August 20, 2007 I cannot believe that I have not posted in almost a month, but the days have flown and we have been busy.  We are getting ready for hearings on Ohio Senate Bill 173.  Had the opportunity to meet for an hour with the sponsor of the bill, Senator Cates, who seemed to listen to concerns.  We are hoping that we can change the language of the bill so that reputable show breeders are not penalized.  Al and I went to up state New York for his brother's 80th birthday and family reunion.  We stayed in a lovely bed and breakfast in Trumansburg on Lake Cuyaga. We went sailing on the lake; for me it was a first to sail on a big boat.  I even got to steer or whatever you call it.  I can see why my husband and his brother are so addicted to sailing.  I jjust came back from judging in Massachusetts.  Had a great time. While we were in New York, we fell in love with the area and decided that Trumansburg would be an ideal place to relocate.  However, the facts about the winters dissuaded us from really considering up state New York but our discussion of relocating led to our really considering our desires for our future.  We presently have a beautiful small farm that is ideal for raising dogs and having horses.  However, the work load to keep up the property is enormous for the both of us.  So we have decided to sell our farm and relocate in the central Ohio area where we both have lived for many years.  We will still have our Cavaliers and I will still breed on a limited basis and still judge, but my obsession with showing dogs must come to an end.  I have a few puppies now who I think can really contribute to the breed when they grow up, so the Rattlebridge Cavaliers will continue for my own pleasure and the wonderful owners who seek us out for beloved pets.  I just do not want to live for showing and winning.  We have done everything in Cavaliers I have wanted to do and it is time to rest a bit. For our selection of our own pets for the future, we have just had a litter we have planned for a very long time.  Using frozen semen from our foundation sire, Aust. Best in Show, Canadian and CKCSC/USA champion Werrington Buoyancy of Rattlebridge we have had a wholecolor litter out of Harana Star Appeal.  I have long wanted to put a little Bounce back in my life especially since losing my beloved Bandi, a Bounce son, last year.  Al is now 78.  We simply need a smaller property.  Life changes and we must change with it.  I will continue to keep up this blog as I enjoy doing so.  So stay tuned to see what the future will bring us as we shift our goals a bit.  July 22, 2007--new champion In very limited showing and with several major reserves to his credit, Ch. Rattlebridge Up In Lights, our wonderful ruby boy, finished his championship yesterday in Houston the home of his co owner and my dearest friend Hazel Arnold who died last December.  "Marquee" is also owned by my buddy Margaret Valentine.  He was shown by Lenny Brown, who is Jim Moses' assistant.  Jim and I have been friends for too many years to count.  I appreciate his continued support and help.  I was 63 last week and Al was 78.  We cannot breed and show dogs forever; thanks to our friends, we have been able to continue as long as we have.  Until next time . . . July 22, 2007--dog fighting In our rural county, dog fighting has been a long time concern. It is barbaric to be sure and goes on in many venues from rural areas like ours, to deep country, in well to do areas hidden by security fences, and of course in urban areas.  Dog fighting, like cock fighting, is barbaric and in fact goes back to less civilized times. Dogs have been used to bait bulls, bait bear, and fight each other since very early times.  In fact some breeds were developed from these earlier uses of dogs.  One would think that in our society today, such horrible games would not be taking place, but then one would think that mankind would no longer be practicing genocide and waging war.  The veneer of civilization is indeed thin. We all know how our country seems to revere celebrities and watch and sometimes copy every thing a celebrity does.  I feel celebrities have a real responsibility especially to our youth to set examples for moral and lawful behavior.  Many celebrities fail in setting a rightful example; headlines center around drugs and rehab, public fights and disturbances, outlandish behavior and so forth. For Michael Vick, a big time NFL celebrity, hero and role model to our sports crazy youth, to be brought up on charges on a felony so heinous as dog fighting, is not to be condoned in any fashion.  In this country, one is innocent until proven guilty; Michael Vick may be innocent, but dog fighting is so horrific and ugly, that Mr. Vick should be suspended from the NFL until his innocence is proven.  The case against Mr. Vick seems solid. Other athletes have been suspended pending investigations and so should Mr. Vick.  If you feel the same way as I do, let the NFL know how you feel.  Dog fighting is immoral. Please read the following letters to the NFL (permission to cross post has been given)from the Doberman Pinscher Club of America at    http://dpca.org/Legisltv/documents/Roger_Goodell_Letter_July_20.pdf and the American Kennel Club letter which I applaud is below: RONALD H. MENAKER                            DENNIS B. SPRUNG Chairman of the Board president and chief executive officer July 20, 2007 Roger Goodell Commissioner, National Football League 280 Park Avenue New York, NY 10017 Dear Commissioner Goodell: As the Board Chairman and President & CEO of a 123-year-old sport-governing body, we are very much aware of the conflicting pressures you face in the matter of the Michael Vick indictment. Michael Vick is not only a nationally known superstar, but he is also the face of the National Football League?s Atlanta franchise. The Atlanta Falcons will not take any unilateral action on the matter because of the negative impact both in their financial liability and their on-field performance. The buck thus stops with you as NFL Commissioner. It is easy to take the position that you will just let the legal process play out, and that he is innocent until proven guilty, which is what the NFL and the Falcons, as well as the players association, have done to date. However, the nature of the crimes described in detail in the indictment in this case are so heinous and repulsive that they should be strongly condemned by any civilized person. This activity is anathema to everything the American Kennel Club stands for, and the millions of AKC registrants and competitors, many of whom have been NFL fans, unilaterally condemn it and those who perpetrated it. It is common for state laws to recommend the immediate suspension of a teacher when charged with certain crimes. To acknowledge the severity of Mr. Vick?s charges, we urge his immediate suspension. Respectfully, Ronald H. Menaker Dennis B. Sprung Chairman President & Chief Executive Officer July 16, 2007 Update on California Proposed Legislation  AB 1634:  the bill went to the Senate Committee. The hearing on the bill was most interesting.  Instead of having the bill go down in committee, 5 to 0, the sponsor of the bill Assembly member, Lloyd Levine, pulled the bill rather than see it go down in defeat. By pulling the bill, Levine opened the door to reintroduce the bill in the next Legislative session.  John Hamil, past president of the California Veterinary Medical Association, testified as following: "Twenty five years of experience in trying to find solutions to the problem of animal relinquishments and euthanasia leads me to request that you reject this ill conceived bill which can not solve these problems and, more likely, will worsen them.” The California Veterinary Medical Association reversed its original support of 1634 to come out against the bill.  The California and national dog community came together to have our side heard in opposition to 1634.  Too long has our dog community ignored all the warning signals of Peta and the other animal rights organizations.  The bottom line to Peta’s beliefs is that all animals are equal to people and should not be owned by people.  Since the beginning of mankind, animals have served us and worked with us in partnership.  Bill Hemby, Chairman of PetPAC, said in his letter of thanks and congratulations to the PetPAC supporters and opponents of 1634: “We are grateful for your support of PetPAC and thrilled with the outcome. It was an honor to testify against the bill today, and I was especially pleased to enter into the record an additional 742 organizations opposed to the measure. PetPAC has worked around the clock advocating against AB 1634. Coming down to the homestretch, our television commercials took our story to millions of Californians and bringing Lassie to the Capitol stole the hearts of everyone in Sacramento. We will continue to grow our coalition and organize our efforts against opponents who for months have shown more enthusiasm for personal attacks and misleading the public than working towards making good public policy.”   For a look at a video celebrating the relationship of people to their pets, please view the video Stand By Me:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE-3URJrD9A   Susan Van Luchene aptly sums up what happened at the hearing:  Please do watch the video of the hearing which is most interesting. http://www.calchannel.com/search.php?date=071107&source=senate&type=committee&title=&Search=Submit ”If you didn’t listen to the hearing, go watch the video. URL above.  Select “Local Government” It doesn’t include the supporters …. It begins with Dr. John Hamil, past president of the CVMA. I am not sure if he was the first speaker in opposition or not as I was not physically present myself. This is quite an eye-opener.  It is obvious that Senator Kehoe had been set up by Levine to give him some openings to make some points. The astonishing thing to me is that there seems to be NO understanding that the “problem” can be helped in many non-coercive ways. The  only approach Levine and his supporters (like the shelter workers who commented) can think of is to make punitive laws and fines. One thing I think we need to know is how many spay-castrate clinics and mobile vans there actually are. The distortions in the numbers that Levine has used in other areas to support his arguments, render his vague generalities regarding the availability of low cost spay & neuter to be questionable at best. One shelter person asked why vouchers aren’t being used…well, is that because people want their dogs to be “macho” or because it’s difficult to get to a veterinarian or clinic …. As I said, this is very telling and certainly merits your time to watch it.” Without the efforts of the American Kennel Club,the National Animal Interest Alliance, the California Dog Owners Association, PetPAC, and other groups, plus many, many show breeders, 1634 would not have been pulled in committee.  We cannot let our guard down, but now we know what we are facing as we fight the anti breeding movement. In Ohio, hearings on SB 173 will begin in September and we must be ready. June 26, 2007 I attended the first hearing of the Senate Committee for Ohio Senate Bill 173 (the Puppy Mill Bill) today. This hearing was for proponent testimony only; the Legislature is going on summer break next week, so opponent testimony will be scheduled once the Legislature resumes in the fall. Three proponents of the bill testified vividly against puppy mills. Two senators, Mumper and Cates (the Senate sponsor of the Bill), both have dogs from puppy mills and are committed to passing 173. As the Bill stands, it regulates breeders who have more than eight breeding dogs, stud dogs or brood bitches,  who have each produced a litter in the previous year; those breeders then fall under the  the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture requiring breeders to be fingerprinted, have background checks, pay licensing fees, and procure a vendor’s license. For example, in 2006 there must be nine different dogs who produced a litter; if a dog has not produced a litter in the previous year, that dog does not count toward the number of eight. While the Bill is not all bad, it does allow the state of Ohio real control and leaves it to dog wardens, operating as agents under the department of Agriculture to enforce the Bill. Dog wardens are seldom trained in animal husbandry and breeding practices; moreover, some dog wardens may not be reasonable in enforcing the Bill. This Bill gives dog wardens also the power of of kennel dogs for infringements of the Bill; under the Ohio Revised Code, only local humane society humane agents can seize a dog because of neglect or abuse. This Bill also gives the director of Agriculture’s authorized representative the power to enter a kennel facility without prior notification to “inspect and investigate and to examine and copy records.” If the breeder refuses to allow the representative to inspect premises and/or records, the breeder then will be required to pay the inspector’s salary for the number of days that the representative is not allowed to do his or her job or inspection. The legitimate breeders will easily be found; I do not think that all the puppy mills, especially the Amish who keep their dogs in dark barns without being seen, will be so easy to find and inspect.. There must be a way to develop criteria to distinguish legitimate show breeders from the commercial breeders and puppy mills who sell to pet shops; meanwhile, we show breeders must find a way to work with the Legislature to change the language in the Bill or if necessary defeat the Bill. As previously stated, the Bill has merit for Ohio has many, many horrific puppy mills that desperately need to be shut down. While there were only a few breeders at the hearing, not counting an Amish contingent, the hearing was called with no lead time to arrange to be there. We will be better organized next time I hope. I reiterate, in my opinion this Bill as written gives too much power to the state. I do hope that the Senate and then the House allows us to work with them to change the language of the Bill.   June 21, 2007 "When it rains, it pours the old adage goes."  At this point the adage would not be referring to the drought in Ohio, but to the amount of anti breeding legislation being introduced in our country. Ohio Senate Bill 173, the puppymill bill, will have a formal hearing this coming Tuesday with bill sponsors and opposition giving testimony.  This bill is an awful bill.  Written to shut down the Amish puppymills, the bill will effectively stop the small reputable show breeders from breeding.  Commercial breeders will really not be affected; they will get their vendors' licenses, pay the fees to do high volume breeding, and raise their dogs like livestock under the regulations of the Ohio Department of Agriculture.  While the spirit of requiring better housing and care for the puppy mill dogs, the bill lumps all breeders together over a certain number of breeding animals which includes brood bitches and stud dogs.  If one would have a stud dog, that dog could not be bred more than once a year.  So a healthy dog could effectively not be  used by other breeders to improve their dogs.  We presently have four dogs who have been MRI'd clear of Syringomlyelia who really could not be used as I read the bill.  I am attaching the link to the bill and to the list of senators.  PLEASE, THOSE OF YOU IN OHIO, AND THOSE IN OTHER STATES, CONTACT YOUR SENATOR OR ALL SENATORS NOW IN OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL.  Just look on the link to the Ohio Government website to read the bill and find the list of senators.  Please become involved. The site for SB 173: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=127_SB_173  June 20,2007 The fight against California AB1634 is ongoing.  Below is a summary of what the passage would mean to reputable breeders of purebred dogs.  Kim Meredith-Cavanna is a well known breeder and judge who has written the best explanation I have seen on the ramifications of the passage of AB1634. Also below the summary is a list of California Senators. Please fax your opposition to this bill.  You do not have to be a resident of California to fax opposition to this bill.  Please, please donate money to the Concerned Dog Owners of California which is mentioned in the article. The website is www.cdoca.org   From Kim Meredith-Cavanna: "You must read this bill in its entirety and its many amendments. It is vitally important that every Californian in the dog fancy read and understand this bill. If you do not live in California, you should read the bill and understand it, because its coming your way! The general public is duped..... It appears there is an exemption when indeed there is none. There is an exemption for "breeders" until 2009 and then there are NONE. So that means after 2009, if you enter a dog show and your name and address is in the catalog, they can come to you and FINE you for $500. You will be breaking a law for owning an intact animal. Prior to 2009 you will pay a  $500 (per animal)  "exemption tax"  to keep them "intact." He has also recently added an amendment that you may now be "blessed" with having one litter per year. So if you are paying $1500 per year to keep three females intact, lucky you, you get to breed one of them! There are NO provisions for stud dogs, by the way. We all know that PETA and AR activists have created havoc at dog shows in the past. Just wait until this bill passes. Don't be naive, it most likely will pass the Senate. What you need to understand is that the AR people and many of the general public see the legitimate breeders as "the bad guys". We are evil in their eyes. Are you going to enter your dogs in a show and have your name and address published? After 2009 you will not be owning any animal that is not spayed or neutered. It is not clear what will happen if animal control comes to your home and finds intact animals that you are not paying an "exemption tax" on..... It will be up to the local animal control offices to determine. Pretty scary thought. PLEASE READ THIS BILL!!!!  All of us need to educate ourselves. Write letters! Send faxes! Donate money to help us fight this. I am a member of COD www.cdoca.org and we have hired a full time lobbyist. CDOC is made up of "real" dog people. Exhibitors, judges, handlers, breeders. We need donations. If you can donate time, we have lots of jobs for you! Please do not think "some one else" will do it, because they will not. The threat of not having the AKC show held in Long Beach and loss of revenue is no longer an issue we can use as leverage. We have a lot of work ahead of us." AND THE LIST OF SENATORS TO FAX OR CALL:  (FAXING IS BEST, EMAILS TOO EASILY DELETED) Tom Harman State Capitol, Room 2052 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 651-4035 Fax: (916) 445-9263 950 South Coast Dr., Ste 240 Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Phone: (714) 957-4555 Fax: (714) 957-4560 Tom Mc Clintock Capitol Office District Office State Capitol, Room 3070 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 651-4019 Fax: (916) 324-7544  223 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Suite 400 Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 Phone: (805) 494-8808 Sheila Kuehl Capitol Office State Capitol, Room 5108 Sacramento,  CA  95814 District Office (Los Angeles) Phone (916) 651-4023 Fax (916) 324-4863 10951 West Pico Blvd. Suite #202 Los Angeles,  CA  90064 District Office (Oxnard) Phone (310) 441-9084 Fax (310) 441-0724 300 West Third Street 4th Floor Oxnard,  CA  93030 Phone (805) 486-3776 Fax (805) 486-6865 Carole Migden Capitol Office State Capitol, Room 5114 Sacramento,  CA  95814 Phone (916) 651-4003 Fax (916) 445-4722 Marin/San Rafael District Office Marin Civic Center 3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 425 San Rafael,  CA  94903 (415) 479-6612 Fax (415) 479-1146 San Francisco District Office 455 Golden Gate Ave Suite 14800 San Francisco,  CA  94102 Phone (415) 557-1300 Fax (415) 557-1252 Gloria Negrete McLeod Capitol Office State Capitol, Room 2059 Sacramento,  CA  95814 San Bernardino Office Phone (916) 651-4032 Fax (916) 445-0128 San Bernardino Office 357 West Second Street, Suite 1 San Bernardino,  CA  92401 Phone (909) 381-3832 Fax (909)381-0739 Montclair Office 4959 Palo Verde Street, Suite 100B Montclair,  CA  91763 Phone (909) 621-2783 Fax (909) 621--7483 Jenny Oropeza Capitol Office State Capitol, Room 4074 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 651-4028 Fax: (916) 323-60562512 Artesia Blvd., #200 District Office Redondo Beach, CA 90278-3279 Phone: (310) 318-6994 Fax: (310) 318-6733 Alex Padilla Capitol Office State Capitol, Room 4032 Sacramento,  CA  95814 Phone (916) 651-4020 Fax (916) 324-6645 District Office 6150 Van Nuys Blvd., #400 Van Nuys,  CA  91401 Phone (818) 901-5588 Fax (818) 901-5562 Don Perata Capitol Office State Capitol, Room 205 Sacramento,  CA  95814 Phone (916) 651-4009 Fax (916) 327-1997 District Office 1515 Clay Street, #2202 Oakland,  CA  94612 Phone (510) 286-1333 Fax (510)286-3885 Press Office State Capitol, Room 500 Sacramento,  CA  95814 Phone (916) 651-4188 Fax (916) 323-2277 Mark Ridley-Thomas Capitol Office State Capitol, Room 4061 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 651-4026 Fax: (916) 445-8899 Los Angeles Office Administrative Offices East 700 State Dr. Los Angeles, CA 90037 Phone: (213)745-6656 Fax: (213) 745-6722 Bob Margett State Capitol, Room 3082 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 651-4029 Fax: (916) 324-0922 2605 E. Foothill Blvd. #A Glendora, CA 91740 Phone: (626) 914-5046 Fax: (626) 914-8976 Abel Maldonado State Capitol, Room 4082 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916-651-4015 Fax: 916-445-8081 100 Paseo de San Antonio, #206 San Jose, CA 95113 Phone: 408-277-9461 Fax: 408-277-9464 590 Calle Principal Monterey, CA 93940 Phone: 831-657-6315 Fax: 831-657-6320 1356 Marsh Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Phone: 805-549-3784 Fax: 805-549-3779 Michael Machado Capitol Office State Capitol, Room 5066 Sacramento,  CA  95814 Phone (916) 651-4005 Fax (916) 323-2304 Vacaville Office 1010 Nut Tree Rd., #185 Vacaville,  CA  95687 Phone (707) 454-3808 Fax (707) 454-3811 Sacramento Office 1020 N Street, Suite 506 Sacramento,  CA  95814 Phone (916) 323-4306 Fax (916) 323-2596 Stockton Office 31 E. Channel St., #440 Stockton,  CA  95202 Phone (209) 948-7930 Fax (209) 948-7993 Gloria Romero (Majority Leader) Capitol Office State Capitol, Room 313 Sacramento,  CA  95814 Phone:  (916) 651-4024 Fax:      (916) 445-0485 District Office 149 S. Mednik Ave Suite 202 Los Angeles,  CA  90022 Phone:  (323) 881-0100 Fax:      (323) 881-0101 George Runner State Capitol, Room 4066 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916-651-4017 Fax: 916-445-4662 848 W. Lancaster Boulevard, Suite 101 Lancaster, CA 93534 Phone: 661-729-6232 Fax: 661-729-1683 Victorville City Hall 14343 Civic Drive, First Floor Victorville, CA 92392 Phone: 760-843-8414 Fax: 760-843-8348 Santa Clarita City Hall 23920 Valencia Blvd., Suite 250 Santa Clarita, CA 91355 Phone: 661-286-1471 Fax: 661-286-2543 Jack Scott Capitol Office State Capitol, Room 2082 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 651-4021 Fax: (916) 324-7543 District Office 215 N. Marengo Avenue, Ste. 185 Pasadena, CA 91101 Phone: (626) 683-0282/(818) 558-7940 Fax: (626) 793-5803 Joe Simitian Palo Alto District Office 160 Town & Country Village Palo Alto, CA 94301 Phone: (650) 688-6384 Fax: (650) 688-6370 map Santa Cruz District Office 701 Ocean Street Room 318A Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Phone: (831) 425-0401 Fax: (831) 425-5124 map Capitol Office State Capitol, Room 2080 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 651-4011 Fax: (916) 323-4529 Darrell Steinburg Capitol Office State Capitol, Room 4035 Sacramento,  CA  95814 Phone (916) 651-4006 Fax (916) 323-2263 District Office 1020 N Street, #576 Sacramento,  CA  95814 Phone (916) 651-1529 Fax (916) 327-8754 Tom Torlakson Capitol Office State Capitol, Room 5050 Sacramento,  CA  95814 Phone (916) 651-4007 Fax (916) 445-2527 District Offices 2801 Concord Boulevard Concord,  CA  94519 Phone (925) 602-6593 Fax (925) 602-6598 West County Satellite Office 111 Civic Drive Hercules,  CA  94547 Phone (800) 859-9900 No Fax Joint Governmental Center 420 West 3rd Street Antioch,  CA  94509 Phone (925) 754-1461 Fax (925) 602-6598 Edward Vincent Capitol Office State Capitol, Room 5052 Sacramento,  CA  95814 Phone (916) 651-4025 Fax (916) 445-3712 District Office 1 Manchester Blvd., #600 Inglewood,  CA  90301 Phone (310) 412-0393 Fax (310) 412-0996 Patricia Wiggins Capitol Office State Capitol, Room 4081 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 651-4002 Fax: (916) 323-6958 District Office (Eureka) 710 E Street, #150 Eureka, CA 95501 Phone: (707) 445-6508 Fax: (707) 445-6511 District Office (Napa) 1040 Main St., #205 Napa, CA 94559 Phone: (707) 224-1990 Fax: (707) 224-1992 District Office (Santa Rosa) 50 D St., #120A Santa Rosa, CA 95404 Phone: (707) 576-2771 Fax: (707) 576-2773 District Office (Ukiah) 200 South School Street P.O. Box 785 Ukiah, CA 95482 Phone: (707) 468-8914 Fax: (707) 468-8931 District Office (Vallejo) 444 Georgia Street Vallejo, CA 94590 Phone: (707) 648-5312 Fax: (707) 648-5383 Mark Wyland State Capitol #4066 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 651-4038 Fax: (916) 446-7382 27126-A Paseo Espada, #1621 San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 Phone (949) 489-8354 Fax (949) 489-8354 1910 Palomar Point Way, #105 Carlsbad, CA 92008 Phone: (760) 931-2455 Fax: (760) 931-2477 Leland Yee Capitol Office State Capitol, Room 4048 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 651-4008 Fax (916) 327- 2186 San Francisco Office 455 Golden Gate Avenue, Suite 14200 San Francisco, CA 94102 Phone: (415) 557-7857 Fax (415) 557-7864 San Mateo Office 400 South El Camino Real, Suite 630 San Mateo, CA 94402 Phone: (650) 340-8840 Fax (650) 340-1661 Alan Lowenthal Capitol Office State Capitol, Room 2032 Sacramento,  CA  95814 Phone (916) 651-4027 Fax (916) 327-327-9113 District Office (Paramount) 16401 Paramount Blvd Paramount,  CA  90723 Phone (562) 529-6659 Fax (562) 529-6662 District Office (Long Beach) 115 Pine Ave, Suite 430 Long Beach,  CA  90802 Phone (562) 495-4766 Fax (562) 495-1876   Christine Kehoe Capitol Office State Capitol, Room 4038 Sacramento,  CA  95814 Phone (916) 651-4039 Fax (916) 327-2188 San Diego Office 2445 5th Ave. Suite 200 San Diego,  CA  92101 Phone (619) 645-3133 Fax (619) 645-3144 Dennis Hollinsworth State Capitol, Room 5064 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 651-4036 Fax: (916) 447-9008 27555 Ynez Road, #204 Temecula, CA 92591 Phone: (951) 676-1020 Fax: (951) 676-1030 1870 Cordell Court, #107 El Cajon, CA 92020 Phone: (619) 596-3136 Fax: (619) 596-3140 Dean Florez Capitol Office State Capitol, Room 5061 Sacramento,  CA  95814 Phone (916) 651-4016 Fax (916) 327-5989 Bakersfield Office 1800 30th Street, Suite 350 Bakersfield,  CA  93301 Phone (661) 395-2620 Fax (661) 395-2022 Fresno Office 2550 Mariposa Mall, Suite 2016 Fresno,  CA  93721 Phone (559) 264-3070 Fax (559) 445-6506 Robert Dutton State Capitol, Room 5094 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 651-4031 Fax: (916) 327-2272 8577 Haven Avenue, Suite 210 Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 Phone: (909) 466-4180 Fax: (909) 466-4185 3560 University Ave, Suite B Riverside, CA 92501 Phone: (951) 715-2625 Fax : (951) 715-2627 Denise Moreno Ducheny State Capitol, Room 5035 Sacramento,  CA  95814 Phone (916) 651-4040 Fax (916)327-3522 Chula Vista District Office 637 3rd Ave., Suite A-1 Chula Vista,  CA  91910 Phone (619) 409-7690 Fax (619) 409-7688 El Centro District Office 1224 State St., Suite D El Centro,  CA  92243 Phone (760) 335-3442 Fax (760) 335-3444 Coachella District Office 53990 Enterprise Way, Suite 14 Coachella,  CA  92236 Phone (760) 398-6442 Fax (760) 398-6470 Jeff Denham State Capitol, Room 3076 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916-651-4012 Fax: 916-445-0773 1640 N Street, Ste. 210 Merced, California 95340 Phone: 209-726-5495 Fax: 209-726-5498 1231 8th Street, Ste. 175 Modesto, CA 95354 Phone: 209-577-6592 Fax: 209-577-4963 369 Main Street, #208 Salinas, CA 93901 Phone: 831-769-8040 Fax: 831-769-8086 Dave Cox State Capitol, Room 2068 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916-651-4001 Fax: 916-324-2680 2140 Professional Dr., #140 Roseville, CA 95661 Phone: 916-783-8232 Fax: 916-783-5487 33C Broadway Jackson, CA 95642 Phone: 209-223-9140 No Fax 2094 East Main Street Quincy, CA 95971 Phone: 530-283-3437 Fax: 530-283-3439 Lou Correa State Capitol, Room 4062 Sacramento,  CA  95814 Phone (916) 651-4034 No Fax District Office 2323 N. Broadway, Ste. 302 Santa Ana,  CA Phone (714) 558-4400 Fax (714) 558)-4111 Ellen Corbett State Capitol, Room 3092 Sacramento,  CA  95814 Phone (916) 651-4010 Fax (916) 327-2433 District Office 1057 MacArthur Blvd. Suite 206 San Leandro,  CA  94577 Phone (510) 577-2310 Fax (510) 577-2308 Dave Cogdill State Capitol, Room 3048 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 651-4014 Fax: (916) 327-3523 4974 E. Clinton, #100 Fresno, CA 93727 Phone: (559) 253-7122 Fax: (559) 253-7127 1308 W. Main Street, Suite C Ripon, CA 95366 Phone: (209) 599-8540 Fax: (209) 599-8547 Gilbert Cedillo Capitol Office State Capitol, Room 5100 Sacramento,  CA  95814 Phone (916) 651-4022 Fax (916) 327-8817 District Office 617 South Olive Street Suite 710 Los Angeles,  CA  90014 Phone (213) 612-9566 Fax (213) 612-9591 Ron Calderon State Capitol, Room 5080 Sacramento,  CA  95814 Phone:  (916) 651-4030 Fax:  (916) 327-8755 District Office 400 n. Montebello Blvd., Suite 100 Montebello, CA 90640 Phone:  (323) 890-2790 Fax:  (323) 890-2795 Jim Battin State Capitol, Room 3060 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 651-4037 Fax: (916) 327-2187 Palm Desert 73-710 Fred Waring Dr., #112 Palm Desert, CA 92260 Phone: (760) 568-0408 Fax (760) 568- 1501 Moreno Valley 13800 Heacock Suite C-122 Moreno Valley, CA 925553 Phone: (951)653-9502 Fax (951) 653-9524 Roy Ashburn State Capitol, Room 3063 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916-651-4018 Fax: 916-322-3304 5001 California Ave., Room 105 Bakersfield, CA 93309 Phone: 661-323-0443 Fax: 661-323-0446 Elaine Alquist Capitol Office State Capitol, Room 5080 Sacramento,  CA  95814 Phone(916) 651-4013 Fax: (916) 324-0283 San Jose Office 100 Paseo de San Antonio, #209 San Jose,  CA  95113 Phone (408) 286-8318 Fax: (408) 286-2338 Dick Ackerman State Capitol, Room 305 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 651-4033 Fax: (916) 445-9754 17821 E. 17th St., Ste 180 Tustin, California 92780 Phone: (714) 573-1853 Fax: (714) 573-1859 Sam Aanestad State Capitol, Room 2054 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916-651-4004 Fax: 916-445-7750 200 Providence Mine, #108 Nevada City, CA 95959 Phone: 530-470-1846 Chico: (530) 895-6088 Colusa: (530) 458-4161 Redding: (530) 225-31420, 2007 June 12, 2007 Melissa Charbonneau, new owner of Rattlebridge True Spirit, has been visiting us since she was twelve years old to learn about Cavaliers.  Melissa is now sixteen and spends many of her school vacations with us.  She is vitally interested in Cavaliers and wishes to breed them when she is finished with med school, a goal she will fulfill as she is a top student. She is beginning to  show "Spirit."  She has waited four years for a dog from us and her little Spirit is the perfect dog for her. Picture of Melissa and Spirit at the National:       June 11, 2007 This past weekend Rattlebridge Dawn's Early Light finished her championship with a huge five point major.  She is the third Bombastic/Lola progeny to finish her championship. Shown by Julie Mullinax for her first major and finished by Jim Moses and his assistant Lenny Brown, "Spangle" is a lovely girl who will be bred in the future. June 5, 2007 Today AB 1634 was passed and retained which means it is tabled until later in the week because evidently Levine, the bill's sponsor, did not have enough votes to pass it.  If it is not voted on by Friday, the bill will not appear again until next session.  It is interesting to note that Levine was not available today. The battle is not won yet, but the opposition is finally being heard. Now on another note, Ch. Rattlebridge Delta Dawn went to the World Show winning Best of Breed two of the four days.  Delta was co bred with my great friend, Margaret Valentine, and is co owned by another great friend, Sherri Meyer.  Delta was shown by Sherri's lovely daughter Nicole Newkirk. Way to go!  Judge is Mr. Norm Patton. June 4, 2007   The battle in California continues to heat up.  The latest news from Susan Van Luchene follows.  If you live in California please help oppose AB 1634 by reading below and contacting your Assembly Member in opposition.  Please.   Susan Van Luchene:   Here is the list of Assembly Members  that are still undecided.   The good news is that several of these have made up their mind to oppose this draconian piece of legislation!! In calling this morning I discovered that Assembly Member Anna Marie Caballero will OPPOSE, Assembly Member Cathleen Galgiani will OPPOSE, Assembly Member Fiona MA is opposed at present (this means we cannot let up on her!!), ad Assembly Member Nicole Parra will OPPOSE!   This means we  are having an IMACT and we CAN DEFEAT AB 1634 --- Please. Please, EVERYONE get on the phone and call every one of these Assembly Members today to let them know You OPPOSE AB1634 as Amended 5-31-07.  (new amendment date, used to be 5-9) to make sure you get the point across you READ the amendments and STILL oppose this.   My gut tells me a few of the Assembly Members WE STILL NEED TO CONVINCE  are Julia Brownley, Charles Calderon, Mike Davis,, Betty Karnette and Tony Mendoza --- make these your SPECIAL TARGETS!!   Please don't forget to register you opposition, as well as your thanks for their opposition, with Assembly Members, Marie Caballero, Cathleen Galgiani, Fiona Ma, and Nicole Parra Many thanks! Susan Van Luchene   Permission to cross post --- cross posting is strongly encouraged!! Here is the list:   ASSEMBLYMEMBER JULIA BROWNLEY Phone: 916-319-2041 and 818-596-4141 Fax: 916-319-2141 and 818-596-4150   ASSEMBLYMEMBER ANNA MARIE CABALLERO Phone: 916-319-2028 and 831-759-8676 Fax: 916-319-2128 and 831-759-2961   ASSEMBLYMEMBER CHARLES CALDERON Phone: 916-319-2058 and 562-692-5858 Fax: 916-319-2158 and 562-695-5852   ASSEMBLYMEMBER MIKE DAVIS Phone: 916-319-2048 and 213-744-2111 Fax: 916-319-2148 and 213-744-2122   ASSEMBLYMEMBER CATHLEEN GALGIANI Phone: 916-319-2017 and 209-948-7479 and 209-726-5465 Fax: 916-319-2117   ASSEMBLYMEMBER BETTY KARNETTE Phone: 916-319-2054 and 562-997-0794 and 310-548-6420 Fax: 916-319-2154 and 562-997-0799   ASSEMBLYMEMBER FIONA MA Phone: 916-319-2012 and 415-557-2312 Fax: 916-319-2112 and 415-557-1178   ASSEMBLYMEMBER TONY MENDOZA Phone: 916-319-2056 and 562-864-5600 Fax: 916-319-2156 and 562-863-7466   ASSEMBLYMEMBER NICOLE PARRA Phone: 916-319-2030 and 661-334-3745 and 559-585-7170 Fax: 916-319-2130 and 661-334-3796 and 559-585-7175   ASSEMBLYMEMBER ANTHONY PORTANTINO Phone: 916-319-2044 and 626-577-9944 Fax: 916-319-2144 and 626-577-2868   ASSEMBLYMEMBER LAURA RICHARDSON Phone: 916-319-2055 and 562-989-2919 Fax: 916-319-2155 and 562-989-5494   There are two organizations that need money to continue the fight against anti breeding: the Concerned Dog Owners of California (see address in Ted Crawford's email to me below) and PetPac (the political action committee formed to protect the rights of pets and owners through public awareness and education http://www.petpac.net/ )   From my friend and president of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club of Southern California:   We are in a critical time this week. If this bill does not get passed this week it is dead. We believe he is having a hard time finding the votes to get it passed. Some of us also feel that he would like to get away from this bill that will likely be the end of his political career. The overwhelming numbers of CA. residents do not want this bill (80% oppose to 20% support). One would have to realize that the people that vote you into office can just as easily vote you out.    As for any donations, please make checks payable to; CDOC (Concerned Dog Owners of California) you can send to me and I will hand deliver.   Ted Crawford, 446 E. Jefferson Ave. Pomona, CA 91767   Thank you for all your support and please know that everything we are doing will be helpful to everyone who may face the same problem.   May 17, 2007 California AB 1634 passed out of committee today which means it now goes to the full assembly for the vote.  Please, please fight to defeat this bill for if it passes it will be the end of dog breeding.  The animal right activists or ARistas are they are called are really running the show.  What the Aristas really want is the end of all dog breeding. Peta is behind all of this.  If you have any doubt please go to http://blog.peta.org/.   Now for a personal account of the California hearing today: >-----Original Message----- >Posted by Darlene Hernandez - permission to crosspost: > > "The chairman (Leno) was referring to the bill going to the assembly floor >BEFORE the vote was taken.One of Assemblyman Levine's staff opened the doors >to the Capitol early for  supporters of the bill, cutting in front of the >long line of bill opponents.   Fortunately the guards inside kicked out most >of the people.  We then  strategically blocked them from entering the >building until all of the opponents  that had originally been in line were >in the building.  Someone (the same  person that arranged for staffers to >let proponents in the building before it  opened?) had notified the AR >people that the mezzanine would be open for  seating.  AR people went >directly to the 6th floor.  Opponents of the bill had  been told in advance >if the main room was full, to go to the cafeteria to  watch. > >The meeting room was mostly filled with bill opponents so the chairman >declined to have people come to the microphone to state their positions. >Both sides were supposed to have 8 minutes to state their positions.  The >chairman let the bill supporters speak for 12 minutes and allowed an >additional  person to speak after time had been called.  Opponents were >allowed to speak  for 8 minutes and the timer cut off the third opposing >viewpoint. > >While waiting to get into the assembly room, there was an AR person that was >attempting to stop those of us that had to use the bathroom from returning >to  our place in line.  She had a stick on gold sheriff's badge and was >trying to act  like an official and keep anyone with an opposing AB-1634 >button from  passing. > >The vote was along party lines except for one Democrat (Anna Caballero) that >voted No and there were 2 others that were wavering.  PetPAC will have their >names up on the website later in the day. > > Levine kept mentioning that the 1998 Hayden Act (increase shelter time for >dogs from 72 hours to 6 days) was causing a major financial burden.  Because >of the state mandate they could not repeal the law and the only way around >to get financial relief would be the mandatory spay/neuter of dogs. > > Levine worked for the major supporters of the Hayden Act in the late 90's >(Koretz, O'Connell & Vincent).  Levine and Leno (the chairman of the >Appropriations Committee) led the fight against Gov. Schwarzenegger when he >wanted to repeal the Hayden Act in 2004 to help reduce the budget deficit. > > Slippery slope indeed.  Enact a bill that would knowingly cause the State >billions of $$ and then up the stakes to mandatory spay/nueter for the next >step of the plan.  Complain about the cost of building "x" numbers of >shelters in L.A. County due  to overcrowding (not that they are outdated and >need repair) and then hire  20 new Animal Control Officers for door-to-door >policing of license violations to  the tune of $1.2 million. > > Now we have to start calling, writing and personally visiting the entire >Assembly to get them oppose this bill.  Also contact your vet and ask them >to  oppose the bill.  Apparently many vets are unaware of the stance CVMA >has  taken on co-sponsoring the bill." > > May 16, 2007 Please read the following and realize what is at stake if the anti-dog and anti-breeding activists have their way.  This comes from the Pet Law list.  from my friend Peggy:   This is what is at stake! The Last Dog By Lidia Seebeck The report came in slowly from Muddy Gap, Wyoming. Someone had spotted a dog sniffing around his house in the bitter cold of a Wyoming winter. The person was quite sure that this was a dog, not a wolf. No, of course he didnt secretly own the dog. That had been banned long ago, of course. This dog seemed to appear out of the blizzard itself one cold night, scaring his daughter silly. Of course the animal was transferred to the authorities. It was determined that yes, indeed, this person really had found a dog, and only its somewhat feral behavior kept the land-dweller from being prosecuted for animal slavery. This dog had clearly been in the wild for some time. Everyone knew that for the last five years only the police, search and rescue, and a few charitable hospices and the like were allowed dogs, and the last one, a Yorkshire Terrier, had died last year. There was a funeral and everything, and many experts from the animal rights movement hailed the end of canine slavery. *** It hadn't always been that way, of course. Long ago, around the millennium, people often owned and bred dogs, and sometimes they ended up in shelters. Unfortunately the dogs that ended up in shelters were sometimes euthanized. Well, some people didnt like this. So they began to change the laws. First they banned dogs that were considered dangerous like Bull Terriers and Dobermans. Unfortunately sometimes docile breeds got mixed up into this, like the Greyhound, who was eventually maligned due to the muzzle it once wore while racing around a track. Predictably, the whole practice of racing the dogs was banned as being too cruel and the dogs were executed wholesale, being unadoptable due to the laws. Greyhound lovers, or Greyters, were broken hearted and tried to tell the authorities that the Greyhounds were good dogs, gentle with kids and loving even to strangers. But they were soon locked up, having been prosecuted for animal slavery. Another one of the milestones had to have been the passage of Californias Healthy Pets Law, which mandated spaying and neutering for nearly all dogs except the most pampered of show animals. People were outraged but the law passed anyways, in an effort to reduce the shelter population. Many Californians were aghast that people were doing backyard breeding, and others were just mad that animals were still getting killed. Eventually this became the American Spay and Neuter Law, which mandated spaying and neutering for all animals not involved in police or search and rescue. The next ten years or so saw the canine population growing old, and more breeds being executed wholesale as they were deemed dangerous. Too late, people realized that very docile breeds were getting declared, and they began to question the wisdom of breed-specific legislation. By then even the young dogs were eight or so, and many were rapidly dying of old age, at least in the larger breeds, *** The dog in Muddy Gap had been transferred to a facility in Laramie where a police dog academy still stood, unused. The dog was soon deluged with donations from around the country of old kibble and soft blankets that had cushioned their canine seniors. Animal lovers came in from around the country to the chance to see and cuddle with the dog. Lucky soon responded to the attention, which everyone insisted on. This dog was clearly quite old, having a very gray muzzle and face. Surprisingly, this dog was also clearly part Mastiff, which was one of the breeds to be Declared rather early on. Some dogs had been preserved as police dogs, however, so this dog was probably the offspring of one of those dogs. It had numerous abrasions and bite marks, and it was theorized that the dog had probably had to fight and hunt a lot to stay alive. No one really knew of course. *** As the War on Dogs continued, canine slavery became quite the hot topic, and there were two distinct camps of dog owners and former owners. The first was that dogs were nice to have around, but utterly miserable and it was good that they had mostly been euthanized. The other camp believed something quite different, They honestly believed that dogs were pack animals and honestly didn't mind the direction of a dog owner, rather relishing the leadership the owner provided and basking in the love the owner gave. As such they felt that canine ownership (and they were very unhappy with the term "slavery") was an ethical thing, and well worth the trouble of pursuing. Unfortunately this viewpoint was rapidly becoming illegal, and there were numerous people in prison for canine slavery. There were also a number of people who lived in the back of beyond who were breeding dogs beyond the reach of authorities. In the days when breeding was more common, these people such as coyote-dog breeders, were relatively few and far between. The shift in laws had increased their numbers, and now even responsible breeders were hiding out, hoping to save the last of their lines until the political storm broke. While some of these people persisted for a few years, it was rather easy to find a kennel full of barking dogs when all the other registered dogs were gone. Soon even these people fell to the insatiable sweep of the War on Dogs. The number of dogs in America had been rapidly dropping and was now at 5,673. Mostly these were police and rescue dogs, with a precious 10 or 15 dogs who served as roving servants, transported from hospice to nursing home to hospital to comfort the ailing. Still, the occasional dog would show up and be pressed into one of the allowed professions, or else euthanized. (For some reason, euthanasia was now viewed as the greatest gift ever, when it was euthanasia which had started the legal avalanche in the first place) *** Lucky was not doing well in captivity. He had suddenly developed a fever, and there was no legal veterinarian anymore, since they had all been out of practice for years. Former vets clustered around him and tried to remember what to do. They gave him all manner of potions and antibiotics but these only gave Lucky a really nasty attitude and equally nasty gastric disturbances. With every hour it was clear the poor old fella was dying. The nation turned in their televisions to watch, hourly updates, and the debate on dog keeping began to be opened once again. People reminisced about their dogs when they were young, and remembered good times at the dog beach or at the dog park. The talk of allowing dogs once again raged just as badly as poor Luckys fever. His health declined quickly, and within a few days he was on the brink of death. Some news stations had completely stopped reporting on anything other than Lucky and the dog debate.. As his last sputtering breaths were captured live and transmitted around the world, people started to call their Legislators, asking to please, please not let Lucky be the last American dog. Unfortunately, things had gone too far, this was too little and too late. Lucky truly became the last American dog.. May 15, 2007 We are fighting legisative battles on so many fronts.  Today was a big hearing in Sacremento on AB 1364.  Have not heard what happened yet.  For those living in New Jersey, please read the following and act upon the information: From my friend Peggy who keeps us abreast of the battles being fought . . All you NJ folks, please start calling Senator Sweeney's office.  He has three offices, but the number at the main office is   856-251-9801.   If you bug the staff long enough and keep them from doing other work because they have to answer the phone, they will let him know, for sure.  Of course, you are calling to OPPOSE  Senate Bill 1064--   I can't find a fax number, but if you can find one, fax away... Get your friends and neighbors, and relatives and co-workers, to call in opposition, also.     Also...if you google NJ Legislature, you can go to the state's website and find the name of your own State Senator there... you should also call/fax, or write your own Senator, too...and ask them to oppose the bill.     The California fight isn't over, nor is the fight in Texas, or Ohio...but there are equally noxious bills popping up everywhere.  We have to fight them, and fight them hard...if we don't win these battles, folks, it won't matter what club you're in, or who your friends are...none of us will have dogs much longer.  And don't think I'm exaggerating...I'm not.  That is, after all, the aim of the ARistas who are constantly badgering these legislators and convincing them these onerous laws are necessary...while we all sit around and say "no, it won't bother ME and MY dogs."  Uh huh..............believe me...it will.  Maybe not your state right now... but every battle we lose brings the war closer to each and everyone else.        Don't just sit there....make a phone call to Sweeney's office first thing tomorrow...and keep calling until you get through.  Make sure they know you are vehemently opposed to State Bill 1064. May 10, 2007 We just got back from our National. Clooney finished his championship a couple of weeks ago from the bred by exhibitor class despite my handling.  Although, he was entered at the National, I did not show him as he is not quite ready for the Best of Breed or Champion class.  He did take a fourth in stud dog with two of his barely six month old puppies.  As the judge said, the Clooney puppies were too young to really evaluate in the class.  Clooney's mother, Ch. Emjo Arriere did win the brood bitch class and we retired our second brood bitch trophy which must be won three times for permanent possession.  The trophies are different LLardo figurines of a young girl with a Cavalier.  Beautiful.  The girls who have won brood bitch are:  Ch. and Can. Ch. Rattlebridge Make Believe, ROM (two times); Ch. Rattlebridge Dutch Treat (two times); and Ch. Emjo Arriere (two times).  We are so proud of our girls and of all of our nine ROM titles.  The puppies, Rattlebridge True Spirit and her brother Rattlebridge Truth or Dare conducted themselves very well despite their young age.  Truth or Dare took a fourth in Sweepstakes and a second in his regular class.  We had a couple of other placements, but did not go this year with anything really ready.  My young friend, Melissa Charbonneau, went with me.  We had fun meeting friends and socializing.  Melissa lives in Florida and has been coming us to visit us since she was twelve.  She is now sixteen, brilliant student, and very pretty with a great sense of humor.  After waiting for the right puppy to come along, she now owns and is going to show Clooney's adorable first daughter, R. True Spirit.  Ted Crawford and I addressed everybody before the Best of Breed competition. We reminded all about the danger of California Bill 1634 and how it could spread throughout the country.  The animal rights and anti breeding activists are well organized and doing their fanatic best to push this bill through.  Below are some interesting things for you to read and act upon to help us stem the spread of anti dog legislation which will really affect our civil right to own dogs.  Read the Pet Data material in the Blue Dog State newsletter; it will frighten you to think that our rights can be taken away even in the United States:  http://bluedogstate.blogspot.com/ PLEASE CHECK UPCOMING LEGISLATION IN YOUR COMMUNITIES AND CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS.  PLEASE WRITE THE LEGISLATORS IN CALIFORNIA NOW TO REGISTER YOUR OPPOSITION TO AB1634.  IF YOU GO TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WEBSITE, YOU WILL FIND LISTED ALL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.  AND MORE AND VERY IMPORTANT FROM THE AKC CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD:   Following, please find the May Chairman's Report. Regards, AKC Communications FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: May 8, 2007 Contact: Daisy Okas Phone: 212-696-8343 MAY CHAIRMAN'S REPORT New York, NY - Since February we have been waging a legislative battle against California Assembly Bill 1634 which would require mandatory spaying/neutering for all dogs over 4 months of age unless the owner qualifies for and purchases an intact dog permit through the local authorities. This would mean that those wishing to keep their dogs intact would be at the whim of municipalities, who, under the bill's provisions, can set the fees for such permits. So, what appears as an "exception" for purebred dog owners and breeders, will result in higher fees for responsible dog owners and breeders. California state law already requires that dog licenses for intact animals cost twice as much as those for spayed or neutered animals. Immediately after this bill was introduced AKC began an aggressive, pro-active grassroots effort to get the word out about our opposition to this bill. We have continually posted updated legislative alerts on our web site and provided resources such as fliers, sample letters and talking points via our "CA Spay/Neuter Action Center" on the home page. We have also rung the alarm far and wide by individually contacting 2,000 California club officers, legislative liaisons, judges, and Delegates as well as alerting 90,000 AKC-registrants in addition to more than 14,750 who recently registered a litter urging them to oppose this bill. AKC President and CEO Dennis Sprung and I each sent a letter to Assemblyman Mike Eng, Chairman of the Business and Professions Committee where the bill was scheduled for a hearing detailing our opposition. I also sent a letter to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, reiterating the damage this bill could inflict on responsible dog owners and breeders and the revenue that would be lost to the state should he sign this bill into law. Our early efforts helped to secure a postponement on a vote to move the bill out of committee on April 10. I believe our unified voice of opposition from the fancy directly affected this action. Because we understood the importance of the bill and the far-reaching effect it might have on other states, AKC sent staff member Sarah Sprouse from AKC's Canine Legislation department and AKC legislative consultant Stephanie Lane to the April 24 hearing in Sacramento. In addition, we hired a California lobbyist to help us navigate the political waters. Despite our efforts, the bill was kept alive and voted out of committee. We did, however, retain support from lawmakers who understood our position as was evidenced in the committee vote down party lines. Immediately after the hearing, our staff members met with more than 200 dedicated fanciers, supplied them with materials and instructed them how to approach their assembly members to voice continued opposition. I want to thank the several hundred fanciers who turned out for the April 10th and 24th hearings, and the thousands of dog owners who sent letters and e-mails to legislators. Their collective voice and strong numbers strengthened our opposition. According to the sponsor of AB 1634, the bill is intended to reduce shelter populations and costs. AKC opposition to the bill is predicated on the reality that the bill wrongly targets responsible dog owners and breeders while failing to address the real reasons animals are surrendered. National research organizations have reported that the majority of unwanted dogs in the United States come from owners who are unable or unwilling to train, socialize and care for their dog. While AKC opposes mandatory spaying and neutering of purebred dogs, we have always encouraged pet owners to spay or neuter their dogs if they do not want to participate in AKC conformation events or engage in responsible breeding programs. In fact, the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association 2005-2006 National Pet Owners Survey reports that more than 70 percent of owned dogs are spayed or neutered. Seven out of 10 dog owners chose spaying or neutering as the right decision for their pet. This is an individual choice best made by pet owners in consultation with their veterinarian. Since the majority of owned dogs in this country are already spayed and neutered, we need to address the reasons dogs are relinquished. I believe educating the public about responsible dog ownership, coupled with enforcement of existing leash laws, best addresses shelter population issues. AKC proactively developed several education programs, including AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day, dedicated to teaching the pet-buying public how to make well-informed decisions when acquiring a pet. Such programs help to ensure that pet purchasers find a puppy or dog that is a good match for their lifestyle, thereby decreasing the chance that the animal will be relinquished to a shelter. In addition, our AKC Canine Good Citizen(r) program, AKC Obedience trials, and our nearly 5,000 AKC affiliated clubs offer ongoing training opportunities for owners to curb potential behavior problems through training. Our education programs are in schools and libraries and at shows, club meetings and community events nationwide. AKC Clubs also routinely donate money raised at their events back into the community in the form of scholarships, bullet proof vests for law enforcement K-9s, and other civic minded endeavors. Club members and breeders who engage in this high level of volunteerism are in no way irresponsibly breeding dogs, in fact, if a dog they breed does need to be re-homed they are the first to step up and take responsibility for it, giving it a foster home until a new owner can be found. We know education is the best way to influence responsible dog ownership and since our programs have been implemented there has actually been a decrease in shelter populations. What some lawmakers fail to realize is that with our mission to promote responsible dog ownership through public education, we are a significant part of the solution. We strive to help dog owners have a successful and rewarding experience with their pet, making it more likely the dog will remain a valued member of the family for its entire lifetime. Lawmakers must end the debate of mandatory spay and neuter and embrace the concept of public education. Additionally, AKC breed parent clubs and local affiliates participate in breed rescue which further reduces the number of dogs in municipal and private shelters across the United States. More than 280 AKC affiliated rescue organizations are committed to assisting shelters with adoption and placement of purebred dogs identified within the shelter populations. These organizations rehabilitate dogs in foster homes and permanently place them with loving and responsible families. We will continue to be vigilant in our opposition and keep you informed of developments. It is imperative that all of you join us in defeating California AB 1634. Please visit our website for sample letters, talking points and contact information for California Assemblymembers. (Visit the AKC website at: http://www.akc.org/canine_legislation/CA_action_center.cfm <http://www.akc.org/canine_legislation/CA_action_center.cfm> to learn more.) By staying involved we can make sure our right to decide what is best for our animals is preserved. We are actively investigating the possibility of establishing an AKC Political Action Committee (PAC). Sincerely, Ron Menaker AKC Communications AND MORE: At this link    http://agriculture.house.gov.hearings/index.html    you can read the testimony of Congressman Charles W. Stenholm to the House Committee on Agriculture.  This is a piece to read, print out, and save for anyone who is trying to educate others about the AR movement.    This is a United States Congressman testifying before the Congress on the agenda of the animal rights movement.  FINALLY - they are beginning to get it!            Just click on "witness opening statements," then click on Stenholm's name.  Don't bother with the 52 pages of drivel from Wayne Pacelle of HSUS...that's the same old same old from him.......not what he said, since the Committee apparently mounted an immediate attack against him!  One of the "good ole boys" even called Pacelle "son."  Bet that got his dander up!  The Members were not amused or interested in listening to Pacelle!  Hooray!  From Peggy...and permission to crosspost is given  (various sources provided the background here) And More: The Doberman Pinscher Club of America has a new flyer available for >> distribution regarding Assembly Bill 1634. Since AB1634 will be heard >> by the Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 16th, this flyer >> addresses the fiscal side of the bill. Please print this flyer with the >> Committee Members' contact information on the back and distribute it far >> and wide. The general public needs to be aware of the impact this bill >> would have on their communities and businesses. Pass it out at the >> malls, your church, your neighborhood center - anywhere and everywhere. >> If each of us does this, the public will become aware of this unfair >> and costly legislation and will contact the Appropriations Committee. >> Many vets and most of the general public are not even aware of this >> bill. We need public awareness of this attempt to govern our >> relationship with our pets. >> >> This is the direct link to the flyer: >> http://www.dpca.org/Legisltv/documents/Cost_to_CA.pdf >> >> It can also be accessed from this page: >> >> http://www.dpca.org/Legisltv/bills/CA1634.htmLook for the flashing >> "NEW" sign. >> >> Thank you for your help in educating the public about AB 1634. >> Dana Johnson >> DPCA Legislative Committee >> __._,_.___ April 28, 2007 I have promised to write about the forces working against the show breeders and small reputable breeders in this country in the name of animal welfare; if the anti breeding and anti dog activists have their way, dog ownership and dog breeding will become a thing of the past.  The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the American Humane Society (ASA), and PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) are all zealousy campaigning for anti breeding legislation in many of our communities, cities, and states.  Do your own research into manifestos of these groups and see how very dangerous they really are to our American way of life. I am currently serving on the board of the local Humane Society and have worked hard to help all the dogs in our county.  Most of us show breeders care about all dogs.Those who have visited us will have met our Snoop who is a much beloved rescue dog of mixed heritage.  Ther purpose of some of the proposed or active legislation is to cut down on shelter dogs which will not happen as most of the shelter dogs do not come from reputable breeders and this legislation will hit us the hardest. For your information, I will address some of the legislation being proposed throughout the country in future “Latest News.”  For now, below are some of the trends across the country as compiled by Walt Hutchens, Whippet breeder:   From left to right across the country we have:   In New Mexico they're facing the 'Pet Owner Responsibility Act,' mandatory spay/neuter for the state; there's talk that a brain-dead negotiation by the Sangre de Cristo Kennel Club (Santa Fe) got partial exemptions for fanciers inserted making this one harder to beat. This one is expected to be introduced not later than Feb. 15th.   The District of Columbia has the just introduced 'Animal Protection Amendment Act of 2007.' Said to be mandatory spay/neuter and more, this was introduced on February 6th. I posted the bill to the pet-law files section (DC_B_89.txt) last night but haven't had time to read it yet.   In Pennsylvania they have an administrative rulemaking process that would extend the no-home-breeding standards of the federal AWA to many if not most show dog breeders. I believe the extended comment period closes March 15th.   In Virginia we've just beaten the fourth annual breeder licensing bill. However we lost (our state federation of dog clubs withdrew) our own bill to remove hobby breeders from the definition of pet 'dealer' in our state law -- a major vulnerability.   I wouldn't want to swear that there isn't another state or two with a major threat to hobby breeding that I've missed. And of course we are promised a replay this year of PAWS with support from the fresh-cookies-fresh-cookfresh-cookies-and-spray-starch Stepford Various measures that would lead to mandatory national microchipping are tuning up, offstage.   Albuquerque and Louisville are already lost. Maybe they'll win their court fights and get back part or all ... and maybe not. The most deadly piece of legtislation is California AB 1634 which has just gotten out of committee and is now going to appropriations before it goes to the full Assembly.  This bill calls for a mandatory spay and neuter throughout the state.  The commercial breeders will not be stopped and the unsavory internet breeders will just go underground meeting buyers in rest stops or across state lines or just shipping poor very young puppies across the country not even know to whom they are really going.  We breeders who do the testing, socialize our puppies, and breed to the breed standard will be stopped.  Please, please go to the website for the California Federation of Dog Clubs and read about dog genocide and how you can help. cfodconline.org  Please join.  cfodconline.org ALSO the AKC has put together some sample letters to be used to write legislators in California to fight AB 1634. There are letters for California residents, letters for non-residents that may show there, one for local breed clubs, and one for breed parent clubs. Of course you may use your own words, too. Please follow the link and send letters to the CA Assembly Members to help fight this terrible bill. http://www.akc.org:80/canine_legislation/CA_action_center.cfm As my friend Peggy has been warning: CA AB 1634 has passed out of committee. It will now go on to the appropriations committee. If it passes there, the next stop is the full assembly for a vote into law. If it becomes law, there will effectively be no more breeding in California. The people who believe we should "work with" the fanatics who want these bills passed should read The Future of Dogs at http://www.pet-law.com/future/forward.html It can also be ordered as a booklet from that site. These laws are not intended to lower euthanasia rate -- the DOG euthanasia rate has been dropping steadily for 30 years. They are intended to STOP BREEDING ALTOGETHER.Unless you understand the animal rights agenda, you will never be able to protect your rights. When California develops a dog deficit, which is already happening in many parts of the state, when people cannot buy a quality purebred, guess where the puppies will come from? Over the border, as many are now. They are raised in uninspected, often filthy places that make the breeders we call "puppy mills" look like doggie heaven. Do you think the people who are already supplying puppies illegally ("Meet me in the Walmart parking lot at midnight. Bring cash.") are going to stop doing it when their market doubles and triples? Since many of those pups will end up in shelters due to health or temperament problems, the ARS will be back in three or four years saying "The law isn't tough enough." And those Responsible Breeders who decided that since the laws would only apply to those Irresponsible Breeders, we should work on a compromise will find themselves caught in the web next. And guess who will NOT be there to help us? Remember those commercial breeders we threw to the lions?? The statistics cited as "horrific euthanasia rates" include: 1) Cats -- there is still a cat overpopulation problem, largely due to feral & "barn cats." Forcing purebred cat breeders to spay and neuter will not touch this problem. How many "excess euthanasias" do you think there are of, say, Abyssinians or even Persians? How many people with purebred cats allow them to roam and breed freely? Purebred cats account for one percent of the overall cat population. 2) Dogs brought to shelters FOR euthanasia. Many people cannot afford to have a vet euthanize an old, even very much loved, pet. Their only choice may be shelter euthanasia, where the perhaps 16-year-old chihuhahua is counted as "ANOTHER UNWANTED PET!!!!" 3) Dogs with no chance of being safe, happy or healthy pets. It's not true that there are no bad dogs, just bad owners. Just like some people, some dogs are just plain wired wrong. Yes, unfortunately they may bounce through a few homes before arriving at the shelter, but they too -- even though no one could call them pets -- are counted in the "SKYROCKETING EUTHANASIA NUMBERS."If California goes mandatory spay/neuter, we will lose possibly ten percent of the gene pool of many of our breeds. What will that do for purebred dogs? Folks, this is war. We are county by county and now state by state losing our right to not only breed, but to even OWN more than two or three dogs. Compromising is not the answer. Education is. I am amazed at the number of inquiries I get from people who already KNOW not to buy from pet shops, know what questions to ask, are prepared to pay a fair price for a good puppy. It will not help us to win the education war if we have meanwhile been legislated out of existence. There will always be shelter euthanasia and it ill always include some dogs that could have been good pets. There will also always be child abuse, homelessness, and cancer. It happens. Life is not perfect. Passing laws to wipe out breeding as an approach to shelter euthanasia is like limiting couples to two children to prevent child abuse. The issues are not even related except that they both involve children. We do not have a pet overpopulation problem. We have a pet retention problem, and the answer to that is education. Help people KEEP their pets by offering support and being open to questions. Many people who turn their dogs in to shelters do so because they don't understand the basics of housetraining or dog behavior. And yes, they may turn in their next dog too unless there is intervention. When your neighbor gripes about her Labradoodle peeing in the house, don't roll your eyes and preach about the folly of "designer dogs." Give her a copy of the housetraining paper you send home with puppies. Talk to her about what exactly is going on. Is he marking? Is he confined for too long and just can't hold it? Has he just never been housetrained? As breeders, we have a responsibility to address the owner turn-in part of euthanasia, but it is not fulfilled by cutting back on breeding or supporting laws against "those other guys." It is hands-on, one-on-one education provided in a friendly -- not condescending and bossy, which we all excel in! -- manner. We need to be making friends in the community and doing something to fight the "snobby dog breeder" image we've built over the years. Okay. Enough. Next time you see something about AB1634 or another bill in someone else's community, find out what you can do to help. Today it's California. Tomorrow it will be your state. You may not think you have time to help. You'd better make time or no one will be left to help you when it's your turn. again from Peggy: If you don't do anything else today, go to the following URL and read the interview SATYA conducted with Wayne Pacelle, CEO of the Humane Society of the United States ... read every word of it, and then print it out and share it with everyone you know ... this is clearly a social/political/spiritual manifesto and it is being implemented under the guise of "animal welfare." In this interview, Pacelle offers up his personal philosophical position and his belief that it is "OK" to use money and power to manipulate the legal and legislative system in order to change the face of American Culture and rewrite the social value system. This is truly a method for pushing  and conditioning people to believe and behave in certain ways using covert mind control and thought manipulation. The law is the tool they are attempting to use to fabricate a false ideology and morality on all of us ... Read this little manifesto, understand that this man believes he is qualified, competent and justified in using any means at his disposal to change who we are ... this is operant and behavioral conditioning at a level that is right up there with everything I've read in "Brave New World" and other science fiction fantasies about the future. The question is this - What are Wayne Pacelle's political ambitions, and why does he think he is qualified to manipulate the "way we ought to live," and by what authority does he justify his attempts to restructure the fabric and texture of American culture and society? He has raised the practice of deception and thought manipulation to a new level ... never mind that most of us were raised to believe that we live in a free country which offers us the opportunity to research the facts and truth about issues and make our own deformed decisions about the way we "should be living." Folks, we need to get serious about telling people who this man is and what he is *really* about and what his political ambitions are. http://www.satyamag.com/jun05/pacelle.html More next time.  Kiss your Cavalier and your other pets. April 24, 2007 My Clooney finished his championship last Sunday from the bred by exhibitor class with me, of course, doing my typical inadequate job of handling.  He finished infewer than ten shows including his puppy class wins.  Meanwhile his litter sister, Dawn's Early Light "Spangle" won two out of four days at the Terre Haute shows in Indiana.  We leave om Monday for Lancaster, PA., and the National.  My young teenage friend Melissa Charbonneau from Tampa is going with me.  Melissa is to show her Clooney daughter, True Spirit.  Few people realize that we are also showing a Japanese Chin that I saw in England when he was eight weeks old at Homerbrent, famous Cavalier and Chin kennel.  When I saw "Joey"  I thought that he could be a top show dog in this country and talked my friends Sherri Meyer and Leanne Bertani into co owning him with me.  He is shown by Victor Cohen and is presently number one Chin in AKC.  April 14, 2007 While I do intend to add to "Latest News" weekly I seem to not get around to it in a timely fashion.  We attended the Louisville shows; my beloved Clooney took a five point major reserve and a five point major.  He is close to his championship; he has only been shown about eight times with me as a lousy handler.  His sister Spangle, Rattlebride Dawn's Early Light, is finally out being shown.  She won a major from the puppy class and is now being seriously shown to finish her championship.  Their sister Delta Dawn is already a champion.  Now I hope to alert you to a very serious problem facing the small breeders of purebred dogs in this country in the hope that owners of purebred pets will take a long look at the anti dog legislation being developed and passed in communities, counties, and states. I am very concerned about the entire anti dog legislation going on in our country.  The Humane Society of the United States, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals(PETA an organization that rabidly protests any ownership or human use of animals), and the American Humane Association are all working to end dog ownership and dog breeding. Anti dog legislation translates into anti hobby or show purebred dog breeder legislation.  What started out as a movement against the ownership of pit bull type dogs in cities with dog attack and biting problems has now spread to a much broader anti purebred breeding and dog ownership movement. More on this next time.    March 15, 2007 I am leaving for the Louisville shows where the warnings are out about PETA disrupting the dog shows. When I come back I would like to address what is going on with the anti breeding activists threatening the show and hobby breeders' right to breed dogs and the right to dog ownership.  There are many city, county and state ordinances being passed.  But for now and in advance: Happy St. Patrick's Day March 6, 2007   Hello from bitterly cold Ohio with more snow expected tomorrow.  At least we are not in Michigan where my friend Roxy Hayes lives with feet of snow still on the ground with more falling often.  Beside the cold weather we are doing well.  Al and I celebrated our 24th anniversary last Saturday—so romantic!  I was on puppy watch with visitors all day and Al was hiding out in his office trying to reconstruct all our financial data which was lost when his computer finally gave up the ghost (with Windows 98 yet!).  He now has a new computer with Vista yet! I only hope Vista does not prove difficult for me as I now have to teach Al who does not take any instruction from me with a good attitude.  We still have not celebrated our anniversary.  Below is a picture of one of Clooney’s first sons, Rattlebridge Truth and Dare, who is co owned by our good friend Lu Ann Rogers who is going to show him should he turn out as nice as we think he is. Beside the picture of Tru is a picture of Clooney taken at eighteen months.             February 14, 2007 Happy Valentine's Day!  Instead of being home with Al, I am stuck in New York City (not a bad thing as I was born here and do love coming home!) because of the weather and my cancelled flight. Our county at home is under a stage three snow emergency which means no one can be on the roads except emergency vehicles.  Al is doing nothing but plowing the drive and taking care of the dogs since my friend Cindy who takes care of our dogs is snowed in.   Westminster was so much fun this year.  So man