals.

This happened fast and the people at Primarily Primates didn't have time to contest the action when the Chimp Haven vans showed up to cart their animals off. (Believe me, it has happened many times before and continues to happen.)

Trimble and the AR gang fought long and hard to shut down the Texas primate center. Why? PeTA claims they oppose animal research, but the seven chimps would have been sent to Chimp Haven in Louisiana only later to be returned to the former Ohio research program! They harass people just because they have the power and money to do so and it was never about the animals, really. They just let the chimps fall where they may as long as their followers send in money to "help them save the animals." In reality, the animals need to be saved from them!!

Primarily Primates fought the good fight and eventually won. (that's "Won" for Our Side) The executive director told the media that it took them over a half a year to clean up the mess left by the court appointed receiver who took over operations, temporarily.

One of the most well-funded organizations in Texas is the Humane Society of North Texas (HSNT) in Ft. Worth. In 2007, they listed assets of $9,256,721. So how much revenue does animal adoption bring in? According to their 2007 990, they made only $346,113 in adoption revenues! They made nearly twice that much on dividends and interest from securities, savings and cash investments and from sales of other assets. They claimed $818,856 in pledges receivable and $22,511 in monies from fundraisers. The bulk of their money ($5,819,643) is in securities, bonds, treasury notes and mutual funds.

Page three of their 990 reads, "Grants and allocations of $221,364 for "Cruelty Investigations to respond to all reports of animal cruelty in 19 counties in North Texas area. The investigations can lead to "Animal Rescues." AHA - it plainly states the true mission behind the investigations. Herein lies incentive to rustle up animals and with a $9 million dollar budget, they can certainly achieve that goal. See "Attachment 2" The Texas Humane Legislation "Worksheet to Calculate the Amount of An Appeal Bond and "Attachment 3" - Typical Housing and Care Costs."

The HSNT and many other such organizations routinely receive grant money from large Foundations such as the Animal Charities of America Federation and its Member Organizations or state and local Community Funds. The HSNT's most recently recorded donation from Animal Charities was for $102,611.

They received $27,929 from the Dallas United Way. The United Way makes it possible for military and federal employees to give to various charities of their choice through Combined Federal Campaigns, or CFCs. HSUS receives money this way, too. So do other animal rights groups.

In fact, Animal Charities of America, based in California, gives thousands of dollars each year to the Animal Legal Defense Fund, the Animal Protection Institute, the ASPCA, PeTA, PCRM, SNAP (Spay/Neuter Assistance Program), the United Animal Nations and the HSUS International's World Society for Protection of Animals to name just a few.

HSUS, in turn, donates thousands of dollars each year to groups such as the Animal Welfare Society, Best Friends Animal Society, Born Free, the Farm Sanctuary, Kittyco Cat Rescue, NAHEE (HSUS Education programs), an many more. Among those receiving HSUS money are the Harris County Veterinary Publications group in Houston, the Houston Humane Society, the Houston SPCA, the Humane Society of Fort Worth, Operation Kindness, PAWS in Dallas, SNAP of Houston, SPCA Texas, TACA, the Texas Veterinary Medical Program and of course, the Texas Humane Legislative Network.

Spidey's head is spinning. I need to climb out of this vortex and take a deep breath before I venture deeper.

Till next time . . . stay alert and be watchful. Take care, y'all.

The Texas Web

  THE TEXAS WEB

Spidey hasn't had much time to blog and has been busy with many other projects, and has also spent a lot of time reading other blogs, written by some awesome two-legged writers. Your little web crawler decided to spend some time in a warmer clime this winter and took a spin to the Big D in the heart of Texas.

I got down here to this big ole' state and thought how wonderful it was to be in God's country - a place where you can raise dogs and cats; pasture your livestock and keep all kinds of animals.

My oh my, - no sooner was I there, than I ran smack into the biggest, stickiest, black web you've ever seen. I can see I won't be able to rest until I tell you guys all about this mess. I don't know what I expected, but this sure wasn't it.

They say everything's bigger in Texas, and sad to say, I guess that includes the people who want to control everyone and make gobs of money doing it. Something stinks real bad in the state. I guess that is what happens When Vultures Rule. We'll also be looking at some of the rascally polecats (no offense to four legged polecats) that continually stick their noses into the business of honest animal owners.

I'm not even sure where to begin, but y'all know HSUS by now, don't you? They usually head up a grassroots network of "federated" humane societies and rescues." In Texas, it's called the Texas Federation of Animal Care Societies. [Texas Tax I.D. 30002745534. Based out of Austin]

One of the BOD members is Stan Parker of the Big Spring Police Department. He supervises the animal control department there. He also owns a small business and is now Sheriff of Howard County. He had a drinking problem a while back and was arrested for DWI. He lost his job with the police department but told the press he hasn't drank a drop since then, and has turned his life around. I'll have to tell you more about the other directors and board members later on as I try to find my way through this enormous web.

The head honcho in control of this posse; however, is the Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN) based in Dallas. [TX Corporation No. 62419801). Robert L. "Skip" Trimble is the registered agent, and as I soon discovered, is so much more than that. More about their web of directors in another post.

This man wears a mighty big ten gallon hat, in fact, he has quite a few of them as we shall see. He's a long time licensed attorney; once worked for the U.S. Department of Justice; he's been Chairman of the Animal Shelter Commission, has been treasurer of the Metroplex Animal Coalition and is a member of the Texas State Bar Animal Laws (ALS) division and, well, the entire Texas animal control shebang!

He does pro bono legal work for animal groups and helps them obtain tax exempt status. He is an active lobbyist and all round stirrer upper. But his most interesting connection is with the California based Animal Legal Defense Fund.

You know who the ALDF is, don't you? They are the organization that created the Animal Abuse Registry Database Administration System, or AARDAS, better known as Pet-Abuse.com. Here's a direct quote from the website, "The main function of the AARDAS project is to enable delegated administrators to enter, edit, and update animal abuse crimes and their corresponding abusers in the hopes of compiling the most comprehensive searchable abuse database available."

Trimble also owns a REIT - a real estate investment trust. This is a corporation that invests in real estate and that pays little or no corporate income taxes. REIT's are required to distribute 90% of their income, which may be taxable, into the hands of investors. His is called Catlyn Capital Corp.

Trimble is a supporter of the Humane USA PAC. He donates $5,000 to them regularly - at least twice a year that we know of. His wife, Mary Mitchell Trimble, makes duplicate donations to them for the same amount. Not surprising when you consider his active involvement and contact with a ****load of animal related organizations. The overpowering smell is so bad down here that my eyes are burning and I can scarcely breathe. It's the worst I've ever seen.

Yep, he is smack dab in the middle of the Texas barrel of AR alphabet soup.

I'll be back with another heaping bowl of news next time.

The Eyes of Texas are Upon You

The Alphabet Soup of Animal Rights

The Alphabet Soup of Animal Rights

Part I: The Top of the Heap
The link between PeTA, HSUS and ALF is none other than Nanci Bonnie Alexander, founder of the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida (ARFF).

She is the ex-wife of Leslie Alexander, a multi-millionaire. Les made his fortune as a Wall Street trader. He also owns the Texas Rockets. The Boca Raton, Florida couple divorced after 30 years of marriage. He offered her a check for $100 million to settle the divorce out of court, but she tore up his check. It is estimated that Les was worth about half a billion dollars back then, and Nanci wound up with about $250 million of that.

[Les Alexander is still a big supporter of animal rights. For instance, he teamed up with SNAP, the Spay-Neuter Assistance Program, to campaign for matching donations in Houston.]

Nanci Alexander is also on the Humane USA PAC (aka the HSUS PAC) Board of Directors. The Humane USA was formed by leaders of major animal rights organizations, including The Humane Society of the United States, The Fund for Animals, Farm Sanctuary, ASPCA, Doris Day Animal League, Animal Welfare Institute, The Ark Trust, Animal Rights Foundation of Florida, and others.

Other Humane USA Board of Directors members include Carole Baskin, Tampa, Florida; Gene Bauston, Vice-Chair, Watkins Glen, New York; Barbara Birdsey, West Barnstable, Massachusetts; Priscilla Cohn, Ph. D, Villanova, Pennsylvania; Harriett Crosby, Washington, DC; Jane Gale, Las Vegas, NV; Wm Christopher Kerr, Woodstock, New York; Jana Kohl, Psy.D., Chicago, Illinois; Mike Markarian, Chair, Silver Spring, MD;
Michele Martinez-Hixon, Pacific Palisades, CA ; Mary Max, New York, New York; Wayne Pacelle, Washington, DC; Maureen E. Peckman, Nevada; Bonnie Robbins, Seattle, Washington; Adam Roberts, Washington, DC; Staff: JJ Scheele, Washington, DC

Nanci donates millions of dollars every year to PeTA and PCRM (Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine). In 2004, she donated $5,000,000 to PCRM and another $5,000,000 to PeTA. All total, she donated over $25,000,000 to finance various animal rights organizations in 2004 alone. In 2003 PCRM received $10,000,000 from her and PeTA got $5,000,000.

In 2006 PCRM and PeTA each received $5 million.

IRS records also prove that her foundations have directly funded a violent animal-rights group described by the U.S. Department of Justice as a “domestic terrorist threat.” In 2001 and 2002 two donations, totaling $108,000, were made directly to SHAC (“Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty”), a multinational organization whose tactics have included death threats, car bombings, and physical assaults.

By the time the Alexander Foundation made its first grant to SHAC, that group’s violent activism had already resulted in eleven car-bombings in Great Britain, the baseball-bat beating of a medical research executive, and countless well-publicized threats of death or bodily harm. According to the February 23, 2004 issue of Newsweek, PCRM president Neal Barnard [who is tied professionally and personally to Ingrid Newkirk] co-signed a series of intimidating letters (on PCRM letterhead) with Kevin Kjonaas, then the U.S. president of SHAC. The letters were part of a campaign aimed at crippling a New Jersey company whose work includes medical research which requires the use of animals. Kjonaas, who also formerly served as a spokesperson for the FBI-designated “terrorist” Animal Liberation Front (ALF).

The Alexander Foundation is an animal rights organization’s dream.

However, donations to an obscure charity called Animal Rights America (ARA) tells a more troubling story.

The Alexander Foundation reported to the IRS that this donation was earmarked for Animal Rights America (page 17). The Alexander Foundation financially supported the notorious "Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty Campaign" – SHAC. The UK newspaper, The Telegraph, infiltrated SHAC's ranks to expose its secret funding network. A Telegraph reporter approached British SHAC leaders Greg Avery and Natasha Dellemagne and asked how he could contribute money. Mr. Avery and Ms. Dellemagne told him to pay a donation to the American charity Animal Rights America (ARA), which would be fed through its bank account and returned to Britain in cash for use by SHAC. Our undercover reporter was told that donating to the ARA was the perfect cover as the transaction would appear on banking records only as a contribution to a registered charity and could even qualify as a tax-deductible expense.

Ms. Dellemagne, 33, later telephoned him with the account number, bank code and charity tax identification for ARA. The money was transferred to the ARA account in Reading, Pennsylvania. (At one time the ARA had “offices” in quite a few states across the nation.)

Animal Rights America published “No Compromise”, a self-described "militant, direct-action newspaper" that "supports the A.L.F." And that group funneled money to SHAC, an organization whose members blew up cars, made death threats, beat people with baseball bats, and otherwise terrorized their "targets." And a major portion of that money trail began with the Alexanders.

It should be no surpise then that Nanci Alexander was also deeply involved with Operation Bite Back – a campaign carried out by ALF terrorists against farmers and researchers and anyone raising animals. Attacks were encouraged upon anyone making a living from animal ownership as part of their anti-capitalism campaign. Bite Back’s website was registered by Nicolas Atwood at a West Palm Beach, Florida address. The site promoted criminal actions against all kinds of targets. Photos and videos of animal enterprise terrorists were featured – acts of property destruction as well as interviews with convicted terrorists. Viewers were encouraged to write letters in support of these prisoners. Atwood was the Director of Communications at ARFF and also the Communications Coordinator for the Palm Beach County Cultural Council.

See Also:
http://foundationcenter.org/findfunders/

Alexander Foundation, Inc.
EIN 69-2789197

2006 $2,135,483

2005 $2,255,875
2004 $2,361,547

2003 $2,435,080

2002 $2,628,405
2001 $2,992,096

Nanci's Animal Rights Foundation, Inc.

EIN 65-1174489

2006 $73,032,658
2005 $55,487,486
2004 $39,364,682

During the past decade, Nanci Alexander has donated thousands of dollars to the Humane USA PAC, Robert Wexler (D) - FL; Alcee Hastings (D) - FL; Howard Dean (D), President of Dean for Amreica; Maria Cantwell (D) WA Senate; Peter Deutsch (D) - FL Senate; John Kerry for President Inc.; Robert C. Smith (R) NH Senate; Mario Diaz-Balart (R) FL House; the 20th District of Florida Federal PAC; Carol A. Roberts (D) FL House; Joseph Maxwell Cleland (D) GA Senate; Thomas Richard Harkin (D) IA Senate; ZACKPAC - Ben Wexter, Treasurer - Boca Raton; Charles S. Robb (D) VA Senate; DNC Services Corp/Demo National Committee; Patsy Ann Kurth (D) FL House; Ed Whitfeld (R) KY House; Peter A. Defazio (D) OR House; Elaine D. Bloom (D) FL House; Democratic Exec Committee of FL: Sam Farr (D) CA House; John C. Rayson (D) FL House; Barbara Boxer (D), CA Senate; Ronald Lee Wyden (D) OR Senate; Elect! for Animals; Patty Murray (D) WA Senate; Richard A. Gephardt (D) MO House; James A. Stuber (D) FL House; John Bryant (D) TX Senate; Robert G. Torricelli (D) NJ Senate; Peter M. Weinstein (D) FL House; John Forbes Kerry (D) MA Senate; Ronald Cordell Sims (D) FL Senate; Jack Mudd (D) MT Senate; Thomas H. Andrews (D) ME Senate; George J. Mitchell (D) WA Senate; Michael Allen Andrews (D) TX Senate; Joseph P. Kennedy II (D) MA House; Lois Jane Frankel (D) FL House; Nicki Grossman for Congress; Bob Graham (D) FL Senate & Paul E. Tsongas (D)

Former Board of Advisors for the ARFF - Animal Rights Foundation of Florida included Peter Deutsch, Alice Hastings, Robert Wexler, Cathleen Anderson (City Commissioner-Hollywood and President of Animal Birth Control), Ted Stedman Carr, DVM, Doris Day, Jay Ferber DVM, Scott Fuerst, Esq., Pam Huizenga (daughter of Waste Management mogul) and Ingrid Newkirk.

Money, Politics and Deception

A Tangled Fluffy Web
Money, Politics and Deception

Sorry for the delay boys and girls. Our spider has been busy and this is that time of year when webs are spun faster than cotton candy at the state fair -- Legislation Time. One web leads to another, we're told, but we needed Spidey back in Pennsylvania for some updates, so he rushed back in his Ferrari L430 Spider packed full of facts.


Have you been writing letters to the new Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement and letting your voices be heard about the overly restrictive proposed rules and regulations? The "Pennsylvania Puppy Mill Campaign" worked long and hard to bring this about. A hoard of animal rights organizations screeched loud and long and finally got the attention of the governor and other politicians, who were more than happy to accommodate the public misconceptions about dog breeding in Pennsylvania.

Their names are legion: United Against Puppy Mills, Save-A-Dog, Main Line Rescue, Keystone Golden Retriever Rescue, NJ Consumers Against Pet Shop Abuse (NJCAPSA) - Bob Baker and Libby Williams - Libby is related to one of the Main Line Rescue directors and she personally attended more than 35 zoning hearings in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to hear testimony and offer comments regarding applications of new puppy mills. Several applications were denied. We would hope so. Whoever heard of applying for a PUPPY MILL LICENSE ? - Save Ardmore Coalition, Prisoners of Greed, Stop Puppy Mills, Last Resort Animal Rescue, to name a few. They never let common sense or truth get in the way of stirring up public opinion against animal owners and breeders.

We know that our readers support animal welfare 100%. Proper animal husbandry and care for our animals is a given. We protest the hot-button phrase "puppy mill" because it was created by an anti-animal ownership faction. These groups ultimately do not support animal ownership, period, unless, of course, you abide by their rules, have the monetary status to own and keep an animal the way that THEY prescribe. There was a more productive way to deal with sub-standard kennel operations, but where is the publicity and money in that?

DISNEY WORLD KENNEL

Herein lies the problem. No matter how they try, the state cannot legislate human behavior. A few sour apples will taint the lives of decent, tax-paying, law abiding citizens. In an ideal world, the laws would be applied fairly and everyone would own a DisneyWorld kennel. However, in this world, good people are victims of legislators and law enforcement officials gone wild. Even the best managed kennels are not 100% pristine 24/7. There are more shelters closed because of 'disease outbreaks' than there are commercial and private kennels closed for that reason. Here are just a couple recent articles for you to review regarding shelter disease outbreaks and OVERCROWDING. Click here and here to read these very recent articles.

Because the proposed rules and regulations are too broad and have the potential to be unfairly enforced for the slightest infraction, will Pa. create more of a problem than what exists? We believe that to be the case and so do responsible breeders. Read the proposed regulations again-but take your meds first! We cannot trust the State to guard our Constitutional rights or our private property.

The New Dog Law Advisory Board - Not in the Best Interests of Dog Owners ...... OR ... How Can You Regulate What You Cannot Define ?????

Somewhere along the way, Jesse Smith commented that the Department was not looking for the small hobby breeder, but those that were breeding large numbers of dogs. What is a "large breeding" operation? According to the proposed regulations, failure to obtain a kennel license prior to operating any establishment that keeps, harbors, boards, shelters, sells, gives away or in any way transfers a cumulative total of 26 or more dogs of any age during 1 calendar year may result in violations. Is a large breeding operation one that has more than 26 dogs per year? Surely that cannot be correct. The regulations do not define small hobby breeders in any other manner that our researchers can find. There are also no definitions of "puppy mill" that we could find except on those web sites that claim they know what a "puppy mill" is.
One explanation, found on the Prisoners of Greed website is this:

'There is no definition of a puppymill. In our opinion anyone who breeds dog with profit as the main motivation and without consideration for the health and well being of the dogs and puppies is guilty of ethical crimes.
There are two kinds of these people - backyard breeders and puppy millers. They should both be driven out of business.
Anyone who has so little concern for the well being of the puppies that they have caused to be brought into the world that they sell them to someone else who will resell them qualifies as a mill in our opinion.'

By their own admission, THEY don't have a definition of a "puppy mill" - only an opinion and we all know about opinions. (As a matter of fact, we received a picture of an "opinion", via an anonymous sender, that originated from Main Line Rescue, apparently to one of our readers, who wanted us to see what type of mentality they were dealing with. We chose not to publish such a blatant display of ignorance.)

One thing is for sure, using their "opinion" of a "puppy mill" - those small breeders that breed for quality and those that show their dogs - cannot be considered a "puppy mill" and therefore, should not be subject to these regulations. But, the definitions and the regulations are still much too vague. A puppy mill could be anything the Advisory Board claims them to be, based solely on an OPINION. Same with a hobby breeder, a backyard breeder, or a commercial breeder. People must know what the proposed rule is stating in regards to specific definitions, otherwise it is ambiguous, arbitrary and capricious.

ARBITRARY AND CAPRICIOUS - Absence of a rational connection between the facts found and the choice made. A clear error of judgment; an action not based upon consideration of relevant factors and so is arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion or otherwise not in accordance with law or if it was taken without observance of procedure required by law. 5 USC. 706(2)(A) (1988). When a judge makes a decision without reasonable grounds or adequate consideration of the circumstances, it is said to be arbitrary and capricious and can be invalidated by an appellate court on that ground. There is, however, no set standard for what constitutes an arbitrary and capricious decision; what appears arbitrary to one judge may seem perfectly reasonable to another.

The Cauldron

The way the new rules are written puts everybody into the proverbial cauldron in this witch hunt...and you know it. Telling people not to worry certainly did not go very far in the dog world. We all know that there are some that don't apply good husbandry policies, but just which of the above named categories is the faltering faction in the Pennsylvania dog world? How many constitutional rights are needed for the witch's brew ?

Additional Restrictions & Money BUT Not For Everybody !!!

Adding restrictions regarding the separation of puppies, larger crate/pen sizes, slope degree are all unnecessary to responsible dog owners. In more than several of the above mentioned websites, it is proclaimed that "these poor puppy mill dogs have never felt the grass under their feet." Bad news for all of those organizations. If these new regulations pass, they STILL won't feel the grass under their feet, will they? But hold on !!! None of these regulations pertain to the organizations that will house confiscated animals. Discriminatory? Yes, absolutely!

There is no reason that facilities that house animals for adoption and euthanasia, or that act as a holding facility for confiscated animals should not abide by the same rules. Why would you take a dog from a home where it had free run of the yard or house and put it in a concrete block space not large enough for it? Humane treatment? Where's the green grass? What about “lateral recumbence?” The new dog laws proposed by state officials to crack down on the “puppy mill” problem have a provision governing the size of “primary enclosures” for kennels. They are, according to the proposed rule, to be big enough so that a dog may lie in a “lateral recumbence” — on its side or back with legs fully extended — without any part of its body, tail, feet or head touching any side of the enclosure. Dogs that are placed into shelters don't get out and are subjected to being in "an enclosure" that does not provide "lateral recumbence." You ask the breeders in Pennsylvania to adhere to rules that you don't follow yourself. If the state wishes to teach "husbandry" to its breeders, then the state should set the example and the example is NOT in a shelter environment.

Overcrowding Shelters ??? or is it really ..... Hoarding for Profit !!!

Let's talk overcrowding or perhaps a better terminology would be "hoarding for profit." Shelters complain about overcrowding all the time. Could it be because they are not required to adhere to proper space allotments for particular animals? Do such cramped quarters constitute "humane welfare"? Will you start to pay people to foster like the state does with children? (Oops, pardon us - there are more stringent laws for DOGS than there are for the safety and welfare of children in Pa. !!) How long will you keep these dogs cramped in a rescue/shelter situation never being allowed to feel the "grass under their feet?" What about those dogs that are never adopted - they live their entire life in a SHELTER? .... for LIFE? You call that humane? We don't. If the intent is to be "fair", as stated, shelters should be included in the regulations as well. If you really think about it, "Shelter Hoarding for Profit" is not much different from what the regulations claim they are intended to stop.

Hopping Along the Money Trail

Who's who in this sad tale of wagging the dog? *Governor Rendell has powerful friends and supporters who helped finance his election campaign. Marsha Perelman (and other members of the Perelman clan) are at the top of the list. She sits on many of the same boards with him, socializes with him AND she is also a member of the new Dog Advisory Board. Perelman is also a valuable resource as a director of Main Line Rescue. Money talks and Rendell listens.

Click here to see the slideshow of who's who in the PA elite crowd. Perelmans, Hamiltons and Rendell and then let's talk about the 'handpicked Rendell committee' or better yet, click here for a cozy picture that speaks for itself.
Those of you that want to be a little adventurous, just Google Perelman and Rendell or "Marsha Perelman" for more information.

Perelman is also on the board of the ASPCA. (Bob Baker in an investigator for the ASPCA) Main Line Rescue admits that it has worked with the New York City ASPCA for years. In fact, they wrote that over half of MLR's dogs and cats come from other rescue orgs and SPCAs. The Spring 2004 issue of their newsletter stated that they received dogs from shelters in Delaware County, Baltimore, Maryland, NYC and St. Croix in the Virgin Islands.

Another new DLAB member is Mary Remer, a MLR dog trainer, owner of What a Good Dog in Villanova, and First Vice President of the Bull Terrier Club of America.

She and friend Carolyn Garson, plan to build a $6 million, state of the art pet care facility that will soon be opened in Chester County. There is no money in professional and responsible breeding, however, there is money in sheltering. *Note: Though Remer married into the DuPont dynasty we have been told that she also had money - perhaps more than her husband. A few people have informed A & N that Mary Remer is an advocate for professional and responsible dog breeders.

We mustn't leave out Joe Trippi. He is the media guru for the Best Friends Animal Society. He orchestrated the questionable BSL conference to the tune of German marching music. That is to say that Best Friends wants to use Germany's dog laws as a model for our "dangerous dog" laws right here in the land of the free. Trippi also has friends in PA's high places and he could easily become Mayor of Philly and Rendell's right hand man! WHAT NEXT??? If you don't believe us, maybe you'd like to take a look at what you missed ! Joe Trippi's - Democracy, the Internet and the Overthrow of Everything !!

You might want to also check out this article about Rendell's magic at raking in contributions! Just click here !

This is just one example of PA politicking. Wayne Huizenga of Florida donated $50,000 to Rendell in 2006. He owns Waste Management (WMI). Penn State is one of the most corporate-controlled universities in the U.S. - where tons of corporate and military research is done with no citizen right-to-know. For years, Penn State has promoted things that support Waste Management's operations in Pennsylvania, including the land-application of toxic sewage sludge and the site of a nuclear waste dump! But, those things aren't near as health threatening as "dog feces and worms," are they?

Wayne Huizenga is the only person in history to build three Fortune 1000 companies practically from scratch: Waste Management, Blockbuster Entertainment and AutoNation. He also owns the Miami Dolphins and is previous owner of the Florida Marlins baseball team and the Panthers hockey team. Blockbuster sold to Viacom for $8.4 billion in stock. He also re-entered the waste management field with the creation of Republic Services, which grew to be the third-largest waste management company in the U.S. before merging with Huizenga's first company, WMI. But Huizenga is not without his detractors. A 1994 article in the Miami New Times dug up a pile of dirt (both actual and alleged), including an early assault case in which he had roughed up a sales prospect who refused to do business with him (Huizenga lost the civil suit climbing his way to success at the expense of others; ties with organized crime; physical and emotional abuse of his wife; unfair competition practices; illegal political contributions; and disregard of environmental laws.

FYI - Several years ago, the Florida AR crowd began a campaign about hog crates. They created a PAC, chaired by Wayne Huizenga’s daughter, Pamela. Most of the PAC money came in six-figure chunks from the Farm Sanctuary, an animal shelter and former Animal Liberation Front “spokesgroup” based in New York and California. The web covers every coast and every border.
Smoke, Mirrors and Fire OR Is It Smoke, Mirrors and Photos ?

Back to the beginning. Save-A-Dog published "the Shame of Pennsylvania" website that featured a 6 year old Maltese, named Hope, that allegedly came from a puppymill. The dog appeared to be in terrible condition and was sure to stir the public's emotions and loosen their pocketbooks. In fact, Hope was a driving force behind the "puppy mill" campaign that eventually resulted in the new dog advisory board and the horrendous regulations that have been proposed.

This web page is published via petfinder.org, a group that MLR also networks with. (Petfinder.org is registered under Discovery Communications, Inc. which also is responsible for Animal Planet Media which is also a H$U$ partner). Main Line Rescue recently revamped its website and added pictures of another similar looking "Maltese" they named Shrimp.

The kennel in the photo posted to the Save-A-Dog site claimed that it was licensed in PA and that it had been inspected twice with no action by inspectors. They credited the reprint with permission of this information to Hearts United for Animals in Nebraska that has no contact name on the website.

An article from the Sept/Oct 2005 issue of the Best Friends magazine featured an article about Pennsylvania Amish puppy mills written by Julie Richard. Page 45 tells the story about a sick Maltese that was supposedly registered with the ACA - American Canine Association.

MLR recently emailed pictures and a story about Shrimp. They stated that he came from a PA kennel which was licensed and inspected 3 times without violations. MLR claimed the dog had been registered with the AKC and they sent this information to Governor Rendell and the new Dog Advisory Board in support of the strict proposals that may soon be law.

Though MLR is well connected, they leave a bit to be desired in the human relations department - and in credibility. These "maltese" stories share many similarities. Could this same story be recycled over and over? The claims are so similar - a very malnourished dog, from a licensed PA kennel that was inspected two or three times with no violations. Could such pictures be altered via a software program to create hideous and heartbreaking photos that would guarantee outrage, sympathy and donations? It has been known to happen.

The Great Wide Web

New Jersey has some of the, if not the most restrictive, animal legislation in the country with New York following close behind. We suppose they feel it their duty to see Pennsylvania become just as bad. Walter Hargis pushed the PA Puppy Mill Awareness day in the Long Island newspapers. Turns out that his wife, Kathy, is an active rescuer of animals that specializes in "unsocialized puppymill" dogs. She is also credited with being a founding member of Puppymill Awareness Day and is a certified Animal Control Officer.

By the way, that website also features the pathetic MLR Shrimp dog and a link to Last Chance for Animals, headquartered in Los Angeles. (President Chris DeRose )

NJCAPSA eagerly joined the PA puppymill bashing party and reputable dog breeders took some hard punches and low blows. Libby Williams is the founder of this organization. She learned her craft as a volunteer for the Fund for Animals which led to her stint as a cruelty investigator for the Humane Society of Huron Valley in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Also speaking at this puppy mill rally was ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement Officer Annemarie Lucas, investigator for the NY SPCA, who is well known from the popular Animal Planet series, Animal Precinct. Bob Baker (former HSUS animal investigator now with the ASPCA) is also on the advisory board of NJCAPSA. (There is more about him on previous postings on this blog & easy for you to access.) During Animal Planet segments, ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement (HLE) officers can be classified as Special Agent or Special Investigator. Some HLE officers are spoken of only by initial (ex. Agent X, Y or Z) with their faces blurred when on-camera as a way to protect their identities so that they can do undercover work for the ASPCA.

Imagine that. Undercover agents for animals. Maybe in their free time, they should go and do some undercover work for abused children.

You know, the ones that never feel the grass under their feet, are black & blue, broken bones, no medical treatment, no clean clothes or bedding, no food or water, locked up and not permitted lateral recumbance. But, there's not much reward in that.

AND THE REWARD IS..............

Boys and girls, ladies and gents, we now show you the reward... !!!

A & N Research - bringing you the facts !!

Amazing how one picture is worth a million words !

Stay tuned for MUCH more !!

Commentary on PA Proposed Dog Law Enforcement

A Commentary on Pennsylvania's Proposed Dog Law Enforcement
Proposed Rules and Regulations

Department of Agriculture
7 PA. Code Chapters 21, 23, 25 and 27
36 Pa.B. 7596
http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol36/36-50/2452.html
To Implement and Amend http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/007/partIItoc.html

For many years now, the animal rights and animal welfare groups have been telling the entire nation that Pennsylvania is the "Puppy Mill" capital of the east. I have always been suspicious of this emotionally charged, hot button term. The phrase was introduced in the 1980s and the HSUS has used it at every opportunity since. Perhaps the phrase was first used to describe genuine, sub standard kennels - but it has since morphed into a catch all term that has been used to demonize even the most reputable of breeders.

There is no doubt that large, sub-standard kennels exist in Pennsylvania. Laws were in place that should have regulated such kennels, but they were not strictly enforced. Because the animal rights activists tend to cry "puppy mill" even when there are none, we must question their motives and credibility. We cannot allow these ridiculously stringent regulations to pass into law.

Laws are made to cull out the bad apples. Unfortunately, the bad apples usually do not adhere to the law. Many have already shut down their operations entirely or moved them to another state. These proposed regulations will become a burden on those who have always maintained professional kennels. The honest person is being punished for the misdeeds of those that the regulations were written for.

What is so onerous about these regulations is that they are nearly impossible to follow unless you are fortunate enough to have a full time staff. They are time consuming and will incur great expense to kennel owners. The potential for the regulations to be subjectively enforced is of extreme concern and must be taken into consideration.

Ironically, reputable breeders joined the animal welfarists in the crusade to clean up or shut down unprofessional breeders. Unfortunately the line between hard core animal rights and genuine animal welfare is very blurred, and often the former merely poses as the latter. I warned readers many years ago that animal rights people do not compromise - they see things in black and white (i.e. all breeders are bad). They can't be trusted and the newly appointed dog law advisory board and their proposed regulations are proof positive.

The PA Department of Agriculture admits they have relied on and borrowed from provisions set forth in the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and in the Military Dog Training Manual. Both of these documents were created by and operated by the federal government which has ample funds to adhere to them. The U.S. military certainly has the budget to maintain a state-of-the art kennel. It is not reasonable to place those same standards upon a private citizen.

Taxpayer money will be used to purchase equipment necessary for measuring lighting and ventilation. It is estimated that $15,000 per warden will be allotted the first year and $5,000 for the next four years, or $35,000 per each warden. The information I have has 79 dog wardens listed - there could be more. 79 x $35,000 = $2,765,000, nearly $3 million dollars.

The proposed amendments to the regulations will impose additional costs on those regulated. Licensed kennels will need to comply with very restrictive specifications regarding lighting, ventilation, space requirements, sanitation, housing requirements and record keeping. "Temporary homes" will also have to comply with these regulations. The new dog advisory board estimates the costs for each person and kennel to come into compliance with these proposed regulations will range from $5,000 to $20,000. That is excessive and unacceptable.

Dog owners of every type need to make their voices heard NOW. We cannot afford to hide our heads in the sand any longer. If we do, we will deserve the regulations that will be imposed on us. Please be sure to send copies of your letters and comments to your State representatives (both houses), a copy to your federal representatives (both houses) and to Governor Rendell. They need to know what the Pennsylvania dog-owning taxpayers have to say about these proposed regulations.

Comment letters should be sent on or before February 10, 2007 to assure receipt by the comment deadline. Please also send copies of your letter to your State Senator and State Assemblyman and to the Pennsylvania Federation of Dog Clubs. Names and addresses are available on the website at Pennsylvania Federation of Dog Clubs

Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement
Attn: Ms. Mary Bender
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
2301 North Cameron Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9408
717-772-4352 (FAX)

Governor Edward G. Rendell's Office

225 Main Capitol Building; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120
To telephone the Governor call:(717) 787-2500

If you have not read these regulations yet, you need to do so. The link to them is at the top of this article. The first time I read them, my head was spinning. These should be guidelines for an ideal kennel; not law.

The 26 Dog Rule
Any *establishment that keeps, harbors, boards, shelters, sells, gives away or in any way transfers a cumulative total of 26 or more dogs of any age during 1 calendar year must obtain a license. Those which do not fall under this definition shall obtain individual, rather than kennel, licenses.

K-1 kennels are currently described by PA law as those with 26-50 dogs. These are small operations that will most likely choose not to renew their kennel license if they are subjected to the restrictive and expensive regulations that are being proposed. Large corporations, such as the Hunte Corporation, can afford to buy puppies from smaller breeders while maintaining facilities that meet all the proposed requirements. These regulations encourage such factory farms, that will in turn, sell puppies to pet shops across the east coast!

The below example illustrates how detailed the proposed regulations are.

*(An establishment includes the home, homestead, place of business or operation of any individual or person, including a dealer, which includes all of the land, property, housing facilities or any combination thereof, on, in or through which any dog is kept, bred, harbored, boarded, sheltered, maintained, sold, given away, exchanged or in any way transferred. Establishment shall encompass all of the individuals or persons residing thereon. It may be public or private and includes an individual, person, organization, business or operation, which utilizes offsite or temporary homes to keep, maintain, breed, train, harbor, board, shelter, sell, give away, adopt, exchange, or in any way transfer dogs. A housing facility includes any land, premises, shed, barn, building, house, trailer or other structure or area housing or intended to house dogs for any period of time.)

Obviously the new, improved PA Dog Enforcement team wants to be able to legally access an establishment owner's entire premise and be able to inspect everything which they own. Buying a kennel or dog license conveys an obligation attached to ownership rights which puts one under obligation to abide by the governing laws, rules and regulations. The potential to violate Constitutional rights is just too much to risk in my opinion.

Of course, each time the Department decides a regulation has been broken they can file an injunction against the kennel and may also impose a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 for every day the kennel operates in violation of the act or regulations. (For instance, operating a kennel without a license, operating with a revoked license, suspension of a license, selling dogs without an out-of-state dealer license )

Seizure of dogs. The Department may seize, impound and direct forfeiture proceedings of dog(s) for the following reasons: Revocation, suspension or denial of a kennel license or an out-of-State dealer license. The owner shall pay for transportation costs, care and feeding of the dog(s) even though they are not in his possession.

These new regulations provide similar penalties that are used in alleged animal cruelty cases where animals have been seized. A person is judged guilty until proven broke. Remember, violation of any of these rules and regulations could theoretically result in punitive actions against a dog owner or kennel. There are procedures to appeal an ACO or dog warden's decision, but they are time consuming and expensive. Few people are able to retrieve their property (their dogs) once they have been forfeited. The holding fees are quite steep and unreasonable. Some of the animals die while in the care of a third party; some become diseased and others are sold or adopted out.

This is Administrative Law. The Dog Advisory Board not only writes and incorporates new rules and regulations into the statutes, it is also responsible for administering and enforcing them as well as judging whether they have been broken! It is difficult to fight such a system.

Extensive records on each dog kept at a licensed kennel must be maintained for at least 2 years. The records must be legible and be open to inspection and may be copied by any employee of the Department (with or without notice). All records must include the minimum information: the breed, color, markings, sex and age of each dog; the date on which each dog entered the kennel, and where the dog came from. Other information may be required depending on the type of kennel license one owns. The PA kennel license number or out-of-state dealer license is necessary for dogs that enter a kennel along with the name and address of the individual breeder or former keeper. Similar records are kept for dogs leaving the kennel including detailed vet records about the dog. (spayed, neutered, vaccinations etc etc)

Similarly, the housing requirements are quite detailed. Temperature control, safe housing, space requirements, protection from the elements, strict sanitation protocols, and even lighting specifications are set out in great detail for both indoor and outdoor facilities.

The following are just a few of the details covered. Outdoor dog shelters must be raised off the ground and built to be draft free, and yet must be well ventilated. They must have clean and dry bedding at all times. There must be a wind and rain break at the entrance and a mud free area with no standing or pooled water nearby. It must be easy to clean and sanitize. Dogs may not be housed in drums or barrel houses.

Shade must be provided by a permanent fixture; not a tarp. The shade area must allow for air movement in excessive heat and protect the dogs from the direct rays of the sun. The shade areas must adhere to strict space requirements.

Both indoor and outdoor facilities must be equipped with waste disposal and drainage systems built on a slope and in the best possible manner to wash away animal waste and allow for quick runoff. (At least 1/8" per foot) Outdoor kennel runs must be sloped to a gutter outside of the end fence of each run. Drains and gutters shall be sanitized daily then flushed with water.

The exercise run associated with each dog box must be at least five times the length of the largest dog in that run and two times as wide as the length of the largest dog in that run. Outdoor runs and exercise areas may be constructed of concrete, gravel or stone. Again, the regulations set for very definite specifications. Outdoor facilities, including runs and exercise areas shall be kept free of grass and weeds. Grass and weeds shall be cut back from the sides of runs and exercise areas to a distance of 5 feet to help prevent tick, flea and other parasite infestation.

Each dog shall receive 20 minutes of exercise per day. Dogs shall be walked on a leash by a handler or put in an exercise area. The exercise area must be fenced, shall be kept in good repair, and equipped to protect dogs from becoming wet, matted or muddy during their exercise. Outdoor facilities must be fenced and be constructed to minimize or prevent vermin, animal, insect and pest infestation and other vectors of disease.

Records shall be kept regarding dates and times:
When the housing facility was cleaned.
When the housing facility was sanitized.
When each individual cage, dog box or primary enclosure was cleaned.
When each food and water bowl was sanitized.
When new food and potable water was provided each dog.

Every keeper of a kennel shall keep a record of the following for each dog housed in the facility:
The date, time and detail of daily feedings, cleaning of kennel, and changing and refreshing potable water.
The date, time and detail of exercise activity of the dog.
The date, time and detail of any medication administered to a dog.
Any accident or incident in which the dog is injured.
The date and time of any veterinary care administered.
Records of veterinary care for each dog.
Any veterinary ordered or voluntary protocol for vaccination, medication or other recommendation for medical treatment of the dogs.

Tethering rules are set forth for dogs that are outside. Accessible hot and cold water, sinks, showers, towels and soap are mandated for animal caretakers. Dogs housed in indoor and sheltered kennel facilities shall be provided a regular diurnal lighting cycle. Primary enclosures must be placed to protect the dogs from excessive light. A minimum of 10-foot candles for kennel building and primary enclosures; 20-foot candles for bathing, grooming and toilet areas and 70-foot candles for food preparation and storage areas are required. Electrical systems in wash down areas must have ground fault circuit interrupters and all others must be the all-weather type with a spring cover.

Dogs not acclimated to current weather conditions shall be kept indoors Puppies not born in the receiving kennel facility shall be quarantined for a minimum of 14 days. Adult dogs entering the kennel from another place shall be quarantined. Dogs must be separated according to sex, size and temperament during prescribed daily exercise times.

Detailed provisions regarding dangerous dogs are described. Dangerous dogs must be registered, restrained and under strict supervision. Liability insurance is required. Violations may result in misdemeanors, confiscation of the dog and its euthanization.

We have very briefly touched on the main subjects covered in these extremely oppressive regulations. The regulators need our input. These proposed rules must be modified. Left as they are, there is too much room for them to be unfairly enforced and administered. There is too much room for them to be enforced subjectively without common sense. We, who read the news, see this happen each and every. Such ideal guidelines cannot be legally enforced without causing harm to innocent, law abiding citizens.