In the eras of both McCarthyism and the Salem Witch Trials, government officials had been swayed by pressure exerted stemming from a philosophical/religious agenda resulting in the violation of due process and suspension of legal rights of a targeted human community.  Ms Bernardini is correct there is a growing body of outrage at individuals supporting Animal Rights to the future detriment of the communities in which they participate.  However, these individuals are not the ones being subjected to theft of property under color of law, interference in their lawful commerce, selective law enforcement to the detriment of property owners and even death threats.   These are all symptoms of the McCarthyist/Witch Trial attitude, but the communities suffering this treatment are animal breeders, farmers, scientific researcher and other groups currently targeted by PETA and HSUS

These groups are well-aware that they need only apply the label ‘puppy mill’ to a dog breeder, ’irresponsible’ or ‘hoarder’ to an owner to they wish to target for even Law Enforcement to look the other way.  Consider the following examples, all of which have occurred within the past 2 months and most are on-going, representing a miniscule portion of the affected.

• The rescue group “Saving Pets One at a Time” (SPOT) is currently holding a group of dogs hostage, in violation of a court order to return the dogs due to illegal seizure. Law enforcement refuses to intervene and enforce the court order, despite the fact they were willing to seize the dogs in the first place.  Their stated goal? To run the rightful and legal owner out of money in court so that they can keep the dogs and sell them. (otherwise phrased as ‘put them up for adoption’)
• The breeder of Vice President Biden’s German Shepherd pup has been subjected to harassment and death threats, while law enforcement has done little to protect her. 
• Pet owners across the country are now labeled irresponsible owners for making surgical decisions in consultation with their veterinarian with the right to determine their choice removed by mandatory spay/neuter laws (MSN)
• Pit Bull Terriers and dogs vaguely fitting the physical description are seized and destroyed for nothing more than their appearance or parentage, with their owners powerless to resist
• Animals seized and owners charged with cruelty despite animals being in ‘good condition’
• Scientific researchers having their cars set on fire, their children threatened due to their chosing to dedicate their lives to research for the good of human-kind (jeopardizing the current and future health of us all)
• Farmers having increasing requirements laid upon them that drive them ever closer to the brink of financial collapse with little to no benefit in food safety and often with less benefit to animal or crop health.
• Law enforcement and media referring to people with groups of animals numbering 5 as ‘animal hoarders’, which they like to refer to as a recognized mental illness. (which it is not)

There is most definitely an active witch-hunt and campaign of fear, no doubt about that.  Unfortunately, the groups depicted by as victims by Ms. Bernardini are not the subject of the McCarthyism and Witch-Hunt tactics.  They are the source of the McCarthyism and Witch-Hunt tactics, and they have a massive budget with which to do so.  For their followers to claim otherwise is disingenuous, at best.

Copyright 2009 by Erica Saunders   http://AR-HR.com
All rights reserved

However, the near future for Bo’s breeder does not bode well.  Vice-President Biden got a German Shepard pup from dog breeder, Linda Brown, back in December.  Since that time, Ms. Brown, has been the subject of :

• A series of rapid-fire inspections of her kennel based on anonymous complaints
• Libelous and unsubstantiated accusations by PETA, which have been subsequently picked up and run as news in mainstream media
• Ridiculous citations, including citation for a single piece of kibble on the ground and 5 strands of dog hair. (with photographs of such entered into evidence)
• Death threats to herself and to VP Biden

On March 31, after having to spend $4000 in legal fees, Linda Brown was cleared of all citations by a judge but the harassment continues and damage to her reputation lingers on.  All of this in the 4 months since VP Biden was announced to be getting a pup from her.  President Obama and VP Biden have the Secret Service at their disposal to deal with death threats, the dog breeders do not.  Will the breeder of the First Pup be subjected to this kind of ongoing horror story for simply fulfilling a family’s wish to add a dog to a high-profile household?  Will the breeder of the First Pup also find herself harassed by individuals, activist groups and by law enforcement?  Will the death threats, god forbid, eventually result in the death of a dog or a person? 

Given Linda Brown’s experiences since the sale of a pup to VP Biden, I commend the breeder of the First Pup on her courage in stepping into the spotlight on this and wish her the best of luck.  She’s going to need it.

Copyright 2009 by Erica Saunders   http://AR-HR.com
All rights reserved