Prop B: Will Nixon sign and help farmers and breeders?

As many Missourians have read/seen/heard in the news, the legislature passed a measure to weaken, reform, and ultimately improve Prop B which was passed in November. Now, before I get into the meat of this I would like to point out that out of 114 counties plus one independent city in the state of Missouri only 13--I repeat 13--voted "Yes" on what is deceivingly known as the Puppy Mill Cruelty Act.

Now, the big tiff Prop B supporters have (besides the fact that their little bill is being amended) is that the voters pasted the bill by a majority vote and to amend this bill is going against the democratic, majority rules voting etiquette. Okay, so answer me this: If majority rules and the vast majority of the state voted "NO" doesn't that count for anything? According to Prop B supporters it means nothing that all the rural counties, filled with rural people that are the actual stewards of the land, the actual caretakers of animals, the ones truly affected by Prop B have a lesser vote than the city dwellers because after all, the guy living twelve stories up in a loft apartment surrounding by concrete, smog, and a half dozen $800 (a piece) pugs knows more about animal husbandry than any of us poor dumb rural farmers, ranchers, and breeders...Right? Guess again Chauncey, we've got this. If majority really ruled, Prop B would have never passed. You can find several sites explaining Prop B plus my recap of Prop B by clicking HERE.

As I was saying, the Senate passed this measure 20-14, the House passed it 85-71, now it is up to our Governor. If Governor Jay Nixon should put his John Hancock on Bill SB113 it will modify definitions to prevent agriculture from being targeted, it removes the "50 breeding dogs" rule, changes the name to Canine Cruelty Prevention Act, and this bill creates funds for the Department of Agriculture for Operation Bark Alert. I really don't see why the Prop B supporters are fussing. This bill actually makes Prop B better and creates funds to enforce it where the originally proposal creators apparently didn't think that far ahead...Oh, yeah, Prop B was created by HSUS, they never think that far ahead. They just want to get their foot in the door so they can rid America of animal agriculture and force us all to be vegans. Does that make me sound spiteful or bitter? Well, maybe I am...but just a little.

I've heard so many comments concerning Prop B and I am blown away by the stereotypes people still hold against rural people. I've been called a hick, country bumpkin, animal abuser, inbred hillbilly, accused of bestiality in less sophisticated terminology, and the list goes on but every one of these comments came from urban people that have never met me. How do I know they were urban dwellers? I googled them, of course. I also read their profiles or visited their blogs when listed. It's amazing the misconceptions out there and that people still think we are a bunch of backwoods hicks with straw hats, no teeth, and we have inappropriate relations with our siblings. I don't know about all you farmers and ranchers but that's not where I come from. I happen to have all my teeth...Oh, and I've never had inappropriate relations with any of my siblings. I though I should add that last bit for clarification.

My point is that the backwoods, mule and buggy, poor ignorant farmer stigma is alive and well and we should do something about it. I am guilty too, I won't lie, I tend to think all city folks are crazy, immoral, backward thinking, selfish jerks that live in a realm all their own and have no concept of reality especially when it comes to something other than their own vanity or materialism. The difference is...I'm right, city folks really are like that.




Wait...hold on to your hate mail...that was a joke. Come on, you chuckled just a little. Seriously, while I do hold certain stereotypes concerning city folks I realize that I must keep an open mind.

The real point is we farmers, ranchers, and breeders need to advocate our lifestyle and livelihood for the 98% of Americans that don't live on a farm, ranch, or rural area. We need to Agvocate and tell our story so more unnecessary bills aren't made and people begin to understand not only where their food, shelter, and clothing come from but what it takes to make all the great things Americans take for grated.

Let's just hope that Governor Nixon does right by us poor simpletons and signs that bill. If you would like to contact Governor Nixon just click on this link.

Recap Prop B

My fellow Missourians, lend me your eyes...

Tomorrow is November 2 and you all know what that means, Election Day! Polls will open and it is your patriotic duty to get out there and vote. Now, before you hit the polls, check out the "Sample Ballot" tab at the upper left corner of this blog. This will redirect you to the Vote Missouri website where you can view a sample ballot for your district. This will also give you a chance to do some last minute research.

So, lets recap on one of the big issues on the ballot, Prop B.

1) Local veterinarian, Dr. Hudson, gave 10 reasons to vote NO on Prop B. He also suggested that everyone check out the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association's website. The MVMA is only one of many groups against Prop B.

2) Prop B redefines "pet" to "any domesticated animal normally maintained in or near the household of the owner thereof." The language of the proposition is also dangerously vague. When you consider the redefined term, the vague language, and HSUS's track record for going after animal agriculture, Prop B is Bad for Missouri.

3) We learned more on "The Puppy Mill Bill" when we took a look at some scary HSUS statistics. For example, they give less than 1% of the donations to shelters and $31 million of the donations go toward salaries. Is this the type of organization you want in Missouri?

Don't be fooled by the HSUS lies. Learn the truth about Prop B by researching it. Look at the Missouri Farm Bureau's website, TheAllianceforTruth.com, and Missourifac.com to find out more. When local veterinarians and local animal groups are against this bill, something must be wrong with it. These are people that have devoted their lives to animals. Why would they oppose it if it truly helped animals?

No one wants to see animals abused. As breeders, farmers, and pet owners we all want to see Missouri animals safe, healthy, and loved; however, HSUS is using this against us. They call it the "Puppy Cruelty Prevention Act" because who would vote against that. That is the first deception. Look at the facts, look at the track record. HSUS finds the low hanging fruit and destroys it then, like a disease, leeches into the rest of the tree. In California it was the egg industry, in Florida it was the pork industry, now, in Missouri it is the dog industry. They come in claiming to help but their real goal is to abolish domestic animal ownership and create a meat free society.

This is not a socialistic society but if we keep voting for more government it will quickly turn that way. Vote NO on Prop B to keep government and the HSUS out of our daily lives. Don't be fooled by their lies. Prop B is unconstitutional and is only the first stepping-stone for HSUS to take away our animals and our agriculture. Stop them before they can get their claws into Missouri.

Vote NO on Prop B Tomorrow!

Vote NO on Prop B

I heard a frightening statistic today. Currently, voters are sitting at a 70/30 mix on Prop B. That is 70 percent wish it to pass and only 30 percent wish it to fail. I am one of those 30 percent; in case the title of this blog wasn't obvious enough. That tells me that an overwhelming amount of people do not understand the consequences of Prop B, also known as "The Puppy Mill Bill." This bill is playing on peoples emotions while conveniently clouding over the facts.

Click to enlarge.

This proposition states it is for "domestic animals," livestock are domestic animals. The language is vague enough that if passed, all it would take is one little amendment to change "dogs" to "livestock" and good-bye animal ag in Missouri. This bill, if passed, will put licenced, legitimate breeders and farmers out of business and only leave unlicensed and substandard breeders that stay just under the radar in business. Tell me, how does that help animals? This proposition, if passed, will lessen the required care for animals compared to the current law and regulations. Tell me, how does that help animals? This proposition, if passed, will eventually put tens of thousands of people out of work and out of business; not to mention, the prices at the grocery store will sky rocket just as they are doing in California right now because of a similar proposition.

Prop B limits how many animals dog breeders can have which would limit their income. Is that fair or right? Is that even American? Would you stand for someone telling you that you are only allowed to earn $10,000 a year by law? Because if Prop B passes that is what will happen to legitimate dog breeders. Not all dog breeders are "puppy mills." This is a derogatory slang term that is in the same category as "factory farms." The term is used to conjure the mistreated animals you see on TV but those few that mistreat their animals are not the norm. In fact, we, as farmers and breeders, want those places to be put out of business. We want those people to suffer to the fullest extent of the law. We own large confinement barns that are classified as CAFOs but we do not run them like an assembly line. Nor do we mistreat our pigs like HSUS and other radical groups would lead you to believe. We are not a "factory farm," we are a family owned hog farm.

Those 70 percent of you that wish Prop B to pass, have you read it and compared it to the current law? If you haven't you should. Please, do your research before you step up to the voting box. Please, look at the facts instead of letting HSUS use your emotions against us all. Animals are already protected by state laws. Prop B is not about protecting puppies, it is about putting animal ag and breeders out of business.

For those of you that think that we should all be vegans and abolish animal ag, remember this is a free country. No one is forcing you to eat meat so do not force us to not eat meat. Also remember that over 500 products are made from pork alone. From plastics to make-up. Stay tuned for my Porky Products post on Tues., which is about pork byproducts and re-think where you stand on animal ag.

Prop B is only a stepping-stone toward a meat free society. Do the following quotes sound like something that would come from a person who loves and cares for animals?

“We have no problem with the extinction of domestic animals.”-Wayne Pacelle, President, HSUS

“In fact, I don’t want to see another dog or cat born.”-Wayne Pacelle, President, HSUS

“Our goal is to get sport hunting in the same category as cock fighting and dog fighting. We are going to use the ballot box and the democratic process to stop all hunting in the United States.”-Wayne Pacelle, President, HSUS

If you love your pets, if you love to eat meat, if you hunt, or if you want to keep your constitutional rights

Vote NO on Prop B.

http://www.thealliancefortruth.com/

http://www.missourifac.com/

http://www.mofb.org/  

(click on "Animal Care Toolkit")



More on "The Puppy Mill Bill"

Here are some scary statistics concerning the Humane Society of the United States:

• HSUS is a national factory-fundraising nonprofit organization preying on the public's emotional attachment to pets; yet, gives less than 1% of their millions to local animal shelters.

• $31 million of the public's contributions to HSUS goes for salaries and over $20 million is spent on litigation, lobbying, campaigns and legislation, even though HSUS is registered as a charitable organization--This information is from the Center for Consumer Freedom's analysis of the latest IRS paperwork filed by HSUS for 2008.

• HSUS collected over $86 million in contributions in 2008 and in that same year spent $24 million on fundraising. In other words, 28 cents of every dollar contributed is used to raise more money.

• HSUS is a radical group trying to abolish animal agriculture, sport hunting, and the ownership of pets. They are wanting to take away our rights not to mention the thousands of jobs created by agriculture, hunting, and pet breeding.

Bottom line, HSUS has already infiltrated Florida, Arizona, Oregon, Colorado, California, Maine, Michigan, and Ohio with their radical animal rights agenda. Do you want them in Missouri too?

I know I want to maintain my right to own my beautiful and beloved pure breed English Shepherd, Mina, that I bought from a breeder.


I want to keep my right to own and operate any business that I see fit on my own property because this is America. Better and braver men and women have died for the freedom we enjoy and I'm not about to let HSUS take those rights away from me all because they feel that "The life of an ant and that of my child should be granted equal consideration."
Not in my town, Bub!

Vote NO on Prop B!

Don't forget to mark your calender for the Prop B meeting. A speaker from the MO Farm Bureau will be there to answer questions and give the details on this issue.

Prop B Meeting

Thursday--October 7 @ 7 p.m.

4-H Center

21509 Hwy D

Mexico, MO

For questions call 573-581-0971 or 573-581-6433

For more information, visit:

http://www.humanewatch.org/

http://www.missourifac.com/

http://www.mofb.org/

(click on "Animal Care Toolkit")