RavenWyn Shetland Sheepdogs

Oregonian Commentary, Barking Up the Wrong Tree?

modposh — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 04:17:30 +0000

It was amusing to see a portion of my last post included in the Oregonian’s “The Stump”. The article, “Breeders Howling at Oregon AKC Judge“, is a corybantic and uneducated attempt to deflect the purebred dog community’s disgust over AKC Judge Ted Paul’s support of Oregon House Bill 2470.

The article fails to note all elements of HB 2470, as well as why the purebred dog community is outraged over Mr. Paul’s support of this bill and the HSUS. The article seems another furious attempt by the ignorant who are too lazy to dig deeper into what this bill truly imposes. What ever happened to good reporting where they plunged into the guts of an issue? Guess I just expect too much from my local newspaper and those who boast about a Pulitzer in editorial writing.

Not only did the article stir up some debate, but it increased my search engine rankings. Now those looking to educate themselves on HB 2470, will be able to find my blog that much easier. Thank you Oregonian! Below are a few of the many comments that were discussed:

… “the author should do his homework”…

…”Perhaps it is more that when Mr. Paul uses those credentials it appears that he is speaking for those groups… He has every right to voice his opinion, he does NOT have the right to voice one for other dog owners. Nor does he have the right to even insinuate that he is speaking for others. And that is what he was doing. Oregon has excellent anti-cruelty laws in place. I would whole-heartedly support tougher punishments for the existing laws. We do not need new laws, we need enforcement of the current laws.”…

…”These bills are the first step to the long-term goal of no animals in the home or on the farm. The dedicated animal people are trying to protect the animals from HSUS. It stuns the dog community that one of their own would turn their backs on the animals they love.”…

To read more of the heated comments that were propelled by this article, be sure to visit the Oregonian website.

In closing, I find nothing more offensive than a professional who abuses a media platform to try and sway governing bodies from listening to all people. (Especially those who vote.) “If I were an Oregon legislator, I would be inclined to tell them to take a hike.” Tisk, Tisk Mr. B., not very professional at all…

Oregon HB 2470 Update – NAIA

modposh — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:06:02 +0000

Oregon HB 2470 Update
Keep the Pressure on the Committee to Oppose Caps!

After two intense and well-attended public hearings, HB 2470 has been scheduled for a work session on Monday, April 6th at 3:00 p.m. when the House Consumer Protection Committee is expected to consider substantial amendments. We need everyone to contact the Committee by phone, fax or email one more time before the vote on Monday to reinforce the message that responsible animal owners will band together and oppose any bill that contains caps.

Read More…

AKC Judge / Breeder Betrays Peers!

modposh — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 23:58:10 +0000

UPDATE: 4/3/2009 If you ended up here from the Oregonian article “Breeders Howling at Oregon AKC Judge”, then be sure to check out our response. [here].

… AKC Judge / Breeder Betrays Peers!, cont.

Even if you are following Oregon Legislation on HB 2470, I’m sure it still felt like a slap in the face when you heard about Collie Breeder / AKC Judge Ted Paul’s support of this bill, as well the HSUS. Not only is it disheartening to hear that AKC Judge Ted Paul is assisting the HSUS with their anti-canine ownership dictates, but he has also bequeathed his entire estate to them. Wow! I thought it was bad enough that he was supporting the HSUS verbally, but financially as well?! What is wrong with this picture?

Ted Paul proudly throws his AKC title around, and all at the same time shaking hands with HSUS. How is this right? Hey… Mr. Paul… How can you accept money from kennel clubs for your judging assignments and retain your membership with the Collie Club of America, then turn around and support the HSUS which would love to do nothing more than place your breed into extinction? Why not bequeath your estate to Collie rescue, Collie Disease Research, or the AKC Humane Fund? I could think of many more areas that truly has your breed’s best interest.

Are you angered by learning this information? Do you think AKC should revoke Ted Paul’s Judging status? Do you think the Collie Club of America should disown him? I do! Why not join me in telling them ALL what you think! If you received a win from Ted Paul, why not send the ribbon back to him with a letter?

Ted Paul (as per the AKC judge directory):
Mr. Theodore Paul
4742 Liberty Rd. S , PMB 110
Salem, OR 97302-5037

AKC Correspondence:
Judging Operations: Conformation Judges
PO Box 900062
Raleigh, NC 27675-9062

Collie Club of America Correspondence (As per the CCA site):
Bob Futh, President
47 Kielwasser Road
Washington Depot, CT 06794

Read More About Ted Paul at:

Traitor!

Dog Show Judge Owes Breeder Apology

By the Way… Ted Paul is the author and publisher (Beautiful America Publishing Company) of the book “The Christmas Collie”. Well, now you know where the book profits are going…. HSUS!

Say NO to Oregon HB 2470!

modposh — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 23:13:44 +0000

HB 2470 is unfair to purebred dog enthusiasts and hobby breeders with its ludicrous housing restrictions, arbitrary number limitations, and extreme imprisonment penalties.

In addition, HB 2470 unreasonably enforces purebred dog breeders to guarantee dogs that they place from hereditary diseases such as Diabetes and Thyroiditis. I, for one, would be unable to guarantee that my own children will not develop such diseases in the future. Why place such illogical conditions on dog breeders? HB 2470 wrongly holds dog breeders liable for diseases that are simply not in any earthly being’s control.

HB 2470 does not hold everyone accountable. HB 2470 mandates absurd daily exercise regimes and places rediculous enclosure limitations on the average dog enthusiast, yet excludes animal shelters and pet shops from adhering to such requirements. It must be apparent to them that these fanatical dictates are impossible to abide by.

HB 2470 is a waste of our judicial system’s time and Oregonians’ hard earned tax dollars. Oregon already has strong animal cruelty laws in place, making HB 2470 unnecessary. At a time when our state has the burden of high unemployment rates with numerous Oregonians losing their homes daily, HB 2470 is tampering with our legislative branch’s current priorities. Shouldn’t our costly time be troubled with more urgent matters concerning Oregon’s financial stability?

HB 2470 is an ill-conceived plan that will ultimately violate Oregonians’ privacy without truly being advantageous to dogs or consumers.

A Few Notes on HB 2470:

Section 1. 3 (a) Provide each dog with sufficient space to turn about freely, stand and sit and to lie down without the head, face, tail, legs or feet of the dog touching the sides of the enclosure or touching any other dog.

When showing my dogs at dog shows, they are placed in crate enclosures at ringside. As a responsible dog owner, I do this so that they are safeguarded. One of my dogs is a 25 lb. Shetland Sheepdog that measures about 15 inches at the withers (shoulder blades). Whom, when fully extended (including the tip of his tail), can sprawl out 50 inches (a little over 4 feet) in length. In order to abide by HB 2470, there is currently not a crate available for my dog. The largest crate on the market is a 700 size, measuring 48 L x 32 W x 35 H. This crate is suggested for the use with St. Bernards and Mastiffs which are almost 3 times the size of my dog.

Section 1. 2 person may not possess, control or otherwise have charge of at the same time more than 25 sexually intact dogs that are four months of age or older.

Yes, 25 is a very large number. However, four months of age results in a puppy (not a dog) being 16 weeks of age. When evaluating a litter of puppies, a typical breeder may not place them until 10 – 20 weeks of age.

Section 1. 3 (c) Provide each dog that is four months of age or older with at least two daily exercise periods totaling two or more hours in length,…

With HB 2470’s current verbiage, one can assume this means a the total exercise time is to be no less than four hours per day. I live in a residential area, which like most, has to abide by a city noise ordinance. If I were to allow my dogs to be outside for at least four hours per day, my neighbors would be knocking on my doors screaming obsenities at me. Another key factor is weather. Although I enjoy living in the Pacific Northwest, during certain times of the year my yard is a large mud pit. It would borderline neglect by placing my dogs outside for 4 hours per day while they wallowed in the mud like pigs.

Section 1. 5. This section does not apply to:

(a) An animal control agency, humane society or animal shelter;

(b) A veterinary facility;

(d) A research facility.

Why wouldn’t it apply to the above shelters, agencies, facilities, or retail establishments? Are the creators of HB 2470 saying that it is acceptable for the dogs in those situations to be kept in lessor conditions? To be exercised less frequently? Why would an animal control agency not have to abide by the same regulations as a dog breeder?

Section 2. (3)(a) ‘Pet dealer’ means a person that during a 12-month period sells, offers for sale, barters or exchanges more than the greater of: (A) Twenty dogs; or (B) Three litters of dogs.

My Grandmother had bred and showed purebred Pomeranians of outstanding quality for many years. Many times her litters would consist of only 1-2 puppies each. If she were alive for HB 2470, she may have three litters, but possibly only a maximum of three puppies. A Great Dane can have one litter of 8 – 12 puppies. How would you explain to my Grandmother that the Great Dane breeder can have up to 20 puppies, but she would be penalized with 4 litters with a grand total of four puppies? See where once again the verbiage of this bill is full of uncertainties?

[Read HB 2470] [Join the Fight!]

Oregon Pet Shelter Imports Animals from Abroad!

modposh — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 23:10:13 +0000

At a time when Animal Rights Activists are screaming about shelter overcrowding and pet overpopulation, doesn’t it seem wrong that Oregon animal shelters are actually importing dogs from other countries to be placed in the Portland-metro area? I think so!

Back in January 2008, the Oregonian posted an article about an Animal Shelter “The Pixie Project” importing animals from Beruit to fill the needs of Oregon Animal adoption requests. Well folks… they’ve done it again! A more recent article from March 2, 2009 can be found online titled “Abused Dogs Brought in From other Countries to find homes here“. Although heartwarming from an animal-lover’s standpoint, this is extremely disturbing! What’s even more disturbing is that The Pixie Project has now been joined by other animal shelters. Hmm… doesn’t sound like we have the overpopulation problems that the HSUS and PETA have led us to believe!

The common practice of importing dogs from other countries to fill Animal Shelter demands is not only happening in Oregon, but in states all over the U.S. This has got to stop people! Groups such as PETA and HSUS are screaming foul as far as pet overpopulation is concerned! We ask fellow purebred dog-lovers to DO YOUR HOMEWORK! Don’t believe everything you read. Look past those sad and disturbing propaganda photos and dig deep to uncover the truth about animal rights! It’s time to put your sleuth skills to test and let us know what you find!

In case you weren’t aware, the HSUS (Humane Society), PETA, and other Animal Activist groups are trying to pass laws that will ultimately cause the extinction of the adorable purebred dog breeds that you have come to love. Thats right! No more Lassies, Old Yellers, or Beethovens! You can also kiss those precious 101 Dalmations good-bye! [Read More]