No one that I know really wants to talk about politics. Let's face it, politics are confusing at best. But in 1776 it was politics that incited the colonies of America to stand up and say "no more". It prompted a "Declaration of Independence" which we Americans now hold as one of the most treasured documents and a cornerstone of what we as Americans stand for.

Now we have another attack on our independence. This time it is from within the Washington politico and it is focused directly at us as Brittany owners, breeders, and trainers. PAWS. You have heard of it but have you really taken a good look at it? Probably not since it, like so many other political issues, is clouded by biased coverage and is so vague and full of legalese that it is almost impossible to really understand.

So let's keep it really simple:

What PAWS does is to federalize a hobby - by subjecting home breeders and rescuers of cats and dogs to USDA licensure and over 60 pages of regulations. It further provides groundwork for imposing extra restrictions on "any person who buys, or sells any dog for hunting, security, or breeding purposes." Essentially, the best source for puppies and kittens - the home breeder - will be all but eliminated; thereby assuring that the only choice for consumers are commercially-bred pets.

You can see http://www.nopaws.org/ for more detailed information.

And what makes this threat to federally control your hobby even more dangerous is that our own Georgia Canine Coalition privately decided to support S1139 PAWS, without consulting their membership.

Georgia AKC clubs need to begin anew with another group, or completely clean house. Too much is at stake for you and your dogs to leave your future in their hands. It is time for a "call to arms". If you know anyone or have any influence on the Georgia Canine Coalition PLEASE do what you can to reverse this action. Here is a list of the clubs belonging to the Georgia Canine Coalition:

If you think that you can intelligently dissuade the Georgia Canine Coalition from supporting this bill you can contact them:

Gail LaBerge, Legislative Specialist
Georgia Canine Coalition
Outland@laberge.org
(770) 271-7246

and their web site is at http://www.georgiacaninecoalition.org/ .

Want to know more about PAWS? See a legal analysis of the legislation at:
http://www.dfow.org/hcontents.htm

For those of you in Georgia that listen to talk radio, you probably know Neal Boortz, who says not to read "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand because it will make you really mad. Well, she summed up this situation well when she wrote about federal legislation as follows.

"We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: the stage where the government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens may act only by permission; which is the stage of the darkest periods of human history, the stage of rule by brute force." --Ayn Rand

A  LITTLE  HISTORY  LESSON