Thursday, January 28, 2010

Virginia Dog Lovers: Take a Stand!

House Bill 429, if passed, will clarify that under Virginia law dog pounds and shelters cannot set policies to routinely take the life of every member of any certain breed of dog. It would also prohibit policies that prevent dogs of a specific breed from being made available for adoption.

What does this mean in plain English? It means that if this law passes, dogs might not die because they are or look like one of the bully breeds. Can you imagine not even being put up for adoption because of the way you look? Think about that. Breed specific legislation (BSL) legalizes the murder of an entire group of dogs because of how they LOOK. Virginia needs to stand up and defend the rights of dogs to find their forever homes. Pit Bulls and all their bully relatives need our support.

How can you help?
House Bill 429 is presently before the House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee. It is essential that the bill move out of that committee in order for it to be voted upon by the House. Write or call members of that Committee to encourage their support.

Why is passage of House Bill 429 so important?
The primary focus here is the Pit Bull, a breed that has suffered terribly at the hands of very bad people who have forced them into dog fighting. Because of bad press, the general public has an underlying belief that Pit Bulls are bad, evil animals. There are jurisdictions out there banning all Pit Bulls. Others won't allow them to be adopted out of their shelters, which means - unless a rescue group saves them - they are murdered (euthanized is just too soft a word here). Instead of punishing innocent dogs, big fat tough laws need to be enacted nationwide to ensure that any human being involved in dog fighting goes to jail for a very long time, that their property be seized and the proceeds given over to the rehabilitation of the very dogs forced to fight.

Within all breeds of dogs there are the good and the bad. Generalizations of any kind about a group of animals are as inappropriate as those about groups of people

Contact your Delegate and Senator TODAY. Tell him or her that you support House Bill 429. And then go hug your dogs! They'll be proud of you for taking a stand.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Maria Daines releases "Buddy's Song"

Maria is an animal activist. It also happens that she is an amazing singer and songwriter. Much of her music is for and about animals. Her latest release is Buddy's Song. Here's the back story about Buddy from Facebook:
Many people have expressed frustration in not being able to do anything for Buddy, for this reason, a group has been created by Willie Wonka called "To Honor Buddy" http://www.facebook.com/#/group.php?gid=236330769299
the goal of this group is to honor Buddy by donating to the shelter of your choice in Buddy's name. Please join this wonderful group to learn more. Thank you!
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SIGN PETITION AT: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/6/demand-justice-for-buddys-killer
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On December 30, 2009 between 2:18 am and 4:30 am a German Shepherd named Buddy was dragged to death at the Colorado National Monument. Joan Anzelmo, superintendent of the monument, identified the suspect as Steven Clay Romero, 37, of Grand Junction.

She said Romero is alleged to have stolen the dog — Buddy, a German shepherd-blue heeler mix — from people in Delta. He allegedly took the dog to the Colorado National Monument early Wednesday, tied the dog to his truck and dragged the dog. Paw prints in the snow were found to show Buddy at first walking, then running, then dragging, for 3 miles. A surveillance video showed a truck entering the monument at 2:18 am with a dog in the bed of the truck, it showed the same truck leaving at 2:30 with no dog. Witnesses said Romero said he was going to kill the dog, another said he saw Romero leave the residence with the dog.
Romero faces one count of aggravated cruelty towards animals. If convicted, the penalty is a maximum of three years in federal prison and a fine of $100,000, and one year of mandatory parole.Anzelmo said she believes additional charges may be filed against Romero.
The goal of this group and petition is to see to it that Steven Romero spends every single minute of those three years in jail and a fine of $100,000 plus the one year of mandatory parole.
Should there be any sympathy towards Mr Romero, let me add one thing. According to the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel on Dec 31st, Romero was quoted as saying:
“I don’t get it,” he said, sitting alone at the defendant’s table. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Heldmyer then rose from her seat, walked toward Romero and tossed a copy of the charges on the table in front of him.
Heldmyer told U.S. Magistrate Judge Laird Milburn she will ask for Romero’s continued detention during Monday’s hearing.
“So, in other words I’ll be sitting in jail and probably lose my job, too?” Romero asked Milburn.
“Yes,” the judge responded.

Listen to Buddy's Song.

@MariaDaines on Twitter
http://www.maria-daines.com/
http://www.oneliferescue.org/
http://www.ddawatch.co.uk/