I just read yesterday that in two more states, legislation to allow recovery of damages (non-economic in one case, and I believe economic in another) for the killing or injury of a pet has been DEFEATED. Not surprisingly the VETERINARY associations come out hard to fight these bills that woudl allow owners, in most cases to recover modest amounts either for veterinary expenses or for loss of a pet.
It is because the veterinarians and the industries (pet food, etc) fight these provisions that they are defeated, and who benefits? THE ANIMAL ABUSERS. Yes, you can thank the veterinarians and the pet food industry the next time somebody's neighbor kills their dog, and they can't recover any damages. The vets and PFI, while protecting their own economic interests, are also making it impossible for us to see stiffer penalties for animal abuse and murder. They are ORGANIZED lobbies who give BIG BUCKS to politicians and PURCHASE the defeat of these bills, which undoubtedly would be supported by the public. It's veterinarians and PFI who keep arguing that YOUR PET IS NOTHING MORE THAN A PIECE OF WORTHLESS PROPERTY, like a depreciated toaster oven.
How can they keep beating down this legislation when surely, public sentiment would be on our side?
IT IS BECAUSE PET LOVERS have not formed a lobby. We do not give money to politicians. We are not an organized force. If we were, we would CREAM these people. But we're not.
I'm very happy Defend Our Pets is out there, but DOP seems focused on the pet food thing exclusively. The poison pet food and the companies that profit from killing our pets that way are a big part of the puzzle, and are a major problem. But so is negligence by those we pay to provide service to our pets -- veterinarians, groomers, etc.
I think we need a PET LOVERS LOBBY. I say "Pet Lovers" instead of "Pet Owners" because there are many breeder associations out there, CFA, etc, working HARD to defeat bills that would give our pets greater value in the eyes of the law. They argue this based on PROPERTY RIGHTS, "OWNERS" rights. So I am not talking about all PET OWNERS, some of whom desire only to exploit and profit from the animals they "own."
I am talking about PET LOVERS. Those people who LOVE their pets and feel that they should have value in the eyes of the law -- even if it is only referred value as a result of being loved by us.
HSUS, PETA all those big organizations -- they care only about the scores of nameless, faceless animals. They advocate for food animals, circus animals, zoo animals, and lab animals.
But when it comes to fighting against veterinary malpractice for example, they are deliberately silent. And I have been told by a rep of HSUS that even though they know vet mal is a problem, THEY WON'T take it on PRECISELY because they "need" vets to help them on those "larger" issues -- e.g., circus animals, farm animals, lab animals, etc.
What does that mean?
All those animals -- circus animals, farm animals, lab animals -- have legal advocates protecting them.
Our pets HAVE NO ONE. NO ORGANIZED LOBBY to protect them, advocate for them.
Do you think that most pet "owners" are pet lovers? Do you think that pet lovers would join forces to become an ORGANIZED LOBBY on behalf of our pets?
If we did, we would have the POWER to REFORM the PFI, and HOLD VETS accountable, and this would establish precedent that would INCREASE punishment for animal cruelty of all kinds when committed upon "owned" animals.
Would YOU join such a lobby?
Stefani Olsen
The Toonces Project
http://www.TheTooncesProject.com"Is Your Pet Safe at the Vet?"
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