I

foundthesecondAKCLegislativeConferencejustas
energizingandinspiringasthefirst.Doglegislationisa
dynamicfield,alwayschanging,oftensurprising.The

secondconferencewasexciting,andhearingfromsomany
peoplefromacrossthecountry,allworkingsohardforour
benefit,wasinspiring.Itwasgreattoseesomefamiliarfaces
andmanynewones,underscoringthecommitmentofAKC
parentclubstoprotectoursport.Thecommonenemyis
nimbleandwell-funded,whichdemandseffortand
creativityonourpartifwearetopreserveourbeloveddogs.

Theunimaginativeanddystopianviewsoftheanimal

rights(AR)movementseemstobetheseparationofanimals
frompeopleasdescribedinthepreceptsofgroupslike
PeoplefortheEthicalTreatmentofAnimals(PETA)andthe
HumaneSocietyoftheUnitedStates(HSUS).Aglimpseinto
theirfuturegoalsisallthemotivationweneedtofindour
strengthtofightthemwitheverythingwe’vegot.

WecanfighttheARnegativitybyacknowledgingthat

thesourceofourstrengthgoesbeyondthebondweshare
withanimals.Wecareaboutpeople.Wewholoveand
respectanimalsforwhoandwhattheyarefaroutnumber
theconfused,conflictedandangst-riddenpeoplewhoneed
toturnfarmers,huntersanddogbreedersintomonstersin
ordertohangontotheirrationalizationsandblame.

InadditiontotheAKCfightingforus,wehave

HumaneWatch.orgshininglightonthefinancialandlegal
shenanigansoftheHSUS.Oneofthehighlightsofthe
conferencewasabrightandfunnypresentationbySarah

Longwell,SeniorVPatBermanandCo.,showingHumane
WatchadsthatparodyHSUS’sbeggingspotsonTV.“We’re
basicallyPETA...withsuits...anddeodorant.”Youcanfind
thematthetopofthepageatwww.humanewatch.org.

Ideasto“ChangetheConversation.”Wewere

challengedtoconsiderourlanguageandtopracticeusing
definabletermsratherthancatchphrasesandslangterms
whenreferringtodogsandbreeders,suchasreplacingthe
humanterm“adopt”withthemoreaccurate“rehome.”Use
properlanguageandwereflectourprofessionalstatus.WEare
theexperts.Severalspeakersexpressedadmirationand
gratitudefortheknowledgeanddedicationofourbreeders,
remindingusthatweproducetheworld’sbestdogs,the
world’shealthiestdogs,andthatweoughttobeproudof
whatwedo.PatHastingschallengedustoshoutthisfrom
therooftops,startingwithmoresupportforperformance
eventsatdogshows.Soundandbeautifuldogsthat“work”
aretheproofofourbreedingprograms!

Ifwefocusonsharingourknowledgeandexperience,

lawmakerswillturntousforadvicebeforeproposingdog
legislation,andthepublicwilllearntorespectandtrustus
whenwespeakonanyanimaltopic.Unity,arecurring
themethroughouttheconference,meanifwejoinwith
othergroupswithsimilarinterestsinthedefenseofour
sportandourdogs,wemultiplyourinfluenceexponentially.

Ourmostpowerfulandinfluentialpartnerinthiseffort

istheAKC’sGovernmentRelationsDepartment.Weare
encouragedtocontacttheAKCwheneverwehavequestions

SomethingIfound

especiallyinterestingwasthepresentationsoftwoNew
Hampshirelegislators.Likemanystates,NewHampshire
placeslawsaffectinganimals,dogsaswellashorses,sheep
andcattle,inthehandsofanagriculturecommittee.Two
membersoftheNewHampshireHouseofRepresentatives,
anditsEnvironmentandAgricultureCommittee,spoketo
theconference.ItappearsthatARgroupshavetargetedNew
Hampshireforenactmentofrestrictivelegislation.New
Hampshirehasasmallpopulation,butiftheserestrictive
lawsareenactedtheycouldbecomemodelsforlawsfor
otherstates.Soitiswellworthwatchingwhathappensin
NewHampshire!

Amosteffectivepresentationconcernedourdealingwith

themedia,printandelectronic,andhowtobeinterviewed
byreportersandtocontroltheinterviewtoheadofftheir
pressinganagenda.WewereshownaclipfromanoldBob
Newhartshowthatillustratedtheconsequencesofbeing
unpreparedandlettingtheinterviewerbeincontrol.Kindly
psychologistBobwasbeinginterviewedonalocalTV
stationbyanapparentlykindandsweetwomanwho,when
thecamerawason,turnedonhimviciouslyandattacked
himwithconclusory,nastyquestions,leavinghimflustered
anddefensive.Theclipwasfunny.Butitwouldbeless
funnyifyouweretheonebeinginterviewedbyalocal
reporterwhohadbeenpreppedbyARpeopleandwhothen
soughttomakeowningapurebreddogseemlikesomething
thatonlyamonsterwoulddo.

Inthisasinmanyotherthings,ithelpstobeprepared.If

youfindyourselfinapositiontobeinterviewedbythe
press,don’tdoitoff-the-cuff.Setupanappointmentand
priortothat,makesureyouareinformedonissuesthatare
likelytocomeup.Muchcanbefoundontheweb.TheAKC
GovernmentRelationsstaffinRaleighcanbeveryhelpfulif
youcontactthemforadviceandhelp.

I

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www.pbgv.org

March2014

ISaberTails

LearningAboutConsequencesofNewAPHISRule

Legislativecontinuedfrompage41

UnityandActionwillEnsureourFuture

byPBGVCALegislativeChairCharlotteAllmann