Dogs boycott cats. Film at 11
By Gina Spadafori
July 26, 2007
I belong to two writers organizations, the Cat Writers Association and the Dog Writers Association of America. (Knock off the jokes, smart guys. The cats and dogs don’t do the writing … yet!)
They’re good organizations that generally offer a lot of support for those of us who love and write about animals, and they’re especially good for people who are just getting started on the latter. Most of the people in them are very pleasant and caring, and I’ve enjoyed my associations with fellow members throughout the last 20-odd years. I met some of the people destined to be among my closest friends through these groups. A great many people belong to both groups — we’re bi-”pet”al, you might say.
But right now all is not well.
The CWA every year hosts a nifty writers conference, in conjunction with a dinner giving out its annual media awards. The DWAA, which holds its annual award banquet in Manhattan every year on the night before the Westminster Kennel Club Dog show, has historically supported the CWA conference with a modest financial grant, and has had a DWAA mini-meeeting within the CWA fandango.
But not this year, because the keynote speaker of the CWA event is Wayne Pacelle, head of the Humane Society of the United States.
The CWA event moves every couple of years, and this year it’s in Northern California. After all these months of fighting over AB 1634, the mandatory spay-neuter (except for puppy mills and “just one litter” breeders) bill, the victorious (for now) opposition is not in the mood to listen to the head of the HSUS, which supported the bill.
With a lot of reputable, responsible breeders in the ranks of both organizations, what would have been a real plum of a keynote speaker last year — especially since the organization can’t pay — is this year causing no end of ruckus. The DWAA has backed out, and the CWA membership is in turmoil. (Rather like the backlash the California Veterinary Medical Association got when its Board of Governors decided to support AB 1634, a stand that was later changed to neutral after CVMA members offered some pro bono neutering of their leadership.)
I’ve been thinking about this, and although I usually don’t go to these conferences, I may have to this time.
As readers well know, we here at Pet Connection have been pretty clear about our opposition to this piece of poorly targeted nanny state legislation, that gives the puppy-millers and pet stores a free pass, and seeks to destroy years of reputable, intelligent breeding of many beloved and some very rare breeds of dogs and cats. (Not to mention insisting that any breeding that is done be done before the age when dogs can be certified clear of congenital defects such as crippling hip dysplasia — talk about idiotic!)
We think mandatory spay-neuter is not the answer, and we’ve laid out some alternate plans that actually do target the people who put pets in shelters — and, hint, it’s not those reputable breeders. (In fact, the first step to solutions is recognizing that there are reputable, responsible breeders, an act that people like “the woman behind the bill,” animal-rights activist Judie Mancuso, seem unwilling to do, telling the L.A. Weekly, “There’s no such thing as a ‘hobby breeder.’ Don’t let them fool you. They’re all one in the same.”)
But as strongly as I feel about the idiocy and the motivation of this legislative approach — and some of the misteps made by the HSUS in recent years — I am even more opposed to silencing ideas and free speech. So, if the DWAA is going to boycott and the CWA is going to yowl, I may just have to go to the dinner, sit front and center and listen to what Mr. Pacelle has to say, in defense of his right to say it.
We’ll see if it even comes to that, since signs are such that the CWA may take a financial bath swimming in these troubled waters, and that may force some changes before the conference, which is in November.
Many humans have a hard time listening to people they disagree with, even before they have heard what the person has to say. Our emotions do rule our thinking more times than not. I admire your plan to attend and listen. I hope that tempers cool enough that your conference can be both educational and enjoyable, as it should.
Comment by shadepuppy — July 26, 2007 @ 10:48 am
I was always planning on attending, and behaving in a professional manner. Whatever the decision, I will still be there.
However, this is a bad year for this speaker, and I certainly consider him a deeply controversial speaker in any year. It’s just that I don’t see any reason not to have controversial speakers.
Comment by Christie Keith — July 26, 2007 @ 10:56 am
Send a message. Don’t attend CWA conference.
They will take away your pets.
The meat from your tables.
The animals in the zoo.
No hunting or fishing.
Pacelle heads the largest animal rights organization in the world, HSUS. They are not a shelter, while most folks think so.
Comment by George Bell — July 26, 2007 @ 10:35 pm
Is CWA smoking some cat nip?! We’ve heard what Wayne Pacelle has to say and it isn’t in support of our cats/dogs or us. After listening to Wayne and his animal rights friends for many years now, I don’t understand how anyone who loves animals could ‘invite’ him to address such a group. I’m with DWAA in thinking this is like inviting the snake into the hen house. Wake up CWA! Why don’t you instead invite someone who fought for your right to own those cats you love in California and who defeated this Trojan Horse of a bill? That’s the people you should be listening to, NOT Wayne Pacelle.
Comment by LH — July 26, 2007 @ 11:10 pm
I find it hard to believe that ANY animal related organization with members who care about their ability to own, keep or breed animals or work in any way with animals, including writing about them, would invite Wayne Pacelle of HSUS to speak to their membership at a conference.
This is the man who continuously advocates AGAINST the ownership of pets, whose organization funds millions to lobby for restrictive and prohibitive legislation on all animal activities at the state and federal level. This man is NOT a friend to cats, cat owners OR to writers about cats!
Check out http://www.consumerfreedom.com or http://www.activist cash.com for more info on Wayne Pacelle of the HSUS…enemy of cats and dogs.
Why invite the enemy to speak to the members?
Comment by Laurella Desborough — July 27, 2007 @ 4:41 am
While keeping an open mind to opposing viewpoints is a noble aspiration, I don’t think the appropriate forum to do that in is via an invited keynote speaker. Generally, such an invitation implies that the inviting organization has some level of agreement with/approval of that speaker’s public positions. Does CWA really want to create the impression that they - as an organization - approve of HSUS’s anti-pets animal rights agenda?
If CWA really felt they needed to give Wayne Pacelle a platform from which he could espouse his and HSUS’ views, a more appropriate approach would have been some sort of a “discussion panel” on which they could also put counterweights - someone who is a spokesman for animal welfare to offset the extremist animal rights agendas being pushed by such organizations as HSUS and PETa.
Comment by The OTHER Pat — July 27, 2007 @ 5:59 am
Laurella said:
>Why invite the enemy to speak to the members?
Because the members aren’t stupid, and because all sides might take away something valuable.
Although, Other Pat, I agree with you that his contribution would be more potentially helpful on a discussion panel.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — July 27, 2007 @ 6:11 am
Although, Other Pat, I agree with you that his contribution would be more potentially helpful on a discussion panel.
Comment by Gina Spadafori
IMHO, that would be tantamount to having a discussion with Hitler. Wayne Pacelle and the HSUS take millions from the pet loving public and, after paying enormous salaries to HSUS top execs, use that money to promote bills that will end pet ownership and animals in zoos, research, food, etc.
I’m sick of their rhetoric. If they really cared, they would educate PEOPLE and offer free spaying and neutering to people that can’t afford it. Not slap our hands and take away our pets like bad children.
The only way a Wayne Pacelle lecture would be interesting would be if he disclosed the back scene manipulating of politics in this country. The HSUS is using their millions to “support” candidates that support their position on the extinction of animals in captivity as we know them.
I am angry, and, at the same time, scared, that a lunatic fringe powerful organization, such as HSUS and PETA, have the power to “pick” our elected officials based on their single myopic viewpoint.
It is very scary indeed. And, to me, the organizers of the group that arranged for him to speak have betrayed their members.
If Wayne had his way, we’d be reading this on nopetconnection.com
Comment by Carol Stanley — July 27, 2007 @ 9:20 am
As a member of DWAA I am relieved that they will no participate in the idiocy of Mr. Pacelle. HSUS has, as an admitted goal, the ending of all pet ownership. Through their support of PeTA and thereby ALF, etc., HSUS supports violence against humans and animals, and funds domestic terrorism. The CWA should be ashamed.
Comment by Jim Crosby — July 27, 2007 @ 10:43 am
Gina said:
Quote: Because the members aren’t stupid, and because all sides might take away something valuable. end quote.
Whether or not the members are stupid is not the question…the question is WHY would any pro-animal organization place an ANTI-animal person in a keynote speaker position?
On a panel discussion…maybe.
As a keynote speaker…nope.
Now, you think both sides will take away something valuable? I believe there is NOTHING that any animal owner or lover could say that would change Wayne Pacelle’s mind about anything re animals…he is an ideologue and his actions are dedicated towards ending pet ownership and all animal contact.
Laurella Desborough
Comment by Laurella Desborough — July 27, 2007 @ 2:17 pm
I certainly agree that Wayne Pacelle should not be given a respectable platform from which to spew his venom. I also think that the American Kennel Club and the Westminster Kennel Club did the fancy a terrible disservice when they permitted Pedigree to spew the nonsense about all these “good dogs” who just need to go home without anything being said about our conscientious breeders who work to improve their breeds so each of us can enjoy responsible pet ownership and the viewing public can watch Westminster Kennel Club. This has got to stop. I have the following suggestions:
1. Write to AKC and tell them to support the sport of purebred dogs.
2. Write to Westminster Kennel Club and tell them to support the sport of purebred dogs.
3. Don’t buy Pedigree products. Frankly, I wouldn’t feed my dog that food entirely apart from their support of the HSUS line.
Comment by Francine Shacter — July 28, 2007 @ 3:11 pm
I find it curious that those who vehemently oppose being told what they can/cannot do with their cats and dogs are so very willing to tell journalist (the ones in a position to HELP their cause!) who they can/cannot listen to at a public event. Different rules, eh?
HSUS has been a sponsor of both CWA and DWAA events for several years—this isn’t something new. And as a CWA and DWAA member I do not have to like what an individual believes and preaches, and I can attend this event even if I disagree with speaker choice or platform.
Because if I am to cover the issues in a professional manner, I am ethically required to listen to as many sides/positions as possible and then report those facts as best I am able.
Otherwise, it’s an editorial at best and propaganda at worst and neither serve the greater good of cats and dogs or the people who love them.
Better thank the cat-gods there are pro-writers willing to take the flack to spread the message about this nasty bill. Only facts tear down the “bad stuff” not hearsay—and muzzling cat writers (or dog writers) is IMO mis-guided.
Comment by DS — July 30, 2007 @ 4:06 pm