Girlie
05-19-06, 10:31 AM
It's Their Destiny"
News items on Asian animal abuse
19th May 2006
Iowa's dogs to become "farm produce"?
Dear Friends
As you know, ITD concentrates its attention primarily on the dog and cat abuse situation in South Korea. If however you click on the "More Abusers" link on our web site, you will find some other countries and regions where companion animals are treated with less than the care that most of us would expect. There are currently two states of the USA listed in that category, California and Hawaii. Shortly we may regretfully have to add Iowa to this shameful list.
There is currently a Bill on the Governor's desk awaiting his signature (see Bill 2797 at http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=billinfo&Service=Billbook&menu=false&hbill=HF2797 ). Every indication is that he intends to sign it. If he does, dogs from puppy mills in Iowa will become reclassified as "farm produce". This means that they will have a lesser degree of protection under the law since abuse and cruelty laws for animals classified as livestock aren't as strict. There are, not surprisingly, other dangers. Should this Bill pass into law, it will open the door to the possibility of even dog eating or breeding for fur. As ITD's supporters will know, there are many in the USA who would be very pleased to see these developments (see http://itstheirdestiny.2kat.net/calif.html).
The implications of this proposal are horrifying! Although this would apply in only one state, it would set back the cause of animal rights throughout America.
You will probably by now be asking why this reclassification is even being considered. Believe it or not, it is designed to give tax breaks to puppy mills!
Please contact Governor Vilsack and tell him that Iowa's shelters have plenty of dogs in need of adoption. Even if it were necessary to encourage breeders through tax incentives, there are far less clumsy ways of doing so than through this danger-fraught Bill! The Bill is a combination of several proposals - ask the Governor to remove all references to dogs before signing it!
Governor Tom Vilsack
Office of the Governor
State Capitol
Des Moines, IA 50319
USA
(515) 281-5211 (Voice)
(515) 281-6611 (FAX)
The international dialling code for the USA is 001
Email address is tom.vilsack@igov.state.ia.us, and you can also email the Governor through the web site at http://www.governor.state.ia.us/comments/capitol_correspond/index.html
You can also send an email and have it sent as a letter by post for free at
http://www.capwiz.com/politicsol/mail/?id=9489&type=GV&state=IA
Below is a SAMPLE email. PLEASE write an original if you possibly can!
Dear Governor Vilsack,
I was both shocked and dismayed to learn that the proposed Bill 2797 contains clauses that would reclassify dogs in breeding establishments as "farm produce" to give tax breaks to breeders.
It seems strange that dog breeders should be financially encouraged when Iowa's dog shelters are overflowing with animals desperate for a home. Is it really sensible for an increase in the dog population to be funded by the state?
The majority of dog breeders are responsible in their attitudes to both their dogs and society. Such breeders are not after tax incentives and they treat their dogs with due care. Classifying them as "farm produce" will however reduce the scant legal protection from cruelty given to the dogs owned by less scrupulous and less caring breeders.
Several states have recently passed legislation to ban the consumption of dog meat. Please consider the implications of this proposed reclassification - would you really want this Bill to be seen as legitimising dog eating? That would be the clear message that 2797's passage would send to immigrants from those countries
that have this un-American custom.
I respectfully urge you to strike out these clauses before you sign this Bill.
Yours sincerely,
Name
State/Country
Our continued thanks for your support and for caring enough to want to make a difference.
From all the team at ITD
News items on Asian animal abuse
19th May 2006
Iowa's dogs to become "farm produce"?
Dear Friends
As you know, ITD concentrates its attention primarily on the dog and cat abuse situation in South Korea. If however you click on the "More Abusers" link on our web site, you will find some other countries and regions where companion animals are treated with less than the care that most of us would expect. There are currently two states of the USA listed in that category, California and Hawaii. Shortly we may regretfully have to add Iowa to this shameful list.
There is currently a Bill on the Governor's desk awaiting his signature (see Bill 2797 at http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=billinfo&Service=Billbook&menu=false&hbill=HF2797 ). Every indication is that he intends to sign it. If he does, dogs from puppy mills in Iowa will become reclassified as "farm produce". This means that they will have a lesser degree of protection under the law since abuse and cruelty laws for animals classified as livestock aren't as strict. There are, not surprisingly, other dangers. Should this Bill pass into law, it will open the door to the possibility of even dog eating or breeding for fur. As ITD's supporters will know, there are many in the USA who would be very pleased to see these developments (see http://itstheirdestiny.2kat.net/calif.html).
The implications of this proposal are horrifying! Although this would apply in only one state, it would set back the cause of animal rights throughout America.
You will probably by now be asking why this reclassification is even being considered. Believe it or not, it is designed to give tax breaks to puppy mills!
Please contact Governor Vilsack and tell him that Iowa's shelters have plenty of dogs in need of adoption. Even if it were necessary to encourage breeders through tax incentives, there are far less clumsy ways of doing so than through this danger-fraught Bill! The Bill is a combination of several proposals - ask the Governor to remove all references to dogs before signing it!
Governor Tom Vilsack
Office of the Governor
State Capitol
Des Moines, IA 50319
USA
(515) 281-5211 (Voice)
(515) 281-6611 (FAX)
The international dialling code for the USA is 001
Email address is tom.vilsack@igov.state.ia.us, and you can also email the Governor through the web site at http://www.governor.state.ia.us/comments/capitol_correspond/index.html
You can also send an email and have it sent as a letter by post for free at
http://www.capwiz.com/politicsol/mail/?id=9489&type=GV&state=IA
Below is a SAMPLE email. PLEASE write an original if you possibly can!
Dear Governor Vilsack,
I was both shocked and dismayed to learn that the proposed Bill 2797 contains clauses that would reclassify dogs in breeding establishments as "farm produce" to give tax breaks to breeders.
It seems strange that dog breeders should be financially encouraged when Iowa's dog shelters are overflowing with animals desperate for a home. Is it really sensible for an increase in the dog population to be funded by the state?
The majority of dog breeders are responsible in their attitudes to both their dogs and society. Such breeders are not after tax incentives and they treat their dogs with due care. Classifying them as "farm produce" will however reduce the scant legal protection from cruelty given to the dogs owned by less scrupulous and less caring breeders.
Several states have recently passed legislation to ban the consumption of dog meat. Please consider the implications of this proposed reclassification - would you really want this Bill to be seen as legitimising dog eating? That would be the clear message that 2797's passage would send to immigrants from those countries
that have this un-American custom.
I respectfully urge you to strike out these clauses before you sign this Bill.
Yours sincerely,
Name
State/Country
Our continued thanks for your support and for caring enough to want to make a difference.
From all the team at ITD