animal protection: Fw: [petlaw] Re: Michigan farmers, activists at odds over animal treatment

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: ampirion <ampirion@yahoo.com>
To: pet-law@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 4:38:59 PM
Subject: [petlaw] Re: Michigan farmers, activists at odds over animal treatment

Well, it is really to bad that HSUS doesn't like this bill. For those who would like to read it for themselves it is HB 5128 and the text can be retrieved at http://www.legislat ure.mi/gov

What HSUS and the Michigan Humane Society oppose in this bill is the fact that THEY CANNOT CONTROL THE COMMITTEE. and it will be impossible to stuff it with animal rights fascists and anti-farming advocates who believe all livestock production is bad. Farming is one of the largest industries in Michigan. In a state with the highest unemployment and worst economy in the nation at the moment, farming is a positive economic force that Michigan citizens cannot allow to be destroyed by outside radical animal rights groups. While some may not think that government intrusion into care standards is advisable, it has become an absolute necessity to stop organizations such as HSUS from initiating insane ballot initiatives that are based on their fringe beliefs and pronouncements - not science and fact - and are designed to destroy the farming industry.

I find it remarkable that there are people who state WE who own purebred dogs must compromise on every hare-brained proposal put forth by HSUS so that we have a "seat at the table." Yet, when the shoe is on the other foot - in a bill that, for whatever reason, actually gives approval of a seat on the committee to a representative from Michigan Humane Society - they don't want to play because they can't force their will on everybody else and they can't run the show. Still think we should compromise with these folks?

Here are the people that HSUS and MHS don't want to work with:
The Michigan Ag department director, or his or her designee, is considered a nonvoting ex officio member of the council. The council members shall include representation from the following:
2 veterinarians specializing in food animal and livestock health issues;

2 individuals directly involved in agriculture production;

1 individual specializing in animal welfare research and husbandry practices with internationally recognized peer-reviewed
published research (This being a major stumbling block for HSUS because nothing they do is based on such a high level of research oversight);

the dean of the college of agriculture and natural resources at Michigan state university;

1 individual representing an animal welfare agency appointed from a list of candidates provided by the Michigan humane society;

1 individual representing the food processing industry in the state;

1 individual representing the retail food industry in the state;

1 individual representing restaurants

And here is the best part - the council must create these care standards based not on HSUS fairy tales of animal care, but develop and recommend "care standards based upon sound scientific principles."

That's why HSUS is upset. Their lies about farming can't stand up to the truth of scientific fact. And, as one can see from the bill, farming involves everybody in the state of Michigan. This bill is needed to protect the citizens of this state from the disastrous attacks on farming that have been permitted in California and elsewhere.

Anne M. Hier
Dog Shows Then and Now: An Annotated Anthology