Is it 2010 yet?

Heh. Did you know I've only posted here, like, some 50 times since the end of 2007? Well that ain't right, and it's my New Years resolution to revive this here website. It's time to put Facebook down, and the life of one sentence whitty-ness, and expound upon actual ideas. That sounded weird.

We've missed too much since I've been gone.  Like, we turned 30.  Damn, I even had to update my profile to say such which was not cool.  But we did have a bad ass '20s style party...

I still have a kid...

And a hot wife... who likes mooses...

We fostered a non-Rottweiler

And even had time for long walks on the... uh... lakefront...

 

 

2010 is going to be a great year!

nick

The HSUS? Oh, I love them!

If you follow the national media, and in particular football, you have probably heard about Atlanta Falcon's quarterback Michael Vick. He's in some heat because a house he owns in Virginia was raided in April and what they found suggested the occupants were involved in dog fighting.

Well, there was an interesting article that showed up by the Associated Press today involving our good friend Wayne Pacelle of the Humane Society of the United States. Wayne has apparently been on a letter writing campaign, blasting Nike for not immediately dropping Vick, even before he has been charged with any crime.

We've previously dealt with PeTA, but perhaps we should deal with the HSUS and Wayne Pacelle, since apparently even the national news media has no intention of exposing them for who they really are.

First, let's deal with the organization, Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). It was established in 1954 as the National Humane Society, a spin-off group from the American Humane Association. In 1970, the group had 30,000 members and an annual budget of $500,000. By the end of 2003, they had over $113 million in assets and paid over $14.8 million in annual salaries and benefits.

You would think, with all that money, the HSUS would be funding every shelter and dog rescue in the country. But in 2002, the HSUS gave only $150,000 to actual humane societies and shelters. In fact, on their website it states: The HSUS is neither legally nor contractually affiliated with—nor is a parent organization for—local humane societies, animal shelters, or animal care and control agencies. In short, The HSUS does not operate or have direct control over any animal shelter.

Pretty tricky to have a name like Humane Society of the United States and not be affiliated with any actual humane society, don't you think? Like PeTA, the HSUS realized that if you have a warm and fuzzy name, it helps mask your radical agenda from the uniformed public.

On to it's wonderful leader. In 2004 Wayne Pacelle became HSUS President and CEO. Pacelle is a strict vegan and immediately went to work targeting the treatment of farm animals, promoting a vegan diet and the elimination of all hunting and breeding of domestic animals. In a June 2005 interview, Pacelle said that HSUS is working on "a guide to vegetarian eating" and emphasized "reducing meat consumption" as one of HSUS’s goals. Hmmm. Sounds like PeTA's goals too...

"We have no ethical obligation to preserve the different breeds of livestock produced through selective breeding. . One generation and out. We have no problem with the extinction of domestic animals. They are creations of human selective breeding." Wayne Pacelle, Animal People, May, 1993.

"If we could shut down all sport hunting in a moment, we would." Wayne Pacelle, Associated Press, Dec 30, 1991.

"Our goal is to get sport hunting in the same category as cock fighting and dog fighting." Wayne Pacelle, (Bozeman (MT) Daily Chronicle, October 8, 1991.

He kind of sounds like a nutcase, right? A nutcase who doesn't even really care for animals all that much apparently...

"I don’t have a hands-on fondness for animals... To this day I don’t feel bonded to any non-human animal. I like them and I pet them and I’m kind to them, but there’s no special bond between me and other animals." Wayne Pacelle quoted in Bloodties: Nature, Culture and the Hunt by Ted Kerasote, 1993, p. 251.

Who else is/was involved in the HSUS? Let's take a peak...

In 1986, the Washingtonian asked then-HSUS Vice-President for Laboratory Animals John McArdle about his opinion that brain-dead humans should be substituted for animals in medical research. "It may take people a while to get used to the idea," McArdle said, "but once they do the savings in animal lives will be substantial."

And then...

There's Ariana Huemer, anarchist and HSUS government-affairs employee. An FBI evidence recovery log from the search of Daniel Andreas San Diego’s car describes a check Huemer wrote to him. San Diego, member of a group called Revolutionary Cells, and currently on the FBI’s "Most Wanted" list, is presumed responsible for 10-pound shrapnel bombs detonated in 2003 at two California biomedical research companies. One of these bombs was accompanied by a "secondary" device, timed to detonate after paramedics and firefighters arrived on the scene.

Revolutionary Cells' statement told employees: "You never know when your house, your car even, might go boom. Who knows, that new car in the parking lot may be packed with explosives. Or maybe it will be a shot in the dark ... all customers and their families are considered legitimate targets."

And then...

There's John "J.P." Goodwin. Before joining HSUS, Goodwin was a member of the terrorist organization Animal Liberation Front. In 2000, HSUS sent Goodwin as it's emissary on a tour of Chinese fur farms. By 2001 he was an HSUS employee, and as of at least 2005, was still on the full-time staff. Besides being arrested and convicted of vandalizing fur retailers in several states, he told reporters for the Deseret News (March 11, 1997) in reference to a $1 million ALF arson of a fur farmers' feed co-op in Utah, "We're ecstatic. We have no problem with inanimate objects being destroyed so animate objects can survive. We believe life is more valuable than property".

"It's time for the animal rights movement to take this [fur] industry and drive the final nail into the coffin by whatever means it takes. If that means being outside the executives houses, if that means blockading their doors, whatever it takes." J.P. Goodwin, Humane Society of the US Campaign Director, former executive director of the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade, in speech at the World Congress for Animals, June 20, 1996.

"We have found that civil disobedience and direct action has been powerful in generating massive attention in our communities ... and has been very effective in traumatizing our targets." J.P. Goodwin, National Animal Rights Convention '97, June 27, 1997.

"My goal is the abolition of all animal agriculture." J.P. Goodwin, as quoted on AR-Views, an animal rights Internet discussion group in 1996.

Also, lucky for you, HSUS, like PeTA, spreads animal-rights propaganda to school-children as young as five.

One package, titled "People and Animals - A Humane Education Guide", suggests films and books for teachers to present to their students. In these recommended teaching tools, sport hunters are called "selective exterminators" and "drunken slobs" who participate in a "blood sport" and a "war on wildlife" with "maniacal attitudes toward killing."

Just thought I would give you a little taste of the organization and who plays with it, because I doubt most people go looking for this information on their own. Neat huh?

Nick

You're old and dumb... I'm only dumb...

I guess the United Blogging Council got together and decided that this week's main topic would be age. I've seen the topic discussed on two different blogs now, one is Dawn's and the other is not an appropriate link for this blog.

The topic of age and how that relates to maturity and knowledge and experience and whether or not you should get married is one that I rarely see eye to eye with others on. Because, as you may or may not know, I'm always the exception. Trust me. There's nothing I fucking hate more, than when someone says to me - "well, you're the exception." I've killed people for far less, so don't go there.

Example one. When I was the ripe old age of 19, I got involved in dog rescue. And thru that involvement, helped to start a 10 state Rottweiler Rescue called MidAmerica Rottweiler Rescue. Pretty soon I was on the board of directors as the Adoption Coordinator. And then Volunteer Coordinator. And then Vice President. But many people in that rescue wouldn't have let me adopt a dog because I was under 21, or 25, or whatever stupid number they wanted to put on maturity and the ability to care for a dog.

The justification? "Well, of course at 19 years old, you couldn't possibly know what you want in life." "You're probably going to go to college, and then get married, and then move, and the dog will be out in the street."

I would fight with these people endlessly about age requirements. Don't assign a number to maturity. If someone isn't mature enough to care for a dog, what does it matter if they are 15 or 45? And vice versa. My point was, nothing happens on your 21st birthday that makes you ready and mature enough to do anything. Whether it's drink, get married, adopt a dog, whatever. People should be evaluated on an individual basis and not simply because of their age. It just doesn't mean very much to me. I know 10 year old kids that are more mature than most 50 year olds.

Example 2. I met my now wife when we were 17. Seniors in high school. Virgins (oh the horror!). We fell in love almost right away. After high school we moved out, got a Rottweiler, got jobs, went to college, had a lot of sex, drank, did drugs, whatever. Then we moved again, and still kept our dog. And then we bought a house at 22. And then we got married at 23. And still kept our dog! Had a (gasp!) kid at 27, with TWO ROTTWEILERS! I know, I know, everyone told us the dogs were going to EAT our kid, and then turn on us and EAT US!

What's my point? I seen a comment on another blog that said if you get married in your 20s, before basically sleeping around with as many people as you can, you're making a "big, big mistake". I don't think we made a mistake. In fact, I wouldn't do it any other way. I don't have to picture my wife having sex with someone else, because there is no one else she's had sex with. There's no diseases to worry about. And I certainly have no desire to get divorced now and go sleep with everyone, not that anyone besides the hot wife would sleep with me anyways... But I don't feel like I missed out on anything.

I just don't buy into a lot of the age stereotypes that people throw out there. It's fine if you were too immature at that age to make decisions about your path in life, but don't assume that the rest of us are as well. While we've certainly made some mistakes along the way, and things are not always strawberry fields forever, I think the hot wife and I are great examples of how it can work out. We've made changes in our lives, sure, but we chose to make them together and never once have we felt like we missed out on anything in our lives.

Nick

This is the last depressing post ever, I promise...

I really haven't felt like myself the past few weeks and for the first time since my father passed away in '04, I've consistently been a little bummed out. Which, coincidentally is why I started blogging in the first place. I wouldn't say I'm depressed really, but I'm definitely not feeling like myself.

For some time we thought our dog had arthritis. When it got worse and not better with pills, we took her back in for more x-rays. It wasn't arthritis, but a tumor in her front leg. And I'm not an expert in this stuff, but it has apparently spread into her chest as well. Bottom line is that she is not going to make it more than a month or two.

I know, I'm a softie, it's just a dog. But you kind of have to understand, the hot wife and I got this dog as 19th birthday presents to each other when she was 9 weeks old. There are so many memories, I wouldn't know where to start. So many things would be so different with us, were it not for her.

And now, as if that wasn't bad enough, our other dog is limping and not eating well and we're worried he might be in the same situation. And I keep flashing these thoughts of having to put both of them down at the same time, which I'm not so sure I can go through.

While I haven't had to put "our" dog to sleep before, practically like a child to us, we've been here before. And the situation we're in kind of reminds me of an article I wrote a few years back for a dog magazine. And the payment for writing it was that the dog rescue I was involved in at the time got to run a free ad highlighting some of their dogs. So, it's kind of an ass kiss to rescue, but whatever.

I usually try to avoid depressing topics, but it kind of highlights the current mood, so I'm going to post it.
**********

"He’s a rescue dog, he’s had a rough life"

"It’s going to be two shots, right?" I asked, hoping I could leave before the final shot.
"Nope, just one." The vet replied as she put the rubber strap around his arm.
As I sat there on the floor holding my dog as tight as I could and trying to reassure him, I tried to keep from second guessing our decision.

"He’s a rescue dog, he’s had a rough life", I would tell people. I would look for any excuse I could find to justify his aggressive behavior.

"He may need eye surgery..." But that wasn’t it.

Arri was a rescue dog, and he did have a rough life. But there were no excuses for the constant aggressive behavior, for lunging at people, for many of the things he did.

"Now there may be a bowel movement, or he may gasp for air..." She said looking up at me.
"I don’t think I can watch that" I replied as reality began to set in.
"You don’t have to stay if you don’t want."
"What do other people do?"
"Some stay for the dog, and some don’t." she said, trying to make either option sound ok.
I paused. "I’ll stay"

I tried to keep myself together for Arri’s sake. The last thing I wanted was for him to be scared or confused. But it was too late for that. He looked to me for guidance. He was scared, confused. In my mind I kept thinking that I could leave now. I can train this out of him, he can be a good dog, I can just keep him away from people, I can place him in an experienced home.

It’s not his fault... "He’s a rescue dog, he’s had a rough life."

But it was too late for that. He was gone. I pulled his collar off, and put it in my pocket with his leash. I stared at Arri, and then at the floor, and then back at Arri. He was gone. Somewhere, in the back of my mind, I knew the right decision had been made. But my heart felt like it had been ripped out of my chest. I wanted nothing more than to drag his breeder in there to watch, to drag the jerk who kept him tied up outside in there to watch. As if somehow that would have made me feel better. If only they had cared. If only they had seen the good dog that we had seen. If only they had taken the time.

It took me months to come to that decision, to put one of my own dogs to sleep. We spent those months training him, socializing him, but he only seemed to get worse. He was like so many others. Dogs who never got enough socialization, who never got enough training, who never got enough love. Like so many other rescue dogs, he spent days outside, with little water, little food. He bounced from place to place before he finally settled in our home, to be the pet he was never allowed to be, but it was too late for that.

In the short time he was with us, he changed many minds. Some for the better, for people he liked. Some for the worse, for the people who were on the other end of his aggressive behavior. It was devastating to think that people would leave our house with not a positive view of Rottweilers, but just the opposite. People stopped coming over, or they asked to make sure our dogs were put away. We had tried so hard to show people how good Rottweilers could be, but really we were showing them how bad they could be.

When I got involved in Rottweiler rescue almost 5 years ago, I never dreamed I would have to go through that. I never dreamed that doing something that felt so good, would end up making me feel so horrible. I know that I’m not alone because almost everyone involved in rescue that I have talked to has had to go through this very same thing. Despite what their heart tells them, they know it is the right decision to make. They know they cannot afford to have dogs out there which create a negative image for Rottweilers. They know they cannot afford to have aggressive dogs out there in the public eye. Dogs that may someday end up biting someone. The problem is real, I know that now, and they deal with it every day.

Rottweiler rescue volunteers deal with the dogs that no one else wants to deal with. Dogs that are the victims of ill-planned moves, irresponsible college students and breeders in search of quick money. Many of them help behind the scenes, and sometimes we can forget they are even out there. Many are burnt out and broke, and yet they deal with it every day. They deserve our appreciation, our support. They deserve our "Thank You".
***********

Nick

i think PETA is stupid...

Maybe some day I will actually get to the rest of the quiz questions, but I think I want to focus on one in particular because I was surprised by some of the answers. Obviously some of you are new to my blog. But I asked whether you thought People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) was a good or bad organization. Some of you answered correctly (bad), some of you... well... You can't expect everyone to have spent the last decade learning the truth about so-called animals rights groups. Luckily for you though, I have. I've been involved in dog clubs and dog rescues since I was 18 and I've learned a lot in that time about animals. The good, the bad and the ugly.

So I thought, and I wondered, and I thought some more. Why do people think that a radical terrorist organization like PETA is good? Or even not all that bad? And then I seen this quote, and it all made sense:

"When I first heard of PETA, the idea that it would be called People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals appealed to me because it was elegant and gentle about the idea that we simply just need to treat them ethically. I think the idea has grown from that platform, and now it’s a huge voice for animal awareness." Sir Paul McCartney

Whether we like to admit it or not, we do judge books by their cover. When PETA was formed, they realized that they needed a name that covers for their true intentions. After all, no one would support a group if it were called People for Setting your Pets Free, or People for Euthanizing All Shelter Animals, or something crazy like that.

Now, I could share with you some things like - PETA has euthanized 80% of the 17,000+ shelter animals they've taken in over the past 10 years, or, they routinely dump dead animals in mall dumpsters, or, they equate farming to the holocaust, or, they praised Timothy McVeigh for being vegetarian, or, they financially support the Animal Liberation Front which is considered "the most serious domestic terrorism threat" by the FBI. It goes on and on and on. But instead of going thru all of that, I think instead it would be better to hear it directly from them. And then you can decide for yourself what you think about PETA. Remember, don't judge a book by it's cover (this also applies to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)).

"Pet ownership is an absolutely abysmal situation brought about by human manipulation." Ingrid Newkirk, Co-founder of PETA, (Just Like Us? Harper's, August 1988, p. 50.)

"The cat, like the dog, must disappear... We should cut the domestic cat free from our dominance by neutering, neutering, and more neutering, until our pathetic version of the cat ceases to exist." John Bryant, (Fettered Kingdoms: An Examination of A Changing Ethic, Washington, DC: PETA, 1982, p. 15.)

"Six million people died in concentration camps, but six billion broiler chickens will die this year in slaughterhouses." Ingrid Newkirk, ("She's A Portrait of Zealotry in Plastic Shoes," Washington Post, November 13, 1983, p. B10)

"We feel that animals have the same rights as a retarded human child because they are equal mentally in terms of dependence on others." Alex Pacheco, Co-founder of PETA, (New York Times, January 14, 1989)

"A rat is a pig is a dog is a boy." Ingrid Newkirk, (Washingtonian Magazine, August 1986)

"To those people who say, `My father is alive because of animal experimentation,' I say `Yeah, well, good for you. This dog died so your father could live.' Sorry, but I am just not behind that kind of trade off." Bill Maher, PETA celebrity spokesperson

"Even if animal tests produced a cure [for AIDS], 'we'd be against it.'" Ingrid Newkirk, ("Politics" Vogue, September 1989, p. 542)

"Until your daddy learns that it's not 'fun' to kill, keep your doggies and kitties away from him. He's so hooked on killing defenseless animals that they could be next!" PETA flyer targeting children, (Asbury Park Press, September 23, 2005)

"Meat consumption is just as dangerous to public health as tobacco use. It's time we looked into holding the meat producers and fast-food outlets legally accountable." Neal Barnard, President of Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and PETA's Medical Advisor, (PCRM press release, "Physicians Advise Feds to Go After 'Big Meat' Next", September 23, 1999)

"There is so much blood on this chicken-killer's hands, a little more on his business suit won't hurt." Bruce Friedrich, PETA Director of Vegan Outreach, (PETA news release, June 23, 2003)

"Serving a burger to your family today, knowing what we know, constitutes child abuse. You might as well give them weed killer." Toni Vernelli PETA European Campaign Director, (PETA Europe news release, Meat Expo Declared A 'Danger Zone' By Vegetarians: PETA Targets Smithfield 2000, November 27, 2000)

"We are complete press sluts." Ingrid Newkirk, (The New Yorker, April 14, 2003)

"Probably everything we do is a publicity stunt ... we are not here to gather members, to please, to placate, to make friends. We're here to hold the radical line." Ingrid Newkirk, (USA Today, September 3, 1991)

"Here's a little model I'm going to show you here. I didn't have any incense, but, this is a crude incendiary device. It is a simple plastic jug, which you fill with gasoline and oil. You put in a sponge, which is soaked also in flammable liquid. I couldn't find an incense stick, but this represents that. You put the incense stick in here, light it, place it underneath the 'weapon of mass destruction,' light the incense stick, sandalwood works nice, and you destroy the profits that are brought about through animal and earth abuse. That's about two dollars. " Rodney Coronado, animal rights felon for the 1992 Michigan State University firebombing, and recipient of PETA funds, speaking at the National conference on Organized Resistance, American University, Washington DC, January 26, 2003.
Note: PETA donated $45,200 to the Coronado Support Committee in 1995. During the previous year, while Coronado was still on the loose and living underground, PETA granted a loan (not yet repaid) to Coronado's father for $25,000.

"When you're a 20-something grassroots activist, and you're deciding how to spend your time and money to make a difference, it makes a lot of sense to cause a million in damage with just $100 of investment. That's a better return than any other form of activism I've been involved in." Rodney Coronado, (LA Weekly, August 29, 2003)

"Every time a police agency pepper sprays or uses pain-compliance holds against our people, their cars should burn." Rodney Coronado, American University, January 26, 2003

"I think [food producers] should appreciate that we're only targeting their property. Because frankly I think it's time to start targeting them." Rodney Coronado, American University, January 26, 2003.

"It is dangerous to engage in even the most innocuous-seeming discourse with the FBI/Homeland Security/a local detective." Ingrid Newkirk, (letter to activists posted on Yahoo, March 17, 2003)

"Hit them in their personal lives, visit their homes. Actively target U.S. military establishments within the United States. Strike hard and fast and retreat in anonymity. Select another location, strike again hard and fast and quickly retreat in anonymity. Do not get caught. DO NOT GET CAUGHT. Do not get sent to jail. Stay alert, keep active, and keep fighting." Craig Rosenbraugh, radical animal rights spokesperson for terrorism and a recipient of PETA funds, (open letter to activists, published on the Independent Media Center website, March 17, 2003)
Note: In 2001, PETA contributed $1,500 to the North American Earth Liberation
Front (ELF) "to support their program activities," according to an IRS form filed with the state Attorney General's Office. The money paid for ELF spokesman Craig Rosenbraugh to travel to Washington, D.C., to testify at a congressional hearing, said PETA spokeswoman Lisa Lange.

"Getting arrested is fun." Dan Mathews, PETA's director of international campaigns (Orange County Weekly (CA), July 25 - 31, 2003)

"I will be the last person to condemn ALF (the Animal Liberation Front)." Ingrid Newkirk, (The New York Daily News, December 7, 1997)

"If an 'animal abuser' were killed in a research lab firebombing, I would unequivocally support that, too." Gary Yourofsky, founder of Animals Deserve Adequate Protection Today and Tomorrow (ADAPTT), now employed as PETA's national lecturer

"A burning building doesn't help melt people's hearts, but times change and tactics, I'm sure, have to change with them. If you choose to carry out ALF-style actions, I ask you to please not say more than you need to, to think carefully who you trust, to learn all you can about how to behave if arrested, and so to try to live to fight another day." Ingrid Newkirk, (ALF quarterly Bite Back, February, 2003)

"If we really believe that animals have the same right to be free from pain and suffering at our hands, then, of course we're going to be, as a movement, blowing things up and smashing windows. I think it's a great way to bring about animal liberation. I think it would be great if all of the fast-food outlets, slaughterhouses, these laboratories, and the banks that fund them exploded tomorrow. I think it's perfectly appropriate for people to take bricks and toss them through the windows. Hallelujah to the people who are willing to do it." Bruce Friedrich, PETA's director of Vegan Outreach, (Animal Rights Conference, 2001)

"Arson, property destruction, burglary and theft are 'acceptable crimes' when used for the animal cause." Alex Pacheco, Co-founder of PETA

"I wish we all would get up and go into the labs and take the animals out or burn them down." Ingrid Newkirk, (National Animal Rights Convention June 27, 1997)

"[I see] a spark of hope in every broken window, every torched police car." Joshua Harper, ALF and ELF activist, recipient of PETA funds, (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, June 18, 2001)
Note: In 2000, PETA gave $5,000 to the Josh Harper Support Committee.

"Our nonviolent tactics are not as effective. We ask nicely for years and get nothing. Someone makes a threat, and it works." Ingrid Newkirk, (US News and World Report, April 8, 2002)

"I openly hope that it (hoof-and-mouth disease) comes here. It will bring economic harm only for those who profit from giving people heart attacks and giving animals a concentration camp-like existence. It would be good for animals, good for human health and good for the environment." Ingrid Newkirk, (ABC News interview April 2, 2001)

Nick

We're cute!

I don't do much with Rottweiler rescue these days, but occasionally I will go to shelters in the area and bring dogs to the state rescue. I've always liked evaluating dogs and doing transports, but I think next weekend will be especially entertaining. These are the dogs, plus another two year old, that I'll be bringing to the rescue...



Don't worry, I'll be sure to take some more pictures...

Nick