Guardianship of Dogs:  Good News or Bad?

We call them our kids.  They spend more time with us often than our kids!  They can read our minds.  We have to spell "O-U-T" and "W-A-L-K".  We think they are almost human sometimes, but are they?

Patti Strand, spokesperson for NAIA - the National Animal Interest Alliance, based in Portland, Oregon, brought us a thought and action provoking message this week at the Long Island Coalition of Dog Fanciers meeting on April 8th, which will hopefully help all of us to see through the "Guardianship" issue more clearly.  Ms. Strand is also an American Kennel Club board member.

Animal activism and animal extremism all seem to promote the same message that they want to stop animal abuse.  But in fact, many extremists feel that ""any animal use is animal abuse".  They are fervent about this and feel that the only proper use of animals is to have them roam about freely in nature.  The most avid of them will not wear leather, eat meat, drink milk, or eat eggs.  Sometimes it is an honest response to their beliefs, but at the root of their behavior is a well-run, financed, and world-wide media savvy organization with the primary goal of eliminating the pet or farm animal completely from our future.

They are on the FBI and CIA's domestic terrorists lists.  When Ms. Strand started writing articles shedding light on the movement, her publisher began receiving threats.  As time went on she too received threats against her and her family.  Some of the things she was saying was putting the splotlight on their agenda - she was dispelling several myths that they hang their hats on, one of which is overpopulation.  Overpopulation continues to be used as a reason to stop breeders.  The fact is that the largest pet adoption agencies have to import pets from out ot state and out of country to keep enough of these pets on hand for their advertised Pet Adoptathons.  These pets are imported from overseas and south of the border and come with diseases that could cause major damage to our domestic pet population.  Shelters all over the states are now adopting a no-kill mission, meaning that they adopt out all redemptive animals, and only put down animals that are a threat or too ill to rehabilitate.

So what has "Guardianship" got to do with all of this?  Guardianship which is becoming a popular feel good topic of legislation means that there will be no "exploitation" of dogs as with service dogs, therapy dogs, guide dogs.  It could eventually mean, no dogs, no pets of any kind.

On investigation it looks like this innocent-appearing movement is really something more sinister.  Children need guardians, pets need caring owners or caretakers.  As a guardian you do not "own" your pet.  It means you are caring for them but they are the property of someone else.  Who?  The State.  As with guardianship, oversight falls to the state.

Recently laws have passed here in the United States, and overseas.  The passage of these laws has already changed dog ownership in many European states.  Just this week Australia passed an anti-docking ban.  What is incongruous about the rationale put forth for these bills is that docking is done at under one week of age when neurological development has not begun.  The senses are focused on survival, suckling, keeping warm, avoiding being picked up, and all the instincts for canine survival.  Cleverly the people who promote these bills say that this surgery at 2-5 days of age which has never hurt, made ill, or killed a puppy is cruel, but all dogs should be spayed or neutered at 5 to 6 months of age.  Invasive surgery is carefully allowed in the bill's wording.  Complications from spaying or neutering are accepted as a necessary risk factor for rendering animals incapable of reproducing, however surgical removal for working reasons is unacceptable.  Despite what you feel about docking or spaying and neutering, one has to wonder why one is attacked while the other is encouraged.

Good people are caught up in the frenzy of anti-docking and anti-cropping bans.  Their intentions are good, but they have been manipulated by organizations like PETA, whose mantra is that animals should "live free of human interference..." as "part of the ecological scheme" (Ingrid Newkirk, co-founder) are really at the bottom of this.  Humane treatment of animals should be everyone's concern, however animal extremism has at its based a different agenda.

What will change if guardianship laws are passed in your state?  Veterinary care will become more expensive as insurance costs rise because of veterinary malpractice suits and loss of enjoyment suits.  The right to own pets will be removed.  Adoption will be the only method of acquiring a pet.  Breeding of pedigree animals will come to an end.  Animal care laws will be come more and more restrictive.  Decisions concerning medical procedures will be taken out of your control.  As with parents who are under suspicion for child abuse, the state will be able to come into your home and remove your animals if a neighbor makes a complaint that you are abusing your pet.  

And don't think "abuse" will mean neglect or torture, it will also mean training.  This is seen as manipulation of an animal's rights to live as it would in nature.  It would also mean housing requirements would be regulated.  Wayne Pacelle, Vice President of the Human Society of the US once said, "we have no problem with the extinction of domestic animals...one generation and out."  Ingrid Newkirk, co-founder of PETA has said on national television during the outbreak of Hoof and Mouth in Europe, that it would be good if this disease came to America freeing the pets and livestrock presently imprisoned against their will and used for human gratification.  When the interviewer asked how that would be good, she responded that once they were all gone the problem would be solved and they would no longer feel the pain of our oppression.

So the next time you hear about a guardianship law, pay close attention and get writing to your legislators and media outlets.  Contact your local dog clubs to ask if they have a legislative arm and get on their mailing lists.  Be prepared to write to your local newspaper providing your opinion and an alternate view for puplic opinion which strongly follows these "feel good" laws.

For more information on how to prepare, feel free to contact NAIA at naia@involved.com.  Visit their website for valuable resources at www.naiaonline.org.  You may also contact them at 503-761-1139.  Whatever you do become aware of the legal climate concerning your rights to pet ownership and don't let them slip away.

Lynn Lopez, Jugendliebe Rottweilers, The Puppy Gazette.