Welcome guest blogger Kelsey Kemp. Kelsey relocated to North Carolina from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in mid-2012. She obtained a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Oklahoma and worked for four years at the state level as a legislative aide, political reporter, and lobbyist. She and her husband, Dr. Matthew Bruehl, reside in Durham County. You can reach her at KelseyAKemp@gmail.com or follow her on twitter, @kelseyakemp.
It’s an election year, so you would think that our elected officials would be more or less tripping over themselves to pass legislation that is consistently supported by over 80 percent of North Carolinian voters, legislators from both parties, and Gov. McCrory and his wife, Ann. It seems like a slam-dunk for everyone involved, right? Unfortunately, that isn’t the case with the anti-puppy mill bill that is stalled in the Senate awaiting further committee action.
House Bill 930 would strengthen the minimum standards for commercial dog breeders in North Carolina. In fact, it’s actually a fairly watered down piece of legislation that certainly does not go as far as it could or should. It exempts sporting and hunting dogs, which was a concession made to keep the bill alive. (The American Kennel Club now reportedly opposes the bill because it does not include language protecting sporting animals.)
Why, then, is the Senate refusing to hear the bill when the NCGA reconvenes in mid-May for the short session? Senate Rules Committee Chairman Tom Apodaca, R-Henderson, said they would not consider the legislation because it would set a bad precedent for future legislation pending before the Senate.
The “bad precedent” he’s referring to is the now-infamous recorded conversation between Senator Bill Rabon, R- Brunswick, and constituents pushing for the Senate to take up the legislation. After the conversation was widely leaked to the media, Apodaca blamed the activists for secretly recording the meeting that took place between Rabon and the anti-puppy mill activists.
In his comments, Rabon first cited weaknesses in the bill, saying that it could harm the $80 billion livestock industry; then, in practically the same breath, he said he did not want to take up the bill because he believed that the governor and his wife had inappropriately meddled in the General Assembly’s affairs over passage of the legislation.
So, for those keeping score at home: In a single conversation, Rabon managed to insult constituents, activists, the McCrorys, and House members. Then, after the tape was released, Apodaca emphatically stated that the Senate would not take up the bill because he wanted to punish activists and constituents for behaving badly.
The lady protests too much, methinks. Drama of Shakespearian proportion is nothing new for the General Assembly, especially when it comes to their relationship with Gov. McCrory. If they want to punish the governor for overreach, it seems odd that they would pick an issue that enjoys such high public support among North Carolinians.
It’s quite simple, really: There’s more at steak stake than the guise of protecting the livestock industry, as Rabon told constituents at the meeting. Several organizations that are known to oppose efforts to tighten restrictions on puppy mills include the North Carolina Farm Bureau, the North Carolina Pork Council, and the American Kennel Club—and all have contributed to the senators’ campaigns in recent history.
According to Follow the Money, during the 2012 election cycle alone, of the aforementioned organizations doled out large campaign contributions to candidates running for office. The North Carolina Farm Bureau, an organization concerned that the puppy mill restrictions will eventually encompass farm animals, gave a total of $258,000 to all statewide candidates for office. More importantly, however, is that they were Rabon’s 6th top overall contributor and one of Apodaca’s top 20 contributors. It should also be noted that the NCFB is also the 9th top contributor to Senate Pro Tempore Phil Berger.
The NC Pork Council and the AKC also contributed to all three candidates mentioned above, though neither is listed in their top contributor lists. However, the NCFB’s contributions appear to have produced the intended effect: Rabon and Apodaca clearly seem to be more concerned about themselves than for the welfare of the animals or wishes of their constituents.
Nonetheless, proponents of HB930 remain undeterred. On April 26, activists participated in the 2014 Walk for Puppy Mill Legislation in Southport. Over 200 people reportedly attended the event, and while it’s a shame that the local media failed to cover the event, it’s clear that they haven’t given up hope that the bill can overcome its hurdles in the Senate when the session opens on May 14.
Meanwhile, it’s the animals that will continue to suffer if the General Assembly continues to obstruct the passage of meaningful puppy mill reform legislation.
Why does AKC support puppy mills and animal cruelty? Because they make millions of dollars from puppy mills and animal cruelty.
They are connected to the farm lobby, and they routinely lie about their activities and interests. Of course they attack groups that push for better regulation. They’ve been doing it for years, and there are no liars like AKC liars.
AKC does not support humane treatment of animals and works to support cruelty in all of their lobbying. Why? Because they make money from cruelty.
AKC has a high volume commercial breeder department and they do business with these people and lobby with them. Sheila Goffe just doesn’t tell the truth, but that’s nothing new from AKC.
They will always try to manipulate the media to post their propaganda. In the past, they got away with it. They often work in teams on comment pages as you can see.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Kennel_Club
I received my information on AKC here: http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/AKC-leads-lobbying-against-NCs-puppy-mill-law-245893411.html. All of the information I had was up-to-date. Since the bill hasn’t gone anywhere, I didn’t have any reason to believe the AKC’s position had changed dramatically. However, I plan to speak to Sheila and will correct the article if it warrants correction.
I didn’t say I would rework the article; I said I would add the links, and that will be done as soon as possible.
On another note, I would like to point out that I never said the money was “evil.” Interest groups are reality of the political process, and I was simply pointing out that there’s a possible connection with this bill.
See here also (from the Star News Online):http://critters.blogs.starnewsonline.com/15183/march-in-southport-on-april-26-will-promote-passage-of-anti-puppy-mill-law/
Kelsey,
I also wrote about this topic in my Animal Tales column from May 3 and just posted a repeat of the column on the blog you linked to above.
Thank you for highlighting this issue. I hope compassion will prevail and the NC legislature will pass HB930 very soon.
This blog is inaccurate regarding AKC’s position on HB 930. AKC believes that all dogs deserve to be treated in a humane manner. HB 930 arbitrarily requires standards of care for some dogs but not others. AKC opposes defining a person as a high volume commercial breeder based solely on the number of dogs they own – this should be based on actual breeding and commercial activity.
Sheila — You might want to send an email to the author, who told me that they’re re-working this article. Not sure that it will be republished, but at least you’ll have access to the one doing the writing.
I couldn’t understand why AKC would be opposed to this on its face, and was advertised as some sort of deep evilllll villain. I assume that the PETA/AICPA/HSUS crown is well known to the AKC, as are their efforts. I assumed there was a lot more to this story. That “A lot more” was what this article should’ve been, not the stuff we got.
Shelia,
The only problem with your statement is the fact that the AKC and other groups would strongly oppose any effort to regulate ALL breeders. So it’s easy for the group to claim the reason falls on “arbitrary.”
So this is a straw-man argument, as the AKC knows the NC legislature could not get a bill passed to cover all breeders. The old Catch-22 rears its ugly head.
To be clear, North Carolina does not currently have regulations to specifically address pet breeding. Conditions must get extremely bad before law enforcement can step in.
Law enforcement agencies across the nation are calling for better regulations against puppy mills.
The provisions in HB930 include basic standards of care, based on AKC standards. And yet the AKC opposes the bill.
We desperately need for HB930 to pass. I’ve written about this topic and the general topic of puppy mills in my Cape Fear Critters blog (http://critters.blogs.starnewsonline.com/15183/march-in-southport-on-april-26-will-promote-passage-of-anti-puppy-mill-law/), the StarNews Animal Tales column and in my Pack Mentality blog – http://tomgradyonline.com/wordpress/.
My column that is slated to run on May 3 will offer more information on this topic and the march on April 26.
For those who speak out against the HSUS, it is clear they are unaware of role this organization plays in protecting animal welfare. Local shelters and rescue groups are on the front line, fighting every day to help local animals. Groups like the HSUS and ASPCA are working on national and regional levels, to address legislative efforts and other missions to protect animals.
There are organizations out there actually working to protect puppy mills and animal abusers. Let’s all agree to speak out against those groups.
Tom Grady
geek49203 – it is not the purpose of HSUS to give money to local animal shelters. Local shelters are supported by local governments and local donations and endowments. You should volunteer at one sometime and learn something before you go spouting off talking points from Rick Berman’s DC lobbying group.
Like I said, you are welcome to see first hand what it is like to rescue and rehabilitate these animals that are neglected and abused at legal NC puppy mills, and to see the dedication that hundreds of volunteers put into this work.
Lee — we are both animal lovers. I’m not the enemy. But to fail to mention ASPCA/HSUS, which is ENTIRELY the reason why this bill is going NOWHERE, is not exactly helpful. Those groups are POISON. Would be like wondering why the Rush Limbaugh’s idea isn’t getting a hearing in the DNC meeting, ya know?
By this logic, all involvement with the Koch Brothers or anyone who is anti AGW should be ignored. After all, if one is truly an animal lover, being against people who want to kill all life on earth for some bucks now might be a good thing, no?
What, not happening? Oh. OK. IOKIYAR.
I don’t care about the campaign dollars, I just can’t fathom that with every passing day, the yahoos in charge of this state at the moment get more and more idiotic. Bless ’em….
geek49203 – if you have any doubts about the need for the puppy mill bill, I cordially invite you to strap on a pair of boots and coveralls and join us the next time we join law enforcement to go into one of the hundreds of horrific mills here in NC and get to work on rescuing and rehabilitating these animals.
Lee — no doubt there are horrible. Yes I am an animal lover, with a long line of pampered dogs and cats in my life.
I came from a state where there were no such laws, and the local authorities didn’t have any trouble in prosecuting animal cruelty. Are you telling me that you “join law enforcement” and there are no laws that are applicable? IF there are none, then why are there “law enforcement” people there?
Seriously, this looks like another HSUS / AICPA / PETA cabal publicity stunt. That they’ve hidden their involvement is troubling, and this article’s lack of full disclosure just adds to the suspicion. Given the law’s rather vague nature (or so I’m told based on pro-law articles) then what is the point?
I think that HB 930 makes an effort to PREVENT animal cruelty before it occurs. Puppy mills in North Carolina are routinely prosecuted for Animal Cruelty under Chapter 14, Article 47 of the NC General Statutes. (There are many and they are not regulated.) HB 930 is not especially “vague” either. In fact, It is quite specific. It merely advocates for and would codify minimum and basic care that would prevent violations of existing anti-cruelty statutes in some cases. The minimum care provided includes clean food and water provided on a regular basis, access to appropriate veterinary care, clean, safe and effective housing. I would suggest you read the bill before commenting negatively on it.
People also need to understand where the “money” comes from that supports orgs like Humane Watch. In their case, it is droppings from special interest groups wishing to smear legitimate public interest campaigns, as you appear to be attempting to do in the multiple posts above.
“People also need to understand where the “money” comes from that supports orgs like Humane Watch. In their case, it is droppings from special interest groups wishing to smear legitimate public interest campaigns, as you appear to be attempting to do in the multiple posts above.”
So to recap: Your side is “legitimate public interest campaigns” and my side is “Droppings from special interest groups.” It was okay for the author to call out my side by name, but not mention a single backer/donor for the bill.
Correct?
I tire of “When your side does it, it is evil, when my side does it, it is commendable.”
What of sides? Are we not ‘independent’? Are we not beyond ‘sides’? Are not BOTH sides ‘bad’ and ‘equally bad’?
Yes. Their list of donors is not difficult to find. If you are not aware of it, you are merely lazy and deserve no further accommodation. There is no side, only the truth.
So why not mention that these groups are behind it, which then makes it MUCH easier to look up their donors?
Define the legal definition of the term ” Puppy Mill “There is none.” You go around on your high horse pretending to be doing Gods work. When you see God face to face standing there with the ones pointing there fingers in guilt at you. Explain that to him. One bad raid where you lied, stolid, violated RICO acts killed animals needlessly committed Income tax fraud state and Fed levels marks all your works in a very bad light. The list go’s on and on of the contemptible & despicable acts perpetrated by HSUS and County animal shelters even many of the SPCA. Your nothing more then a private corporation with ties to
Ag. Forestry,Fishing & Hunting there 140 biotect Labs. the USDA DARPA Bio Laboratories. Your Leaders have TransHumansum believes HSUS deal with “bunchers” dealers with class B animals licenses. You trying to remove all competition to monopolize on all animal products post and pre including DNA. Your the Super Wal-mart of the test subjects in supply chain. Your goals are to set animal rights for chimer’s produced by DNA manipulation 50% Human- Non-Human. NSA. knows all about the HSUS as they do with all the others involved. Your a low level grunt your self that has no knowledge of this. Wise up ye fellows we got you all numbered were coming to remove all of you.
The HSUS is an honorable organization. Their investigative work and advocacy has been invaluable to those of us who do the actual work of rescuing distressed animals and cleaning up the horrible messes left behind by puppy mill “operators”. The fact that the AKC and agribusiness spends so much to try to discredit them says a lot about the importance of their work.
Lee — let’s just say there are ample numbers of people beyond the AKC that would argue that point with you. Heck, there are entire websites devoted to telling you about the HSUS. For starters, how much money to the “humane society” goes to your local shelter? (Hint, about as much as I give to the DNC).
http://www.humanewatch.org/
Can’t believe you cited “HumaneWatch”. It is a lobby front group funded by big-ag and the restaurant industry. HumaneWatch is a project of the Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF). Both are the creation of corporate lobbyist Richard Berman who also attacks “Mother’s Against Drunk Driving”. A real reputable fellow that Rick Berman! He is such a skumbag that his own son disowned him!
http://bermanexposed.org
Also, the HSUS is not a grant-making foundation. It is not a shelter funding organization. It is an animal welfare organization.
Demanding that HSUS fund shelters is like expecting the American Cancer Society to pay for every cancer patient’s chemotherapy bills. That’s not the purpose, the mission, or the strategy of HSUS.
http://stophumanewatch.org
Kelsey — thank you for trying to be more informative and persuasive.
People need to understand who is the “money” behind every bill proposed. To keep that hidden is WRONG. You cite the deep, dark, evvvvvillllll money coming to those who oppose the bill, but fail to mention who is behind this one.
People need to understand who paid for polls, what the background of the polling company is, what the raw number say… hell, what questions did they ask?!?!
If you claim to be on the side of morality — and most liberals do think that (I once worked for liberals) — then you gotta be clean.
Public Law 190-374–Npv..27,2006 Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act
Re: Civil 3:07-cv-230-s Louisville KC et. al. v / Louisville /Jefferson County Metro Government. (HSUS major set back) Chew on that bone a while. HSUS SPCA with others need to be jailed in many cases in there so called missions. I’m here to make sure that happens. They will pay for there crimes past, present, and all future.
Gotta do better than that.
1. Your pollster is not mentioned. It is Lake Research Partners. “Celinda Lake is a pollster and political strategist for the Democratic Party in the United States of America” (Wikipedia). So let me go out on a limb here and suggest that this is about as biased as a Fox News poll in some people’s eyes. Can someone point me to the poll’s internals, starting with the questions asked? REMEMBER is it up to YOU and YOU have the burden of proof to change my mind — I have a right to remain skeptical when you say “a poll.” Hell, I can produce a poll that says 80% think I’m a great guy!
2. This is backed by the HSUS and the rest of that clique. Let me ‘splain this to you. The HSUS is notorious. These folks, and their buddies, planted an “employee” into Barnum-Baily Circus then tried to get this employee admitted as a “witness” without disclosure of his status. Let’s put it this way — it will be years before the ASPCA pay off their $9.3 million dollar part of their settlement, and the HSUS is next in line.
Not that losing a lawsuit makes people lose credibility, but let’s just say that the AKC has good reason to suspect these folks. And there is good reason why it takes a bunch of digging to find out who is behind this bill, ’cause any mention of PETA/HSUS/ASPCA is enough to lose any chance of passage.
Sorry, but if you want to PROVE to me that this bill needs passage, you gotta do better than this. And that is what you set out to do, correct? (PS, I see lots of similarities between your work and CapWiz’s language.)
Thanks for the comments – you’re right, I didn’t cite the poll- the link is missing, and I will fix that and any other links that are missing as well.
Considering the fact that any ‘independent’ who cites and quotes and advocates FOX talking points 95% of the time who then attacks FOX is the height of irony, one wonders how many trucks of salt with which such a complaint must be taken.