For the last several years, Animal Rights groups such as PeTA have sought to eliminate the relationship between humans and their companion animals.  To this end, many pieces of legislation have been attempted in many states; California is often the proving ground for these attempts.  In 2004, the AR people tried to pass SB1548, limiting the practice of cropping and docking that have historically been performed on many breeds.  This year, 2005, the legislation is AB418, Assemblyman Paul Koretz's bill that would make cropping of ears a crime punishable by fines up to $10,000.00.  To fight this, the purebred dog fancy has  taken several approaches.  As always, letters of opposition from constituents are needed, as well as letters from various clubs.  This year, however, there is a newly-formed alliance with NAIA Trust, the National Animal Interest Alliance Trust. From the NAIA Trust website, here is what they do:

The NAIA Trust is a nonprofit IRS 501 (c) 4 organization established to promote responsible animal care and ownership and reasonable laws, policies and regulations to protect animals and the people who care for them.

NAIA Trust provides information about animals and animal husbandry, animals in education and entertainment, scientific advances in animal and human medicine, wildlife management, hunting and fishing and pet ownership. It also sounds the alarm about threats to animals and to the human-animal bond caused by people who mistreat animals and by animal rights and ecological zealots. NAIA Trust counters the effects and misinformation of radical elements in the animal rights and environmental movements through education, legislation and the courts.

The Trust also advances the well-being of animals and the rights of responsible animal owners by promoting reasonable animal control laws that target irresponsible owners while protecting humane practices by

The NAIA Trust needs your support to fulfill its mission on behalf of animals, animal owners, and animal interests. Please browse our position statements , and, if you like what you see, join now . If you need more information, contact patti@naiatrust.org

As you can imagine, this is a HUGE task, and Patti Strand, the director of NAIA, is working closely with the AKC, the DPCA and other breed clubs to try to stop unreasonable laws concerning our beloved animals.

For more information on AB418, please go to my AB418 web page.

NAIA is a 501(c)(3) organization.  It represents many animal interests.  One of its primary functions is to EDUCATE.  In other words, it can say, "This is a good bill or this is a bad bill because...."  It can print up materials to educate people about the specifics of certain procedures and        programs.

NAIA Trust is a 501(c)(4) organization. It also represents many animal interests.  Its charter provides for significant lobbying efforts.  Because of this it can go a bit further and say "Do not vote for this candidate because he/she supports this type of legislation."

FIDO is an Internal Revenue Code Section 527 Political Action Committee.  It represents the dog owner community.  It functions at the Federal level.  There is more flexibility in the ways its monies can be used.  (Targeting the tax exempt status of PETA comes to mind as a logical goal of FIDO. )

All 3 of these organizations must operate within the boundaries of their organization and the laws under which they exist, however, what one  cannot do, the others can.  They all exist independently, but are all interested in advancing the same goals regarding dog ownership.  They all need to be supported.

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