From: swood@vela.acs.oakland.edu (Scott Wood - EVENSONG)
Subject: Re: Animal Cult Backtracks on Dog Show Attacks
Organization: Oakland University, Rochester MI.
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 18:13:56 GMT

unglenie@ford.ecn.purdue.edu (Robert J Unglenieks) writes:

`Scott Wood writes:
`>                 Animal Cult Backtracks on Dog Show Attacks

`How is this backtracking?  It was my impression that this was always their 
`policy.

Well, perhaps if you continued to read the article...
the backtracking the article spoke of is how PeTA is now trying to erase
what they stated about pet ownership because it is leading pet owners (a
healthy portion of their donation base) to stop sending money and to start
asking questions.

`>     Simultaneously, reports are flooding in to PPF from dog fancies
`>that these extremists are releasing show dogs from cages and crates.
`>There have also been anonymous telephone calls threatening to poison
`>show dogs with antifreeze in their drinking water.

`Why do these people report to the PPF and not to their local police?  I
`have yet to see any "unbiased" (read official government) report on any
`such allegations.  Scott, do you have one?

In many cases, they have.  Unfortunately, short of disorderly conduct, these
are publicly held events and there are not many laws that apply to releasing
dogs (though I personally think their should be - ie tampering with someones
property) unless harm results to the people or the animals as a result.

As for documented proof, the article does not come directly forward with
the exact show in question (for whatever reason), but I am sure that if
you are that curious you can call PPF headquarters (with your own quarter)
and find out... 

`>     "Phase One" involves attempts by groups such as the Peninsula
`>Humane Society and Fund For Animals to ban pet breeding across the
`>nation. As John Hoyt of HSUS demands, "Don't breed, don't buy, don't
`>even accept giveaways."

`Are you aware of the motivation for this statement?  In 1991 slightly fewer
`than 6 million animals were destroyed in pounds and shelters in Connecticut,
`Massachusetts, New Jersey, and LA County alone!  It makes no sense to me
`to continue to breed more and more animals while so many are being destroyed
`everyday.  That is itself, inhumane.

But are you also aware that these animals were destroyed because people
DIDN'T buy them or pick them up?  Sure people are letting animals loose to
breed and end up in pounds, but these people applaud loosed animals.  That
is there goal is to reintroduce pets to the wild.  "Fifi of the great
white north!"

They instead are speaking of people that breed for money, and these pets
are not the ones that you speak of.  If I lost a $100+ dog I would not stand
around while it sat in a pound.  I would call every pound for three states
if just for the companion value alone - not to even mention the money.

Most of these shelters you speak of are involved in encouraging and many
times requiring the spaying or nuetering of all animals that leave the
premises.  If these animals were all liberated, then there would be no
control at all, and we would be discussing solely feral dog issues instead
of breeding.

`>     But the animalists' virulent antagonism toward pet owners is
`>alienating those who love their pets, and diverting their
`>contributions from so-called animal "rights" back to genuine animal
`>welfare groups.  As a result, our sources indicate, the PeTA money
`>machine lost $2 million last year.
`>(courtesy of Fred Trost`s Outdoor Digest "SOS Alert!" June/July 1992)

`According to the Internal Revenue Service (Form 990) PETA showed a 26% increase
`in its operating budget.  Note that PETA is a non-profit organization while
`PPF did not file a Form 990 (nonprofit groups) in the same period.  PPF seems
`to be in it to MAKE money ...... :-)

I would be willing to argue that.  PPF (if I am correct - don't quote me
here) is made up of two divisions.  Both of which are non-profit.  One is
the lobbying organization and the other the actual membership.  I have
spoken to them many times in regards to getting established as non-profit
for our local chapters and they have been most helpful in giving us the
information we would need to do so.  I know this does not mean that they
filed the form you speak of, but I will be sure to get information on
this next time that I call.

I do, however, request that you inform me of what "period" you speak of,
as PeTA has most certainly been around longer than PPF.

swood
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