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
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UnityandActionwillEnsureourFuture
byPBGVCALegislativeChairCharlotteAllmann