I think its time to move from defensive positioning and start thinking offensively. The old saying goes money talks BS walks. If we show the capacity to undermine their contributor base by identifying with ALL pet owners, we effect their pay checks and hence their outlook on things.

For what its worth I put this on Facebook:

Alert: Humane Society of the United States is not what you think.

Did you know that the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is not longer associated with local animal shelters? Fact is they have become an extreme animal rights organization that does not deserve wide support. They are currently sponsoring a national ban on the keeping of some species of snakes as pets. While they use the sensationalism of giant constrictors, the net they are seeking to cast covers many diminutive species that make quite suitable pets. To this end they are using political influence and a poorly conducted “scientific report”. The report, and its conclusions, are so poorly done that preeminent herpetologist have rejected its finding and written congress. Their objections to this “study” are concluded as follows: “we encourage the Committee to review this document, not as an authoritative scientific publication, but rather as a report currently drafted to support a predetermined policy.“
A full reading of the letter can be found at:
http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/news/chiefeditor/2009/12/547.html
So, if you do not keep pet snake why is this important to you? Because it is a shot across the bow of your freedom to responsibly keep and maintain ANY pets! The HSUS and its animal rights cohorts are only going after reptile keepers because they are seen as an easy target but they have their sites on ALL pet owners. If you don’t want them to come for you I would suggest that you take some action to undermine their support now. Here is what you can do.

• Repost or link to this message on any social networking site you utilize. Otheres need to know that the HUUS is a farce. They utilized the perception that they support local animal shelter to garner support for their draconian agenda.

• Put aside personal bias against reptiles and join the fight against these tactics. USARK is leading the fight on this for reptile keepers. They have a link where you can email media outlets and let them know of the issue and what you thing of this. The link is here: http://usark.org/campaign.php?id=9

• Call your State representatives and express opposition to Senate bill S373. A list of the committee members considering this bill is located at: http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=1763974,1763974

• Sing the online petition opposing this bill at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/usarkHR6311/index.html


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“Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.” Emmerson

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• Using social networking against the Ban - Tony D, Thu Dec 10 11:06:43 2009