letter to ohio senators urging co-sponsorship of the Pet Safety and Protection Act (S.451)

note: if you haven't seen the HBO documentary mentioned below, please do! it's on several more times. info at http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/dealingdogs/index.html

i sent this to both ohio senators, George V. Voinovich & Mike DeWine (of course i changed the name for dewine's....)


February 22, 2006

Senator George V. Voinovich
524 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510

RE: Co-sponsorship of the Pet Safety and Protection Act (S.451)

Dear Senator Voinovich:

I would like to urge you to co-sponsor the Pet Safety and Protection Act (S. 451), which was introduced to Congress by Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI) on February 17th, 2005. This bill would amend the Animal Welfare Act to ensure that all animals used by research facilities are obtained legally. It would also strengthen the Animal Welfare Act by prohibiting the use of Class B dealers as suppliers of dogs and cats to research facilities. This bill would end the fraudulent practices of Class B dealers, and the unnecessary suffering of animals in their care.

Class B dealers routinely violate the Animal Welfare Act by acquiring animals from fraudulent sources and abusing and neglecting them. These animals are often stolen pets, strays or animals obtained under false pretenses from “free to good home” ads. It is virtually impossible to know the true history of an animal acquired by a Class B dealer. Each time a Class B dealer sells an animal to a research lab, a strong possibility exists that it is a lost or stolen family pet.

C.C. Baird, one of the largest Class B dealers in the U.S., was charged with hundreds of violations of the Animal Welfare Act by the USDA/APHIS after undercover surveillance by Last Chance for Animals revealed overwhelming amounts of animal abuse, neglect and unsanitary conditions at Baird’s facility, Martin Creek Kennels in Williford, Arkansas. I recently had the opportunity to view the documentary "Dealing Dogs" which chronicled the abuses at Martin Creek Kennels. The footage was some of the most disturbing I've seen. If you've not seen the documentary, please take a moment to view a clip from it at http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/dealingdogs/index.html. I believe it will help you to see why something has to be done to stop these atrocities.

Unfortunately, the conditions at Baird’s Martin Creek Kennels are not uncommon among Class B dealers. Baird is now permanently out of business, but there are still 15 more Class B dealers supplying random source animals to research facilities.

Senator Akaka’s bill would facilitate and improve the Animal Welfare Act and give the USDA the ability to prevent further atrocities like those committed by C.C. Baird. It is in the public interest that Class B dealers not be allowed to sell animals to research facilities. This will help ensure the safety of America’s pets.

Please co-sponsor the Pet Safety and Protection Act and encourage the Chairman of the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee to hold hearings on the bill as soon as possible.

Thank you for your consideration of this most important issue.

Sincerely,

okay, so i basically copied it from the Last Chance for Animals template....i'm new at this!