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!

10 Reasons to Vote NO on Prop B

I stopped by Veterinary Clinic, Inc. in Mexico, MO the other day to ask why a local vet would have a

"Vote NO on Prop B" sign in their front yard.

Turns out, Don Hudson, DVM didn't have a single reason to oppose Prop B...

He has a list. 



Veterinary Clinic, Inc. Mexico, MO
Don Hudson, DVM
Jeanine Utterback, DVM



PROP B

1. Everyone should visit the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association website.

2. All Licensed kennels are under very strict inspections by state and federal investigators. These inspections are unannounced.

3. HSUS never documents the source of their videos with animals in cages when asking for donations (Hoarders, unlicensed kennels, etc.)

4. Prop B demands solid flooring (concrete) which is very stressful over long term. They are cold, damp, and filthy for non housebroken animals. Many breeders use tenderfoot or fiber glass flooring to keep animals dry, warm, and waste drains into trays underneath the racks.

5. Licensed kennels are inspected by a veterinarian once a year and state and federal inspections twice a year. A written form outlines vaccinations, nutrition, deworming, etc. This must be followed with attending veterinarian and owner.

6. The idea of having only 50 dogs is ridiculous. Who came up with that number? Why not 49 or 51?

7. Many people feel that Prop B opponents are paranoid about this being only the beginning of attacking other aspects of animal production. They have every reason to be paranoid. Just investigate what happened in California, Ohio, Florida, and Arizona. Many supporters actually believe this only affects kennels; however HSUS has a very toxic track record.

8. The very wording of Prop B is misleading and should never have been allowed.

9. The amount of money coming from out of state is disgusting. This alone should make everyone suspicious. Why should out of state people tell us in Missouri what we should do? We don’t try to regulate the number of cars owned by someone in California, or the number of houses a realtor can sell. The latest numbers I have seen were October 23, 2010. At that time, 2.6 million dollars has been donated for Prop B. Of the 2.6 million, 2.37 million came from out of state of which 1.32 million came from HSUS!! In state donations for Prop B amounted to about 8.8%! Follow the money! At the same time, the Missouri Federation of Animal Owners had $44,700.00 to oppose Prop B.

10. If this passes, there will be a tremendous amount of collateral damage, which the proponents will either deny or won’t care. Prop B is wrong financially and ethically because of how misleading HSUS has been, and in the way it does business.

 

This list is from a well-known, respected, and reputable Missouri veterinarian.

Enough said.

 

Vote NO on Prop B.

 



"Pet" Redefined in Prop B--Why?

We're pets!? Since when?

According to dictionary.com pet is defined as followed:

pet--noun, adjective, verb, pet·ted, pet·ting.
–noun
1. any domesticated or tamed animal that is kept as a companion and cared for affectionately.

Note: "...kept as a companion and cared for affectionately."

According to Prop B:
(9) ”Pet” means any domesticated animal normally maintained in or near the household of the owner thereof.

Why would HSUS and ASPCA (the two major groups pushing this onto the ballot) feel the need to alter the definition of the word "Pet"? Note too, why would they omit the section of the definition they claim to care most about? Why would they omit the "companion" and "cared for affectionately" part? Why would they change the meaning of "Pet" to such a vague definition?

Why? I'll tell you why, lines 3 and 4.

3. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person having custody or ownership of more than ten female covered dogs for the purpose of breeding those animals and selling any offspring for use as a pet shall provide each covered dog:
 
(1) Sufficient food and clean water; The way this proposition defines clean water means that we would be in violation because the water and the feed get mixed in the bottom of the feeder pan and farmers that use a lake, pond, or stream to water their cows would be in violation too. 


(2) Necessary veterinary care; Again we would be in violation. Prop B states that a licenced vet must administer meds, treat the sick, and euthanize the lame; however, we work with licenced vets but we, the farmers, administer the meds, treat the sick, and euthanize the lame. We are trained to do these things by licenced vets and certified but certification is not a medical licence. Imagine how much it would cost for a vet or team of vets to come and do these things daily. We'd go out of business and so would every other farmer, not to mention there aren't enough vets to go around. 

(3) Sufficient housing, including protection from the elements; Some cows have barns, some don't. Therefore, those farmers, whether they have a barn or not, are in violation because of the temperature limitations and many barns are open at one end which would violate the "protection from the elements." According to this definition a roof is not enough. The temperature limitations would also kill our piglets because they must be kept warmer than 85 degrees. Furthermore, waste must be removed daily. We have a deep pit for hog waste--which isn't waste at all, it is a priceless commodity called manure--and it would have to be cleaned daily while the hogs are outside. Not possible. 

(4) Sufficient space to turn and stretch freely, lie down, and fully extend his or her limbs; This would increase the amount of space every farm animal across the board would need; forcing farmers to buy more land or use valuable crop land as pasture ground. 

(5) Regular exercise; and This would require farmers to have an outside area twice as large as the inside area!? Not realistic.

(6) Adequate rest between breeding cycles. Again, Prop B's standards are unrealistic. Farmers could only breed their livestock twice in an 18 month period. That alone would kill animal ag and destroy the nation's economy. 

4. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person may have custody of more than fifty covered dogs for the purpose of breeding those animals and selling any offspring for use as a pet. Here's a doozy. Farmers would only be allowed to breed 50 sows, 50 cows, only 50 chickens could lay eggs, etc. Again, this would mean death to animal ag. But, then again, isn't that what HSUS wants.
 
I know, I know. Before you go typing hate mail and claiming I'm an idiot because Prop B is clearly meant for dogs only and has nothing to do with farm animals, consider this. If, according to Prop B, a pet is in fact a "domesticated animal normally maintained in or near the household of the owner" that would mean that cows grazing in a pasture a few yards from their owners' house are "pets," the pigs that live behind my in-law's house only yards away are "pets," sheep, goats, chickens that live in a pasture on the same property which the owner resides are all "pets."
 
By redefining "pet" and creating an incredibly vague description, which in a court of law can be interpreted in the manner I have just described, it creates what is called in the legal profession a "loophole." By creating this "loophole" HSUS has also created an "in." All they would need to do if Prop B passes is file an amendment to change the breed of animal and good bye animal ag, good bye farmers, good bye meat, and hello imported expensive food and the socialist way of life, where big government rules and the little man drools (because he's so hungry).
 

Vote NO on Prop B.

Because this is not a pet.  



Volunteers Needed

I received another email. No, I'm not going to make a habit of sharing my emails but this one is important.


A phone bank has been set up at the Mo Cattlemen’s in Columbia to make phone calls to voters to oppose Prop B. The phone bank will accommodate at least 20 callers and will operate from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm daily through Saturday, noon to 9:00 pm on Sunday and from 9:00 am until noon on Monday. Automatic dialing and a short script are there so now all we need are people. To sign up and help defeat Prop B, contact Jeff Windett at 573-499-9162 or jeff@mocattle.com to coordinate schedules.

I am also getting more information sent to me about setting this up using my home computer. If you have a high-speed connection (not dial up) you can set up your own at-home phone bank. If you'd like more info on doing this at home email me (j.windmann@yahoo.com), as soon as I receive the info I will forward it on to you.

We need your help getting the word out about Prop B.
Please help in anyway you can, November is just around the corner.

Vote NO on Prop B.



Other sites of interest to learn more about Prop B:

Proposition B not the right answer to problem--published in the Missourian

KnowledgeisPower2011--YouTube channel

Using Your Brain to Think Through Prop B--24th State Blog

Law makers want to expose "truth" of Prop B--Brownfield Ag News

Also see the links to the right and my past Prop B blogs for more information. Thank you for your support.

Update:

I wanted to let you know a similar phone bank is also available at Missouri Farm Bureau home office in Jefferson City if that is a closer option– as a fellow producer, we all need to be aware that Proposition B is a critical issue we need to ensure is defeated. MOFB has a call center area set up With a computer program installed to generate the telephone numbers and dial until a live body answers. Callers will have a script to follow so no one will have to “wing it.” Phones will be available beginning at 9:00 a.m. this week. Evening hours are possible if people are available to make calls. Leslie Holloway is the primary contact in the home office and she can be reached at lholloway@mofb.com or 573-893-1410. Jill Fansler can also be contacted; her email is jfansler@mofb.com, or 573-893-1410.