The AR Threat

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What is the Animal Rightist Threat? "Animal Rights" proponents seek to restrict use and ownership of animals, including hunting and fishing, pet and livestock ownership, circuses, rodeos, zoos and medical research. They pursue this radical agenda through a wide variety of legal and illegal means, but concentrate on passing state and federal legislation that appears to address animal welfare. In reality, however, such legislation goes far beyond its superficial intent, placing severe restrictions on the rights of law-abiding animal owners and sportsmen.

Why should I be concerned? Animal Rights organizations, including the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS), ASPCA, Farm Sanctuary, PeTA and others are growing rapidly and receive huge media-induced donations, frequently from pet-owning citizens who mistakenly believe the money goes to helping homeless animals. Nearly one-half of the U.S. House of Representatives and over one-third of the U.S. Senate consist of predictable AR voters, endorsed by the well-funded coalition, Humane USA, and other similar Political Action Committees.

Branches of these national lobbying groups are active in every state legislature. Influenced legislators sponsor outrageous bills, such as mandatory spay-neuter programs and the "Puppy Protection Act" and its 2005-06 offshoot, "PAWS," which, under the guise of regulating "commercial facilities," would have placed onerous or impossible federal restrictions on hundreds of thousands of responsible home pet breeders, rescuers and hunting dog owners. A 2003 House AR bill would have superceded all existing state bear hunting regulations. Federal abrogation of any state's wildlife department's rulemaking authority can't be tolerated. In September 2006, against the recommendation of its Agriculture Committee, the U.S. House passed the Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, placing emotion ahead of animal welfare and public health, and setting dangerous precedents of Federal interference in animal owners' end-of-life decisions and establishing a special, quasi-human status for a livestock species.

Who are these Animal Rights Proponents? The Animal Rights movement has evolved in recent years into two factions, the radical side represented by PeTA, ALF, ELF, SHAC, etc., and the more "respectable," corporate side led by HSUS, which has now incorporated the Doris Day Animal League, Ark Trust and Fund for Animals. The outrageous and sometimes illegal activities of the radicals distract attention from the much larger and more powerful corporate side, with its belief-altering agenda. With a swelling membership of activists who are educated professionals, they strive to ever broaden their reach and increase credibility, pressing for acceptance of their ideas as "mainstream."

In addition to funding and lobbying politicians at all levels of government, the corporate animal rightists disseminate slick, Madison Avenue quality "humane education" materials in elementary and secondary schools, indoctrinating our children. They are active in the veterinary schools and provide literature to animal shelters, influencing those we turn to for help and advice with our animals. They go out of their way to conceal their agenda and suppress science-based criteria of animal well-being.

What can I do? Organize. Get informed. Be pro-active. Study this website. Take a look at our analysis for your state. Understand that SAOVA's reviews are single interest efforts. We make no pretense of evaluating candidates' positions on taxes, education, social security, medical care, national security, gun control or social issues. To the degree that hunting, fishing, livestock farming and pet ownership are important to you, we offer these election candidate analyses to be combined with other, personal considerations to determine your vote. Study the candidates and support those individuals that will support you. Register and VOTE!

To research the Animal Rightist threat more fully, visit some of the sites referenced on our Resource Links page.