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Dear SAOVA Friends,
The 109th Congress is effectively over. Members left Washington yesterday
and will return for a very brief, 7-10 day "lame duck" session after
campaigning for reelection. That post-November 7th week will focus on
appropriations bills to keep the government operating and little else.
Here's a status report of the 2005-2006 animal rightist legislation that
the Sportsmen's and Animal Owners' Voting Alliance (SAOVA) lobbied, with
your considerable assistance.
PAWS (Pet Animal Welfare Act of 2005) is totally dead. This Rick
Santorum-HSUS-DDAL-AKC-AVMA bill consumed incredible time, energy and
resources to kill, but common sense and responsible animal owners
prevailed. SAOVA took a leadership role in this fight and, with the support
of hundreds of animal owner groups and thousands of individuals, S1139 and
HR2669 were soundly defeated. Neither bill ever had a subcommittee vote and
their cosponsor lists never matched those of Sen. Santorum's 2001,
pre-PAWS, Puppy Protection Act (PPA). This support shortfall occurred
despite the American Kennel Club (AKC) and American Veterinary Medical
Association (AVMA) switching sides and joining HSUS-DDAL on PAWS, after
opposing them in 2001.
Take it from a retired career lobbyist, this was an amazing achievement!
Seldom has a pro bono federal lobbying effort had such an inspired and
forceful grass roots component. Much is owed to many, but I'd be remiss in
not recognizing the many non-canine groups, supporting agriculture
interests, and the officers of the forty parent breed clubs and 140 other
AKC clubs that put their members' and dogs interests' before the AKC's
disguised attempt to hurt other registries, and in so doing injure
thousands and thousands of innocent animal owners.
<http://saova.org/1139opponents.html>http://saova.org/1139opponents.html
Susan Wolf of the North Carolina Responsible Animal Owners Alliance and
Kelly Wichman of the Dog Federation of Wisconsin also deserve special
accolades for their tireless cooperative efforts with SAOVA against PAWS.
They gained an unusual DC insider perspective. Few others understand the
role that the Judiciary Committees and Department of Justice played in this
winning effort.
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