Sunday, September 21, 2008

Pounding on the Door for Change


Dog Catcher in Washington, D.C., 1924


If individuals do not take charge of their dogs
, the State steps in, rounds up the dogs, carts them off to the pound, and either rehomes them or puts them to sleep.

So what does the State do when an entire organization, such as The Kennel Club, embraces a closed registry system and a set of breeding guidelines which guarantees that legions of dogs will be produced that that are diseased, deformed and defective?

So far nothing.

But that may be about to change.

The Prime Minister's office has recently approved the wording of a public petition asking it to initiate legislative action.

Is legislation the best way? Of course not. You do not have to be a libertarian to think Government meddles in too much.

That said, the State is already in the dog business, isn't it? Visit the local pound if you think otherwise.

And Government is already in the business of shutting down companies that produce defective products, isn't it?

And so, the case for Government action there. While perhaps controversial, it not illogical.

And so what does the "e-Petition" to the Prime Minister's Office say?


"Following the powerful Pedigree Dogs Exposed documentary on BBC1 the Kennel Club still seems reluctant to grasp the nettle, face the problems and reform itself. The program revealed it urgently needs to bring in mandatory minimum standards on levels of inbreeding, make health testing mandatory, prevent unhealthy physical exaggerations being rewarded and stop the culling of healthy non-standard pups by changing breed standards.


The KC continually complains that it lacks the backing of legislation to bring in these urgent and much needed reforms, so we the undersigned urge the Prime Minister please instigate legislation to ensure pedigree dogs are saved from unnecessary future suffering."


You must be a British citizen or resident to sign the petition, but if you are, add your name to the list!

You do not have to support legislation; you have to support CHANGE.

The Kennel Club will not see the light until they see more heat.

Bring more heat. Bring flaming torches. This is one small step. Sign it!
.

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