Hooray for tubular canines! We're pleased to announce that this year we'll be joining the Oregon Basset Hound Rescue for their annual Olympic-style Basset Games! Starting at ten (gates open at 8:30) tomorrow morning at Legion Park in Portland, this should be a rockin' good time. Even if you are not, of yourself, in possession of a long-bodied, short-legged hound dog, it will most definitely be worth your time to stop by and see the fun. This is my first year for attendance, though I did experience many a UC Davis Picnic Day's annual Dachshund Derby (quite a spectacle). Those longdogs know how to party ;0)
Come see us!
View Larger Map
*Random basset trivia: show up for the party and name-drop Scott Kurtz' totally awesome PvP pupsters and YOU will walk away with a fine piece of custom gear!
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Web TV: viewing schedules I can handle!
I am enjoying the hell out of Kevin Pollak's new web show, a weekly broadcast live interview show, usually with two guests and interviews that run about an hour to two hours each. It's great--a really pretty uninhibited venue for chit-chat with folks you don't usually get to hear talk for more than a minute or two at a time (Kevin Smith, excepted).
A clickeroo here will get you to the archive of episodes. I was gonna toss out a couple of my favorite segments as places to start but honestly I've legitimately LOL'ed up every single interview so far. They're all great--the ones with the names I recognized, but even and especially the names I'd never heard. What I'm loving about it is exposure to all these brilliant and funny people who I'd never come across because they hadn't been "marketed" to me. The web is the great equalizer, where people with real talent can put their work out into the world and sink or swim on wits and merits. It's no longer necessarily about who you are or who you know or how much money you have. Real people are finding real audiences and I can't adequately describe how awesome this conceptual shift is. Kevin Pollak is a celebrity with clearly more showbiz resources than the norm, but the show itself is decidedly grassroots in feel even so.
An unapologetic Charlie Rose rip-off, Pollak started out the first couple months mining his address book for guests. Although I'm sure this wasn't so much a choice as a function of convenience with a healthy dose of necessity, I think it was a brilliant way to start. Chatting with his friends in an ultra low-key setting instantly set the tone for the show's greatest asset: candidness. Several guests so far have mentioned what an unusual experience it is for them to be able to actually talk. Kevin Smith said it best about Dana Carvey's appearance the week before: "I just thought it was so delightful to hear him be like '...is this okay? Can I keep talking?'" Carvey talked about Tonight Show appearances as "complete performances". You get zero sense of these people as actual human beings in a three-minute, tightly scripted "segment". Pollak's round table, on the other hand, is an easy, relaxed forum where conversations wander miles from any recognizable topic. We heard an in-depth description of Carvey's heart plumbing escapades. Ninteen minutes of Felicia Day's interview were dedicated to cat-chat. Several guests talked extremely candidly about adoption and parenting issues. Matthew Perry turns out to be a funny guy. Who knew?
The word "grassroots" came up early on. As quite a few corporate entities have discovered, money, spit, and polish do not always translate to endearment with the greater internet public's fickle hearts. Pollak observed with glee and maybe a little awe a few episodes in "they just don't care if you screw something up". Not only do I not care if he flubs a line, misses a joke, knocks over his water glass, or his guests have to army-crawl in under the cameras, I'd a million times rather see this honest-to-goodness humanity than a tightly produced and carefully edited "show". It seems like broadcast TV gives us impossible standards of perfection on just about every level. The LA Times called it "TV with its corset off" and I guess that's just about right. This show feels like a bunch of friends got together to produce a show in someone's basement. For the first handful of episodes, Pollak seemed very self-conscious of this. He kept apologizing for being "not ready" and moments of "unprofessionalism" when the show's hem showed. By the fifth or sixth episode as it became apparent that these moments are exactly what differentiate him from, say, Disney's lame attempts at entering this forum.
On the subject grassroots entertainment, I've almost entirely abandoned my cable subscription for the joys of audiobooks, podcasts, web tv, netflix, and OTR goodness. Broadcast TV is largely irrelevant to me these days and honestly I couldn't be happier about it. This world of web-based viewing and digital audio listening is a world of entertainment without guile, of talent and creativity for its own sake. Also... I have never been adept at revolving my life around the TV Guide. I know there are still plenty of kinks to be worked out, but I cannot wait to see people start getting paid real money for grassroots, web-based entertainment.
A clickeroo here will get you to the archive of episodes. I was gonna toss out a couple of my favorite segments as places to start but honestly I've legitimately LOL'ed up every single interview so far. They're all great--the ones with the names I recognized, but even and especially the names I'd never heard. What I'm loving about it is exposure to all these brilliant and funny people who I'd never come across because they hadn't been "marketed" to me. The web is the great equalizer, where people with real talent can put their work out into the world and sink or swim on wits and merits. It's no longer necessarily about who you are or who you know or how much money you have. Real people are finding real audiences and I can't adequately describe how awesome this conceptual shift is. Kevin Pollak is a celebrity with clearly more showbiz resources than the norm, but the show itself is decidedly grassroots in feel even so.
An unapologetic Charlie Rose rip-off, Pollak started out the first couple months mining his address book for guests. Although I'm sure this wasn't so much a choice as a function of convenience with a healthy dose of necessity, I think it was a brilliant way to start. Chatting with his friends in an ultra low-key setting instantly set the tone for the show's greatest asset: candidness. Several guests so far have mentioned what an unusual experience it is for them to be able to actually talk. Kevin Smith said it best about Dana Carvey's appearance the week before: "I just thought it was so delightful to hear him be like '...is this okay? Can I keep talking?'" Carvey talked about Tonight Show appearances as "complete performances". You get zero sense of these people as actual human beings in a three-minute, tightly scripted "segment". Pollak's round table, on the other hand, is an easy, relaxed forum where conversations wander miles from any recognizable topic. We heard an in-depth description of Carvey's heart plumbing escapades. Ninteen minutes of Felicia Day's interview were dedicated to cat-chat. Several guests talked extremely candidly about adoption and parenting issues. Matthew Perry turns out to be a funny guy. Who knew?
The word "grassroots" came up early on. As quite a few corporate entities have discovered, money, spit, and polish do not always translate to endearment with the greater internet public's fickle hearts. Pollak observed with glee and maybe a little awe a few episodes in "they just don't care if you screw something up". Not only do I not care if he flubs a line, misses a joke, knocks over his water glass, or his guests have to army-crawl in under the cameras, I'd a million times rather see this honest-to-goodness humanity than a tightly produced and carefully edited "show". It seems like broadcast TV gives us impossible standards of perfection on just about every level. The LA Times called it "TV with its corset off" and I guess that's just about right. This show feels like a bunch of friends got together to produce a show in someone's basement. For the first handful of episodes, Pollak seemed very self-conscious of this. He kept apologizing for being "not ready" and moments of "unprofessionalism" when the show's hem showed. By the fifth or sixth episode as it became apparent that these moments are exactly what differentiate him from, say, Disney's lame attempts at entering this forum.
On the subject grassroots entertainment, I've almost entirely abandoned my cable subscription for the joys of audiobooks, podcasts, web tv, netflix, and OTR goodness. Broadcast TV is largely irrelevant to me these days and honestly I couldn't be happier about it. This world of web-based viewing and digital audio listening is a world of entertainment without guile, of talent and creativity for its own sake. Also... I have never been adept at revolving my life around the TV Guide. I know there are still plenty of kinks to be worked out, but I cannot wait to see people start getting paid real money for grassroots, web-based entertainment.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Please help save Bruce!
Eleventh Hour Mercy Plea to Save Death Row Dog Bruce
July 2, 2009 by K9 Magazine News Editor
Dog lovers around the world have reacted in horror to the recent news that the high profile case of pet dog “Bruce” may finally be over as a court orders he be destroyed in a few days time ending an exhaustive twenty one month battle to save him.
Bruce was a young Staffordshire Bull Terrier living happily with his family in Northern Ireland. On September 19th 2007 Bruce was seized by council officials as an alleged “pit bull type” and taken to secluded kennels whilst his owner was taken to court for owning a banned type of dog contrary to the Dangerous Dogs Act (Northern Ireland) Order 1991.
Whilst incarcerated in kennels his family were allowed to visit their dog in October 2007, Bruce had lost weight, muscle tone and had an open cut to his muzzle. Five months later Bruce was allowed a second visit from his family in March 2008, they were shocked with what they found: The wound on Bruce’s muzzle was larger, weeping and had become infected, he tail had been amputated due to damage and infection, he had open pressure sores, was underweight and looked totally broken and rejected, yet despite the clear pain he was in, is described by experts as being a friendly dog that poses no danger to the public.
A trial was heard at Bangor Magistrates’ Court on 27th August 2008 and the court determined that Bruce was “of type” despite the evidence from two expert identification witnesses who said he was not. Judgement was given two weeks later on the 12th September and Bruce was ordered destroyed devastating his family and supporters.
A legal appeal was lodged and a brief hearing on the 12th November 2008 listed the case for mention on 12th January 2009.
A further hearing in March 2009 was scheduled to set a date for the full Appeal. But, as we understand it, at this hearing the Judge gave Bruce a reprieve, as she believed Bruce does not pose a danger to the public. It was unclear how this potentially groundbreaking ruling would proceed as the Judge did not contest that Bruce had been found to be a pit bull type but decided as he posed no danger to the public he could be returned to his owner under the conditions that apply to pit bull types in England: Bruce’s owner was trying to obtain third party liability insurance for him as a pit bull type in Northern Ireland. As it is illegal to have a “pit bull type” in Northern Ireland no insurance company was able to offer insurance cover.
A further court date was set for 29th June 2009 to decide how this ruling for Bruce could proceed and the Judge ordered destruction.
In a desperate attempt to save Bruce, owner Shannon Brown, supporters and neighbours have created petitions, online networking groups and videos resulting in worldwide support to “Bring Bruce Home”. Bruce remains on canine death row, removed from his family home, alone and unaware of the worldwide support he has to spare his life.
Despite being debated several times, Northern Ireland has not adopted the provisions within the1997 Dangerous Dogs (Amendment) Act allowing friendly pet dogs found to be unlawful by appearance, but posing no danger to the public, to be allowed to live. In England, Scotland and Wales, a dog found to be “pit bull type” by the courts can be ordered entered onto the Index of Exempted Dogs as an alternative to destruction. If the Amendment had been accepted in Northern Ireland, the court would have been able to exercise discretion as with the rest of the UK - Bruce is likely to have been home long before now, alive and well registered on the Index of Exempted Dogs.
If Bruce lived across the border in Southern Ireland where no breeds are nationally banned he would never have been seized and imprisoned at all. Bruce has been offered a place of safety with a dedicated rescue and sanctuary in Southern Ireland where he could legally live out the rest of his life; this offer has been conveyed in writing to the solicitor but has sadly not been accepted by the court.
Bruce hasn’t actually ever put a paw wrong; he is sentenced to death due to the way he looks and the fact that NI has a mandatory death penalty unlike the rest of the UK who gave the courts discretion when sentencing twelve years ago.
Bruce and his family have endured much mental and physical anguish and pain solely due to a draconian law. His owner is simply a young dog owner who has been struggling for nearly two years to save her dogs life.
All that needs to be done to let a friendly dog live is for Bruce to be allowed safe passage from Northern to Southern Ireland and Bruce needs your support again during his eleventh hour.
We are asking supporters to contact the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Shaun Woodward MP) and Ministers urging them to use compassion and discretion by granting Bruce a Pardon removing the penalty imposed – the mandatory death sentence with the provision that Bruce is moved to the rescue placement ready and waiting for him in Southern Ireland. For a nation who claims to be animal lovers this would be the expected outcome.
As the court has ordered that Bruce be destroyed someone will be expected to administer the fatal injection. Veterinary surgeons take a sworn oath and promise to safeguard the welfare of animals committed into their care. In line with this sworn promise we are calling on all veterinary professionals within the UK to take a stand and refuse to kill Bruce - a healthy, wanted animal who poses no danger to the public & has a rescue space waiting for him in Eire. Bruce’s legal owner does not give consent for Bruce to be destroyed.
Please help by contacting the relevant authorities (template letters available) – details below to add your support to “Saving Bruce”.
For Further Information – Please Contact:
DDA Watch
Email: mail@dangerousdogsact.co.uk
www.dangerousdogsact.co.uk
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Had enough of politics yet?
If you're still all jazzed up to make your opinions known, I urge you to contact the USDA to oppose a new draft rule that goes a significant way toward implementing the National Animal Identification System. The NAIS is a proposed system that effectively tags and catalogs all members of most livestock species in the US, tracks their movements and records specific information about them.
The USDA's main argument in support of the NAIS is that it will improve animal health and food safety... the problem is that it does absolutely nothing to promote animal health. The NAIS is simply a system that provides for the warehousing of billions of pieces of largely irrelevant information. The databases to register properties, identify each animal, and record billions of "events" will dwarf any system currently in existence.
The costs for implementing the program, enforcing compliance, monitoring, and storing the recorded information are astronomical. The USDA has already spent $130 million toward the NAIS without yet developing any workable system. Such a waste of money in these troubled economic times is simply unconscionable. This is an enormous diversion of resources from the far more critical needs under USDA oversight, such as disease testing, disease prevention through vaccination and improved animal husbandry practices, and disease detection--basic biosecurity measures which, properly implemented and sufficiently funded, will do far more to improve herd health and food safety than a national animal tracking system. The NAIS will not prevent food-borne illnesses such as e. coli or salmonella contamination, because the tracking ends at the time of slaughter. If we truly want to protect people from animal-borne diseases the answer is simple: stop feeding animal parts to sheep and cattle, and test slaughtered animals before they enter the food supply. Salmonella and e. coli are best addressed by improved husbandry practices and the improved oversight of slaughterhouses and processing facilities. The truth is, this isn't really about food safety.
Programs such as NAIS that burden small, sustainable farmers will hurt efforts to develop safer, decentralized local food systems. In fact, the NAIS goes a significant way toward reducing the humane and ethical handling of food animals and the cleanliness of small-scale, locally-produced foods. It discourages individual involvement in farming or animal husbandry: because of extremely high costs of participation to the individual farmer, and government intrusion, many people will choose not to participate in food production and animal husbandry, or will refuse compliance. This will result in less competition, greater reliance on centralized, industrialized food sources, worse food quality, less consistent disease reporting and treatment, and fewer choices regarding the source and humane handling of your food animals.
National registration and health surveillance will benefit large-scale, commercial operations by making their products more valuable on a global market... but for the small-scale and family farmer there is absolutely no rational basis for the government to monitor the movements of personally-owned livestock animals. Under the NAIS plan, even the individual owner of a pet riding horse or a few backyard chickens would need to register with the government as a livestock producer, purchase tracking tags, report basic health care information, and report the movements of animals that have absolutely no interaction with the commercial food supply. The whole concept of a national tagging and tracking system for all livestock animals is so mind-bogglingly wasteful and useless, it leads one to wonder who actually does benefit from this system, since it's not the animals and it's not the small-scale farmers. The truth lies in the direction of big agribusiness, the sale of RFID chips, readers and implant equipment for every livestock animal in the country... not to mention the operation of the absolutely monumental databases, privately operated and maintained. The truth lies in in 2002, when the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (membership comprised of entities such as Cargill Pork, Tyson, Micro Beef Technologies, and Global Vet Link) proposed that the USDA develop a "national animal identification system"... companies that would reap the benefits of an enhanced export market and reduced competition without having to bear any of the costs.
In much the same way that the USDA regulates and oversees large-scale, commercial dog breeding operations but does not interfere with the good work of the small-scale hobby breeder's activities, a NAIS could be implemented toward the greater oversight of feedlots and factory farms without impacting local, small-scale, homestead, and family-farm operations. Please urge the USDA to end their support of a system that only benefits big agribusiness and will do great harm to local and humane food production. Follow the link below to visit the USDA's public comments forum and make your opinion known. Click the talk-bubble next to "add comments" to do just that.
http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocumentDetail&o=090000648081c664
The Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance has some good stuff to say on the subject... much clearer and more succinct than my thoughts, I'm sure. Be sure to check the "Focus on Horses" link on the right side for more information on the NAIS impact for horse owners.
Another very tidy summary can be found at the website of the LibertyArk Coalition. The thing that freaks me out the most about this is how far we've gone toward full implementation without any kind of public discussion on the matter. It's an issue that's totally off the radar, unless you happen to be a livestock owner. I am not, currently, but hope to be someday soon. More importantly, I care very much about where my food comes from. I feel very strongly about local food production, sustainability, biodiversity, and the ability of people to feed themselves from the ground up. I want us to continue to have food options that don't involve factories, that don't involve the horrific conditions of large feedlots and commercial slaughterhouses. I want to be able to grow my own chickens and keep a pig around without it being anyone's business but my own. I want to take trail rides and go camping without notifying the government of my movements. This system is frightening in its scope and impact. I can't urge you strongly enough to look into the issue, and to make your opinions known.
The USDA's main argument in support of the NAIS is that it will improve animal health and food safety... the problem is that it does absolutely nothing to promote animal health. The NAIS is simply a system that provides for the warehousing of billions of pieces of largely irrelevant information. The databases to register properties, identify each animal, and record billions of "events" will dwarf any system currently in existence.
The costs for implementing the program, enforcing compliance, monitoring, and storing the recorded information are astronomical. The USDA has already spent $130 million toward the NAIS without yet developing any workable system. Such a waste of money in these troubled economic times is simply unconscionable. This is an enormous diversion of resources from the far more critical needs under USDA oversight, such as disease testing, disease prevention through vaccination and improved animal husbandry practices, and disease detection--basic biosecurity measures which, properly implemented and sufficiently funded, will do far more to improve herd health and food safety than a national animal tracking system. The NAIS will not prevent food-borne illnesses such as e. coli or salmonella contamination, because the tracking ends at the time of slaughter. If we truly want to protect people from animal-borne diseases the answer is simple: stop feeding animal parts to sheep and cattle, and test slaughtered animals before they enter the food supply. Salmonella and e. coli are best addressed by improved husbandry practices and the improved oversight of slaughterhouses and processing facilities. The truth is, this isn't really about food safety.
Programs such as NAIS that burden small, sustainable farmers will hurt efforts to develop safer, decentralized local food systems. In fact, the NAIS goes a significant way toward reducing the humane and ethical handling of food animals and the cleanliness of small-scale, locally-produced foods. It discourages individual involvement in farming or animal husbandry: because of extremely high costs of participation to the individual farmer, and government intrusion, many people will choose not to participate in food production and animal husbandry, or will refuse compliance. This will result in less competition, greater reliance on centralized, industrialized food sources, worse food quality, less consistent disease reporting and treatment, and fewer choices regarding the source and humane handling of your food animals.
National registration and health surveillance will benefit large-scale, commercial operations by making their products more valuable on a global market... but for the small-scale and family farmer there is absolutely no rational basis for the government to monitor the movements of personally-owned livestock animals. Under the NAIS plan, even the individual owner of a pet riding horse or a few backyard chickens would need to register with the government as a livestock producer, purchase tracking tags, report basic health care information, and report the movements of animals that have absolutely no interaction with the commercial food supply. The whole concept of a national tagging and tracking system for all livestock animals is so mind-bogglingly wasteful and useless, it leads one to wonder who actually does benefit from this system, since it's not the animals and it's not the small-scale farmers. The truth lies in the direction of big agribusiness, the sale of RFID chips, readers and implant equipment for every livestock animal in the country... not to mention the operation of the absolutely monumental databases, privately operated and maintained. The truth lies in in 2002, when the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (membership comprised of entities such as Cargill Pork, Tyson, Micro Beef Technologies, and Global Vet Link) proposed that the USDA develop a "national animal identification system"... companies that would reap the benefits of an enhanced export market and reduced competition without having to bear any of the costs.
In much the same way that the USDA regulates and oversees large-scale, commercial dog breeding operations but does not interfere with the good work of the small-scale hobby breeder's activities, a NAIS could be implemented toward the greater oversight of feedlots and factory farms without impacting local, small-scale, homestead, and family-farm operations. Please urge the USDA to end their support of a system that only benefits big agribusiness and will do great harm to local and humane food production. Follow the link below to visit the USDA's public comments forum and make your opinion known. Click the talk-bubble next to "add comments" to do just that.
http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocumentDetail&o=090000648081c664
The Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance has some good stuff to say on the subject... much clearer and more succinct than my thoughts, I'm sure. Be sure to check the "Focus on Horses" link on the right side for more information on the NAIS impact for horse owners.
Another very tidy summary can be found at the website of the LibertyArk Coalition. The thing that freaks me out the most about this is how far we've gone toward full implementation without any kind of public discussion on the matter. It's an issue that's totally off the radar, unless you happen to be a livestock owner. I am not, currently, but hope to be someday soon. More importantly, I care very much about where my food comes from. I feel very strongly about local food production, sustainability, biodiversity, and the ability of people to feed themselves from the ground up. I want us to continue to have food options that don't involve factories, that don't involve the horrific conditions of large feedlots and commercial slaughterhouses. I want to be able to grow my own chickens and keep a pig around without it being anyone's business but my own. I want to take trail rides and go camping without notifying the government of my movements. This system is frightening in its scope and impact. I can't urge you strongly enough to look into the issue, and to make your opinions known.
More on HB2852
HB2852, which would require “pit bull” owners to purchase $1M worth of liability insurance, has been referred to the Consumer Protection committee. These are the people to contact to request modification of HB 2852 to remove the breed-specific language. The fact that it has officially gone into committee doesn't mean it's set to pass--the bill could very well die in committee, but if they move on it the next step will be public hearing, where we could call for public opposition in Salem.
Below is contact information for members of the Consumer Protection committee. Please feel free to write and call. Remember to be reasonable, calm, and factual.
A hearing for the bill has not yet been scheduled.
Consumer Protection
Membership:
Paul Holvey, Chair
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1408
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE H-275, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.paulholvey@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/holvey
Chuck Riley, Vice-Chair
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1429
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-274, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.chuckriley@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/riley
Jim Weidner, Vice-Chair
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1424
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-387, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.jimweidner@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/weidner
Brent Barton
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1451
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-386, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.brentbarton@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/barton
Jean Cowan
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1410
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-376, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.jeancowan@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/cowan
Vic Gilliam
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1418
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-389, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.vicgilliam@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/gilliam
Wayne Krieger
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1401
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., H-381, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.waynekrieger@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/krieger
Greg Matthews
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1450
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-379, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.gregmatthews@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/matthews
Carolyn Tomei
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1441
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., H-279, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.carolyntomei@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/tomei
Matt Wingard
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1426
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-474, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.mattwingard@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/wingard/
Staffing:
Victoria Cox
Cindy Hupp
Full list of email addresses for easy cut and paste: rep.paulholvey@state.or.us; rep.chuckriley@state.or.us; rep.jimweidner@state.or.us; rep.brentbarton@state.or.us; rep.jeancowan@state.or.us; rep.vicgilliam@state.or.us; rep.waynekrieger@state.or.us; rep.gregmatthews@state.or.us; rep.carolyntomei@state.or.us; rep.mattwingard@state.or.us
This Committee agenda may be watched here: http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/agenda/agendas.htm#HCP
This bill may be tracked here (click “House Bill” button and type 2852 into the box): http://www.leg.state.or.us/searchmeas.html
Previous alert and additional information can be found here: http://stopbsl.com/2009/03/03/oregon-hb-2852-requires-pit-bull-owners-to-have-liability-insurance-bsl/
Thanks to Green Dog Julie for the above links!
Below is contact information for members of the Consumer Protection committee. Please feel free to write and call. Remember to be reasonable, calm, and factual.
A hearing for the bill has not yet been scheduled.
Consumer Protection
Membership:
Paul Holvey, Chair
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1408
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE H-275, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.paulholvey@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/
Chuck Riley, Vice-Chair
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1429
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-274, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.chuckriley@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/
Jim Weidner, Vice-Chair
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1424
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-387, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.jimweidner@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/
Brent Barton
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1451
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-386, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.brentbarton@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/
Jean Cowan
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1410
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-376, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.jeancowan@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/
Vic Gilliam
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1418
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-389, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.vicgilliam@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/
Wayne Krieger
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1401
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., H-381, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.waynekrieger@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/
Greg Matthews
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1450
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-379, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.gregmatthews@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/
Carolyn Tomei
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1441
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., H-279, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.carolyntomei@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/
Matt Wingard
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1426
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-474, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.mattwingard@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/
Staffing:
Victoria Cox
Cindy Hupp
Full list of email addresses for easy cut and paste: rep.paulholvey@state.or.us; rep.chuckriley@state.or.us; rep.jimweidner@state.or.us; rep.brentbarton@state.or.us; rep.jeancowan@state.or.us; rep.vicgilliam@state.or.us; rep.waynekrieger@state.or.us; rep.gregmatthews@state.or.us; rep.carolyntomei@state.or.us; rep.mattwingard@state.or.us
This Committee agenda may be watched here: http://www.leg.state.or.us/
This bill may be tracked here (click “House Bill” button and type 2852 into the box): http://www.leg.state.or.us/
Previous alert and additional information can be found here: http://stopbsl.com/2009/03/03/
Thanks to Green Dog Julie for the above links!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
HALP!!!
Well, it appears Senator Starr's proposed "pit bull" ban was only a diversionary tactic to try and distract the public while HB 2852 was slipped in under the radar. Proposed by Rep. Vicki Berger, HB 2852 requires owners of APBTs, AmStaffs, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers, or owners of any dog resembling any of these breeds to carry liability insurance to the tune of one million dollars.
The senate was evidently flooded with phone calls, letters, and emails regarding Starr's proposed ban. We need to make even MORE noise about this issue--let them know we ARE paying attention and that we mean what we say. The fact of the matter is breed specific legislation is ineffective, misguided, unfair, and totally unacceptable. If the issue were TRULY about public safety, we'd be talking about fair and effective dangerous dog legislation that places the responsibility squarely on the shoulders of irresponsible pet owners, REGARDLESS of breed or type.
Please, contact our representatives. Let them know that HB 2852 will do nothing to improve public safety. Responsible owners will handle their dogs responsibly, while irresponsible owners will continue to put the public at risk, no matter what breed or type of dog they own. Irresponsible owners will not purchase these insurance policies; victims of dog attacks will still have been attacked... mandating insurance policies will not stop these occurrences. Mandatory insurance and the social stigma around it will drive responsible owners away from adopting and caring for shelter dogs that even vaguely resemble pit bulls to avoid the embarrassment and hassle, leaving millions of dogs a year to die in shelters. It will lead to pet abandonment and unfairly target low-income and working-class dog owners and be nearly impossible to enforce. Add to that the near-impossibility of identifying a pit bull on sight (recent DNA testing of mixed breeds shows even the experts can't do it) and the fact that they temperament test as more stable than nearly all breeds and you can see that mandating insurance on the basis of
external appearance is sheer stupidity.
A far more appropriate piece of legislation would require dogs with bite histories or previous complaints about aggression to be insured. A far more effective piece of legislation would resemble Calgary, Alberta, Canada's Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw (warning: PDF), a smart and effective piece of legislation that puts the onus of responsible ownership squarely with the dog owner, themselves.
...but of course we all know this isn't about public safety. Write now!
Say NO to HB2852!
rep.juleskopelbailey@state.or.
rep.jeffbarker@state.or.us
rep.philbarnhart@state.or.us
rep.brentbarton@state.or.us
rep.vickiberger@state.or.us
rep.terrybeyer@state.or.us
rep.deborahboone@state.or.us
rep.scottbruun@state.or.us
rep.peterbuckley@state.or.us
rep.kevincameron@state.or.us
rep.bencannon@state.or.us
rep.brianclem@state.or.us
rep.jeancowan@state.or.us
rep.michaeldembrow@state.or.us
rep.chrisedwards@state.or.us
rep.davidedwards@state.or.us
rep.timfreeman@state.or.us
rep.larrygalizio@state.or.us
rep.billgarrard@state.or.us
rep.chrisgarrett@state.or.us
rep.saragelser@state.or.us
rep.vicgilliam@state.or.us
rep.georgegilman@state.or.us
rep.mitchgreenlick@state.or.us
rep.brucehanna@state.or.us
rep.chrisharker@state.or.us
rep.paulholvey@state.or.us
rep.johnhuffman@state.or.us
rep.davehunt@state.or.us
rep.bobjenson@state.or.us
rep.nickkahl@state.or.us
rep.billkennemer@state.or.us
rep.bettykomp@state.or.us
rep.tinakotek@state.or.us
rep.waynekrieger@state.or.us
rep.gregmatthews@state.or.us
rep.ronmaurer@state.or.us
rep.nancynathanson@state.or.us
rep.marynolan@state.or.us
rep.andyolson@state.or.us
rep.tobiasread@state.or.us
rep.dennisrichardson@state.or.
rep.chuckriley@state.or.us
rep.arnieroblan@state.or.us
rep.mikeschaufler@state.or.us
rep.chipshields@state.or.us
rep.gregsmith@state.or.us
rep.jeffersonsmith@state.or.us
rep.sherriesprenger@state.or.
rep.judystiegler@state.or.us
rep.kimthatcher@state.or.us
rep.jimthompson@state.or.us
rep.carolyntomei@state.or.us
rep.suzannevanorman@state.or.
rep.jimweidner@state.or.us
rep.genewhisnant@state.or.us
rep.mattwingard@state.or.us
rep.bradwitt@state.or.us
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Senator Starr proposes "pit bull" ban in Oregon
From Green Dog Julie's BSL watchdog list, please act:
-----------------------
Hi all,
Senator Starr out of Hillsboro has proposed a statewide ban on "pit bulls", which KATU reports will be heard within the next couple of weeks. While we are waiting on more details on the hearing in order to organize a protest, please send your polite, calm and informative emails to our senators. Remember to note the ineffectiveness of BSL, the cost, and the extreme difficulty in enforcement.
For help on writing to legislators, www.stopbsl.com is a great resource.
Here is the contact information:
Senator Jason Atkinson
Party: R District: 2
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1702
Interim Phone: 541-955-0911
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-415, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: PO Box 1704, Grants Pass, OR, 97528
Email: sen.jasonatkinson@state.or.us
Senator Alan C Bates
Party: D District: 3
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1703
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-205, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.alanbates@state.or.us
Senator Suzanne Bonamici
Party: D District: 17
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1717
District Phone: 503-627-0246
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-403, Salem, OR, 97301
District Office Address: PO Box 990, Beaverton, OR, 97075
Email: sen.suzannebonamici@state.or.us
Senator Brian Boquist
Party: R District: 12
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1712
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-305, Salem,, OR, 97301
Email: sen.brianboquist@state.or.us
Senator Ginny Burdick
Party: D District: 18
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1718
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-213, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.ginnyburdick@state.or.us
Senator Margaret Carter
Party: D District: 22
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1722
Interim Phone: 503-282-6846
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-209, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: PO Box 3722, Portland, OR, 97208
Email: sen.margaretcarter@state.or.us
Senator Peter Courtney
Party: D District: 11
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1600
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-201, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.petercourtney@state.or.us
Senator Richard Devlin
Party: D District: 19
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1700
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-223, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.richarddevlin@state.or.us
Senator Jackie Dingfelder
Party: D District: 23
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1723
Interim Phone: 503-493-2804
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-407, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: PO Box 13432, Portland, OR, 97213
Email: sen.jackiedingfelder@state.or.us
Senator Ted Ferrioli
Party: R District: 30
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1950
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-323, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.tedferrioli@state.or.us
Senator Larry George
Party: R District: 13
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1713
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-307, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.larrygeorge@state.or.us
Senator Fred Girod
Party: R District: 9
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1709
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-421, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.fredgirod@state.or.us
Senator Mark Hass
Party: D District: 14
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1714
District Phone: 503-641-2742
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-419, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.markhass@state.or.us
Senator Betsy Johnson
Party: D District: 16
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1716
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-215, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.betsyjohnson@state.or.us
Senator Jeff Kruse
Party: R District: 1
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1701
Interim Phone: 541-673-7201
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-316, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 636 Wild Iris Lane, Roseburg, OR, 97470
Email: sen.jeffkruse@state.or.us
Senator Rick Metsger
Party: D District: 26
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1726
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-315, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.rickmetsger@state.or.us
Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson
Party: D District: 25
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1725
Interim Phone: 503-618-3071
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-413, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: PO Box 1531 , Gresham, OR, 97030
Email: sen.lauriemonnesanderson@state.or.us
Senator Rod Monroe
Party: D District: 24
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1724
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-409, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.rodmonroe@state.or.us
Senator Bill Morrisette
Party: D District: 6
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1706
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-207, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.billmorrisette@state.or.us
Senator Frank Morse
Party: R District: 8
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1708
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-311, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.frankmorse@state.or.us
Senator David Nelson
Party: R District: 29
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1729
Interim Phone: 541-278-2332
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-211, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 1407 NW Horn Ave., Pendleton, OR, 97801
Email: sen.davidnelson@state.or.us
Senator Floyd Prozanski
Party: D District: 4
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1704
Interim Phone: 541-342-2447
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-417, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: PO Box 11511, Eugene, OR, 97440
Email: sen.floydprozanski@state.or.us
Senator Diane Rosenbaum
Party: D District: 21
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1721
Interim Phone: 503-231-9970
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-405, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 1125 SE Madison St., Suite 100B, Portland, OR, 97214
Email: sen.dianerosenbaum@state.or.us
Senator Martha Schrader
Party: D District: 20
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1720
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-425, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.marthaschrader@state.or.us
Senator Bruce Starr
Party: R District: 15
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1715
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-411, Salem, OR, 97302
Email: sen.brucestarr@state.or.us
Senator Chris Telfer
Party: R District: 27
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1727
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-423, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.christelfer@state.or.us
Senator Joanne Verger
Party: D District: 5
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1705
Interim Phone: 541-756-4140
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-401, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 3696 Broadway PMB 344, North Bend, OR, 97459
Email: sen.joanneverger@state.or.us
Senator Vicki L Walker
Party: D District: 7
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1707
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-309, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.vickiwalker@state.or.us
Senator Doug Whitsett
Party: R District: 28
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1728
Interim Phone: 541-882-1315
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE., S-303, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 23131 North Poe Valley Rd., Klamath Falls, OR, 97603
Email: sen.dougwhitsett@state.or.us
Senator Jackie Winters
Party: R District: 10
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1710
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-301, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.jackiewinters@state.or.us
-----------------------
Hi all,
Senator Starr out of Hillsboro has proposed a statewide ban on "pit bulls", which KATU reports will be heard within the next couple of weeks. While we are waiting on more details on the hearing in order to organize a protest, please send your polite, calm and informative emails to our senators. Remember to note the ineffectiveness of BSL, the cost, and the extreme difficulty in enforcement.
For help on writing to legislators, www.stopbsl.com is a great resource.
Here is the contact information:
Senator Jason Atkinson
Party: R District: 2
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1702
Interim Phone: 541-955-0911
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-415, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: PO Box 1704, Grants Pass, OR, 97528
Email: sen.jasonatkinson@state.or.us
Senator Alan C Bates
Party: D District: 3
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1703
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-205, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.alanbates@state.or.us
Senator Suzanne Bonamici
Party: D District: 17
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1717
District Phone: 503-627-0246
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-403, Salem, OR, 97301
District Office Address: PO Box 990, Beaverton, OR, 97075
Email: sen.suzannebonamici@state.or.us
Senator Brian Boquist
Party: R District: 12
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1712
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-305, Salem,, OR, 97301
Email: sen.brianboquist@state.or.us
Senator Ginny Burdick
Party: D District: 18
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1718
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-213, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.ginnyburdick@state.or.us
Senator Margaret Carter
Party: D District: 22
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1722
Interim Phone: 503-282-6846
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-209, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: PO Box 3722, Portland, OR, 97208
Email: sen.margaretcarter@state.or.us
Senator Peter Courtney
Party: D District: 11
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1600
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-201, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.petercourtney@state.or.us
Senator Richard Devlin
Party: D District: 19
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1700
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-223, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.richarddevlin@state.or.us
Senator Jackie Dingfelder
Party: D District: 23
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1723
Interim Phone: 503-493-2804
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-407, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: PO Box 13432, Portland, OR, 97213
Email: sen.jackiedingfelder@state.or.us
Senator Ted Ferrioli
Party: R District: 30
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1950
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-323, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.tedferrioli@state.or.us
Senator Larry George
Party: R District: 13
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1713
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-307, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.larrygeorge@state.or.us
Senator Fred Girod
Party: R District: 9
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1709
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-421, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.fredgirod@state.or.us
Senator Mark Hass
Party: D District: 14
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1714
District Phone: 503-641-2742
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-419, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.markhass@state.or.us
Senator Betsy Johnson
Party: D District: 16
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1716
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-215, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.betsyjohnson@state.or.us
Senator Jeff Kruse
Party: R District: 1
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1701
Interim Phone: 541-673-7201
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-316, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 636 Wild Iris Lane, Roseburg, OR, 97470
Email: sen.jeffkruse@state.or.us
Senator Rick Metsger
Party: D District: 26
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1726
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-315, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.rickmetsger@state.or.us
Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson
Party: D District: 25
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1725
Interim Phone: 503-618-3071
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-413, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: PO Box 1531 , Gresham, OR, 97030
Email: sen.lauriemonnesanderson@state.or.us
Senator Rod Monroe
Party: D District: 24
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1724
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-409, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.rodmonroe@state.or.us
Senator Bill Morrisette
Party: D District: 6
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1706
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-207, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.billmorrisette@state.or.us
Senator Frank Morse
Party: R District: 8
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1708
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-311, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.frankmorse@state.or.us
Senator David Nelson
Party: R District: 29
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1729
Interim Phone: 541-278-2332
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-211, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 1407 NW Horn Ave., Pendleton, OR, 97801
Email: sen.davidnelson@state.or.us
Senator Floyd Prozanski
Party: D District: 4
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1704
Interim Phone: 541-342-2447
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-417, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: PO Box 11511, Eugene, OR, 97440
Email: sen.floydprozanski@state.or.us
Senator Diane Rosenbaum
Party: D District: 21
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1721
Interim Phone: 503-231-9970
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-405, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 1125 SE Madison St., Suite 100B, Portland, OR, 97214
Email: sen.dianerosenbaum@state.or.us
Senator Martha Schrader
Party: D District: 20
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1720
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-425, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.marthaschrader@state.or.us
Senator Bruce Starr
Party: R District: 15
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1715
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-411, Salem, OR, 97302
Email: sen.brucestarr@state.or.us
Senator Chris Telfer
Party: R District: 27
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1727
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-423, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.christelfer@state.or.us
Senator Joanne Verger
Party: D District: 5
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1705
Interim Phone: 541-756-4140
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-401, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 3696 Broadway PMB 344, North Bend, OR, 97459
Email: sen.joanneverger@state.or.us
Senator Vicki L Walker
Party: D District: 7
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1707
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-309, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.vickiwalker@state.or.us
Senator Doug Whitsett
Party: R District: 28
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1728
Interim Phone: 541-882-1315
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE., S-303, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 23131 North Poe Valley Rd., Klamath Falls, OR, 97603
Email: sen.dougwhitsett@state.or.us
Senator Jackie Winters
Party: R District: 10
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1710
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-301, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.jackiewinters@state.or.us
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