HAS THE HSUS “HIJACKED” THE APHIS OFFICE OF ENFORCEMENT?!

In May of 2010 the Inspector General of the USDA released a scathing report that criticized APHIS for placing too much emphasis on education and not enough on enforcement.  One of its recommendations included creating an Office within APHIS that would specifically focus on enforcement.  And the person who was hired to fill the new position was an attorney who had specialized in Animal Law Issues.  Her name is Ms. Sarah L. Conant, and she has been issuing a number of “enforcement” letters to dog breeders, and to at least one rabbit breeder with assessed fines up to $50,000 or more.  A sampling of some of Ms. Conant’s “legal qualifications” that may have been considered by the USDA when she was selected to fill the newly created APHIS position, which may give all responsible breeders a reason to say “OMG,” is set out below:

·     Ms. Conant was employed by the HSUS as a Litigation Attorney immediately before she was hired by the USDA.

·     Ms. Conant first became associated with the HSUS when she was designated as an HSUS Litigation Fellow.

·     In 2007 Ms. Conant was featured and quoted in a Virginia Law Publication entitled “Humane Society Lawyers Fight Culture of Cruelty, Government Bureaucracy.”  One of her quotes included the statement that “Humane Society lawyers are working with legislatures and in the courts to change laws that affect the lives of farm animals,” and that “they are forced to go state by state in this effort because there are very few federal laws regarding farm animals.”

·     Ms. Conant was employed by the HSUS in the same HSUS Litigation Office which was so actively involved in the Litigation last year that challenged placing the Proposition B Ballot Initiative on the November 2011 Ballot in Missouri.

·     Ms. Conant’s “Name” has appeared as Counsel of Record for the HSUS on Lawsuits and Complaints filed against Federal Agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission and the U. S. Department of Agriculture, which now is her current employer.  (Here it is significant to note that on at least one Lawsuit document that may be found on the HSUS Website, the name of “Sarah L. Conant” was no longer listed as one of the Counsel of Record, even though the originally filed document filed listed her name.  Surely the HSUS would not engage in a “COVER-UP!”  Or would it?!?!?!?!?!?)

·     Ms. Conant worked in the same HSUS Litigation Office that sued the USDA under the Freedom of Information Act last October.  This Lawsuit seeks personal, confidential and business sensitive information on every USDA Licensed Breeder in Missouri.

·       Ms. Conant is listed as the Vice Chair of the Animal Law Section of the DC Bar, and is listed as representing the HSUS with no reference to the position that she currently holds with USDA.

While some may suggest that Ms. Conant has appropriate qualifications to act as the Chief of the Enforcement Section of APHIS, I personally and professionally believe that an egregious “Conflict of Interest” exists.  In this regard, Rule 1.11 that is published by the American Bar Association specifically addresses “Conflicts of Interests For Former and Current Government Officers and Employees.”    The relevant language states: “a lawyer currently serving as a public officer or employee shall not participate in a matter in which the lawyer participated personally and substantially while in private practice or nongovernment employment, unless the appropriate government agency gives its informed consent, confirmed in writing.”    This is why a FOIA Request was submitted for a copy of the USDA “Informed Consent Document,” or a comparable “Conflict of Interest Document.”   In the Practice of Law, some would consider a Breach of the “Conflict of Interest” Standard to represent a serious issue that involves “Legal Ethics.”

Three Little “Dashes” of Potentially “Good News:”: 

·      First Dash:  On Monday, July 11, 2011, I received confirmation from the IRS that it had assigned a Case File Number (2011-010153) for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).  Perhaps, just perhaps, someday the ASPCA will look back in the next year or so and wish that it had not thrown its “lot” in with the HSUS; that it had not contributed nearly $600,000 to the Proposition B Campaign in Missouri; that it had not been a Charter Supporter of the current and on-going “Your Vote Counts” Ballot Initiative Campaign in Missouri; and that it had not “hired away” from the HSUS Ms. Nancy Perry to fill its newly created position of Senior Vice President for Government Relations for the express purpose of overseeing the lobbying activities of the ASPCA in all 50 States, as well as at the Federal Level.

·      Second Dash:  On Tuesday, July 12, 2011, I received confirmation that the Inspector General of the USDA (USDA IG) had received a Fraud, Waste and Abuse Complaint that included a Freedom of Information Request for a “Conflict of Interest” Statement concerning Ms. Sarah L. Conant.  While there is no guarantee that the USDA IG will find wrongdoing on the part of Ms. Conant, the potential exists that the revelation about the specific duties that she performed on behalf of her prior employer could prove to be a major source of embarrassment for the USDA, and could “taint” the integrity of every single adverse action and all assessed fines against Breeders that occurred on “her watch.”    In this regard, Government Employees are expected not only to avoid “Conflicts of Interest,” but are expected to avoid any appearance of a “Conflict of Interest.”   This scenario raises Issues of “Legal Ethics” - - both for the USDA and Ms. Conant who is an attorney.

·      Third Dash:  On Wednesday, July 13, 2011, I received confirmation that the APHIS FOIA Office had received a FOIA Request for “information” concerning Ms. Conant, and that the APHIS FOIA Office has assigned Case File Number 11-645 to this FOIA Request with a suspense date of August 10, 2011 for its response to the FOIA Request.  Since it has been the HSUS that was submitting all of those FOIA requests for information about Missouri Breeders, it sure will be interesting to see if the HSUS objects to the release of information concerning Ms. Conant’s duties while she worked for the HSUS.  My oh my, won’t it be interesting to see how APHIS responds to a FOIA Request that might prove to be more than a “bit embarrassing.” 

When a breeder does not comply with the “Rules,” there are consequences.  When a Government Employee does not comply with the “Rules,”…………………….. Well, we’ll just have to wait and see!!!!!

Three Little “Dashes” and a “Pinch” of a “No I am not dreaming!”  The second Week of July brought a big smile to my face!    

What More Needs to Be Done to Hold the HSUS Accountable for Its Actions?:  Create a “FLOOD” of E-Mails from all 50 States to be sent to your respective U.S. Representative and your two U.S. Senators which will ask them to do what Seven Members of Congress have already done - - requested investigations by the Treasury’s Inspector General into the HSUS’s “apparent improper activities and its tax-exempt status.  THESE THREE E-MAILS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE; THEY WILL GENERATE MORE CONGRESSIONAL LETTERS THAT WILL PUT EVEN MORE PRESSURE ON THE IRS TO EXPEDITIOUSLY INVESTIGATE THE HSUS; AND THEY SHOULD TAKE NO MORE THAN 20 MINUTES TO DO THE FOLLOWING SIX THINGS:

1.     To send an E-Mail to your U.S. Representative, Log onto www.house.gov/writerep/

2.     Fill in your state and ZIP Code on the prompt that appears.

3.     Add your name, address and E-Mail address on E-Mail Form for your U.S. Representative; and on the Subject Line add: Request the Inspector General and the IRS Investigate the HSUS; and then add then add the message set out below.

4.     To send an E-Mail to your Two Senators, Log onto:    www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

5.     Click onto the E-Mail Address for each of your two U.S. Senators.

6.     Add your name, address and E-Mail address on E-Mail Form for your U.S. Representative; and on the Subject Line add: Request the Inspector General and the IRS Investigate the HSUS; and then add then add the message set out below.

Suggested Text of E-Mail Message

“The IRS has received voluminous documentation that substantiates that the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) - - a Public Charity - - has engaged in excessive, prohibited, and under-reported lobbying activities, and may have under-reported its revenue by over $500 Million. Significantly, the HSUS President and CEO has repeatedly stated that he has “helped to pass perhaps 1,000 laws.”

 Treasury Department, Six U.S. Representatives (Hartzler, Emerson, Luetkemeyer, Graves and Long from Missouri, and Young from Alaska) stated: “we write to request investigations by the Inspector General into HSUS’s apparent improper activities and its tax-exempt status.”  They further stated:  “If the HSUS is not complying with the law, it should be investigated and disciplined just like any other organization.”

With a National Debt of Trillions of Dollars, our Government needs to maintain the integrity of the U.S. Tax Code.  As your constituent, I am requesting that you confirm that you have sent a similar letter on my behalf to the Inspector General of the Department of the Treasury.

Thank You.”

Collectively, we can make a difference, and put the HSUS on the defensive.  If the HSUS can generate Millions of E-Mails to Members of Congress, surely we can generate hundreds of E-Mails from each and every State.  Let’s do it!

June 2011 Call to Action by Frank Losey

JUNE 2011 CALL TO ACTION:  NOW is the time for a “FLOOD” of E-Mails to be sent to your respective U.S. Representative and your two U.S. Senators.  THESE THREE E-MAILS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE; THEY WILL GENERATE MORE CONGRESSIONAL LETTERS THAT WILL PUT EVEN MORE PRESSURE ON THE IRS TO EXPEDITIOUSLY INVESTIGATE THE HSUS; AND THEY SHOULD TAKE NO MORE THAN 20 MINUTES TO DO THE FOLLOWING SIX THINGS:

1.  To send an E-Mail to your U.S. Representative, Log onto www.house.gov/writerep/

2.  Fill in your state and ZIP Code on the prompt that appears.

3.  Add your name, address and E-Mail address on E-Mail Form for your U.S. Representative; and on the Subject Line add: Request the Inspector General and the IRS Investigate the HSUS; and then add then add the message set out below.

4.  To send an E-Mail to your Two Senators, Log onto:    www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

5.  Click onto the E-Mail Address for each of your two U.S. Senators.

6.  Add your name, address and E-Mail address on E-Mail Form for your U.S. Representative; and on the Subject Line add: Request the Inspector General and the IRS Investigate the HSUS; and then add then add the message set out below.

Suggested Text of E-Mail Message

“The IRS has received 1,628 pages of documents that substantiate that the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) - - a Public Charity - - has engaged in excessive, prohibited, and under-reported lobbying activities, and may have under-reported its revenue by over $500 Million.  For example, the HSUS President and CEO has stated that he has “helped to pass perhaps 1,000 laws.”

In a Joint Letter dated April 18, 2011, which was addressed to the Inspector General of the Treasury Department, Six U.S. Representatives (Hartzler, Emerson,  Luetkemeyer, Graves and Long from Missouri, and Young from Alaska) stated: “we write to request investigations by the Inspector General into HSUS’s apparent improper activities and its tax-exempt status.”  They further stated:  “If the HSUS is not complying with the law, it should be investigated and disciplined just like any other organization.”

With a National Debt of over $61 Trillion, our Government needs to maintain the integrity of the U.S. Tax Code.  As your constituent, I am requesting that you confirm that you have sent a similar letter on my behalf to the Inspector General of the Department of the Treasury.”

Thank You.

NOTE:  If your U.S. Representative is either Representative Hartzler, Emerson, Luetkemeyer, Graves or Long from MO, or Representative Young from AK, your E-Mail Message should simply say: “THANK YOU for your Joint Letter to the Treasury’s Inspector General!!!!”

Take Action to Protect the American Horse Industry!

We knew the consequences of the 2007 ban on horse processing would be bad, but no one could have predicted the horrific outcome that haunts the U.S. horse industry today.  We face this challenge as the outcome of federal legislation  resulting from the reaction to dishonest emotional propaganda driven by the radical animal rights organizations in our country.  Rather than relying on the facts and on the experts in the horse community, the well funded campaign led by The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) used emotion and misinformation to pressure lawmakers to eliminate horse processing in the United States.


Currently, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate are considering amendments to the current Agriculture Appropriations Bill that would continue to abolish needed horse processing in the United States, and also prevent American horses from being transported across U.S. borders for processing.


A Government Accounting Office (GAO) investigation on the horse industry was requested by the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee almost two years ago in July of 2009. The GAO has thoroughly studied the effect of the horse processing plants closing in 2007. This study looked at the effect of the plants closing on the welfare of horses themselves, as well as the effect on farm economy across America. This report is complete, but its release is being delayed.


Unfortunately, the current House Agriculture Appropriations Bill is being rushed to a vote before the results of the GAO report is allowed to be considered! Aggressive action by HSUS and other radical animal rights groups have pushed for action before the GAO results become public.

 Please Take Immediate Action!

The House vote will take place on Wednesday, June 15th, 2011.

We urge you to call your Congressman and Senators immediately
and urgently request that they review the results
of the GAO report prior to ANY VOTE!


Please take ACTION NOW to protect the
American horse industry!


Click here to Contact your U.S. Representative

  Click here to Contact your U.S. Senators


Thank You!

ASPCA - - WILL THE IRS TAX MAN COMETH?! by Frank Losey

U.S. Postal Service Tracking Numbers confirm that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has now received a formal, written and documented request for the IRS to revoke the tax-exempt, public charity status of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) because of its excessive, under-reported and non-reported lobbying activities.  The irrefutable and incriminating Documents that support this request, include, but are not limited to:

• Extracts from the ASPCA 2008-2009 Tax Returns.

• Documents downloaded from the ASPCA Website, which include 64 self-incriminating quotes.

• Documents maintained by State Governments that list the Registered Lobbyists of the ASPCA.

• Extracts from Documents maintained by the Missouri Ethics Commission that explicitly establish that the ASPCA “directly” contributed $582,241.39 to the Proposition B State Ballot Initiative Campaign in Missouri.  (NOTE:  If the ASPCA directly contributed $582,241.39 in but one State in 2010, “inquiring minds” within the IRS may begin to wonder how much more was directly and indirectly spent on “Lobbying” by the ASPCA in the other 49 States and in Washington DC!!!!!)

• A Press Release from the State Humane Association of California which announced that it had “filed a complaint with the Office of the (California) Attorney General against the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).  The complaint alleges that ASPCA’s unfair and deceptive fundraising practices harm local humane societies and SPCAs . . . (and that) Ever since the ASPCA began to aggressively fundraise several years ago, humane societies throughout the country have suffered.” 

• Jaw-Dropping Extracts from a Lawsuit that was filed last year by the Feld Corporation, the Parent Company of the Ringling Brothers Circus.  That Lawsuit named not only the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) as a defendant, but it also named the ASPCA as a defendant.  This is the Lawsuit that alleged that HSUS AND THE ASPCA VIOLATED THE RACKETEER INFLUENCED CORRUPT ORGANIZATIONS (RICO) ACT; THAT THE DEFENDANTS CONSPIRED TO CONDUCT THE AFFAIRS OF THE ENTERPRISE THROUGH A PATTERN OF RACKETEERING ACTIVITY; WHICH ACTIVITY INCLUDED MONEY LAUNDERING, OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE, MAIL FRAUD, WIRE FRAUD, CONSPIRACY TO HARM A BUSINESS AND A FUNDRAISER HELD IN FURTHERANCE OF THE SCHEMES.

And yes, the Press Release of the State Humane Association of California and Extracts from the Feld Lawsuit were included among the Tabbed Documents submitted to the IRS!!!!
When the IRS reads the 64 quotes from the Documents downloaded from the ASPCA Website, those documents should lead the IRS to the inescapable conclusion that the ASPCA has become “joined at the hip” with the HSUS!!!!  Seventeen of the most illustrative and damning quotes include:

• “The ASPCA . . . today announced the appointment of Nancy Perry to the “new position of senior vice president of Government Relations.”

• Ms. Perry will be “responsible for the overall strategic and tactical direction of the ASPCA’s legislative efforts and public policy at the local, state, and federal government levels.”

•  “Ms. Perry joins the ASPCA from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) where she served as vice president of Government Affairs and oversaw HSUS’s state and federal legislative efforts, including ballot measure campaigns and nationwide grassroots activities. . .  Nancy has also been a key architect and leader of more than 20 successful state ballot initiative measures.”

• “ASPCA attorneys and staff also work with legislators to write, sponsor, support and advocate for animal-friendly legislation.”

•  “ASPCA staff works to pass laws on the state and federal level. . . . .  In 2006, this team helped get 42 bills passed, 41 bills signed into law, and 11 bills defeated around the United States.”

• “Tuesday was an historic day in America in more ways than one. With resounding victories for California’s Prop 2 and Massachusetts’s Ballot Question 3.”

•  “The ASPCA wishes to thank our supporters all over the country for helping us advocate for Proposition B to your friends and family in Missouri.”

•  “The ASPCA is also joining other animal welfare groups in actively supporting the Voter Protection Act, a proposed constitutional amendment to require a three – fourths vote in both houses of the legislature . . . in order to repeal or amend any citizen-passed initiative in Missouri.”

•  “The ASPCA implores all of our supporters to contact everyone you know in Missouri; ask them to call Governor Nixon to urge him to veto SB 113.”

• “Action Needed Now” concerned two Federal Bills and 16 Bills pending in State Legislatures in 13 different States.

• “In-depth background information on the animal issues the ASPCA’s lobbyists most often tackle.”

•  “Lobbying 101.”

•  “Check out our multi-part primer on lobbying for animals at any government level.”

•  “Working with Your Elected Officials.   Ready to dive into the world of political lobbying?  Read this first!”

•  “By joining the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade, you can be a part of the legislative process

• “Service provided by the ASPCA that allows you to “click and send” communications to your lawmakers on proposed legislation affecting animals.

•   “Please email your representative in the U.S. House today and ask him or her to support and cosponsor the PUPS Act!  To learn more about this issue, please visit www.aspca.org/puppymills.”

I do anticipate that the IRS will assign a Tax Fraud Case File Number for the ASPCA before the end of June!!!!!  Although the “Wheels of Justice” grind slowly, once they begin to move, they sometimes turn into “Grist Mills!!!!!”

A CALL TO ACTION! By Frank Losey

For over two-and-one-half-years a series of actions have been set into motion for the ultimate purpose of laying the foundation upon which the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) would launch an “Investigation” of the Lobbying Activities of the HSUS, and quite possibly not only revoke the tax-exempt, public charity status of the HSUS, but also assess back taxes, penalties and interests against the HSUS which could cumulatively total $50-100 Million or more!  Were this to occur, the HSUS not only would see its fundraising capability severely crippled, but it would lose substantial credibility in the State Legislatures and in the Halls of the U.S. Congress as it attempts to persuade legislators to support and co-sponsor Legislation such as the PUPS Bill.

The IRS, of necessity, must move cautiously and slowly to ensure that it does not unfairly jeopardize the activities of “legitimate” public charities.  So it is with the on-going investigations of the HSUS, and its subsidiaries and affiliated organizations (Humane Society Legislative Fund, Humane USA PAC, the Doris Day Animal League and the Fund for Animals).   Yes, there are now four separate IRS Tax Fraud Case File Numbers!!!

The HSUS Roadmap “Journey” to the IRS Slaughter House began in the summer of 2008 with research and the subsequent, multiple submissions of incriminating and irrefutable documents that cumulatively now total 1,551 pages.  In December 2008, the IRS assigned the Tax Fraud Case File Number of 29-92012 to the HSUS.  By early 2010 over 6,000 citizens from all 50 states had submitted written requests to the IRS that asked the IRS to investigate the HSUS Lobbying Activities.  Then in March of 2010, Congressman Luetkemeyer (MO) made a specific, documented, written request to the IRS, which request asked the IRS to examine the Lobbying Activities of the HSUS.  By April of 2011, several thousand E-Mails, Faxes, Letters, and Calls were received by the Treasury’s IG Hotline, all of which asked for an expedited IRS investigation of the HSUS.  And then, by letter dated April 18, 2011, Six Members of Congress (Five from Missouri and One From Alaska) sent a written letter to the Inspector General (IG) of the Department of the Treasury.  This letter specifically stated:  “request investigations by the Inspector General into HSUS’s apparent improper activities and its tax-exempt status.” 

CALL TO ACTION:  NOW is the time for a “FLOOD” of E-Mails to be sent to your respective U.S. Representative.  THEY WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE; THEY WILL GENERATE MORE CONGRESSIONAL LETTERS THAT WILL PUT EVEN MORE PRESSURE ON THE IRS TO EXPEDITIOUSLY INVESTIGATE THE HSUS; AND THEY WILL TAKE LESS THAN 10 MINUTES TO DO THE FOLLOWING THREE THINGS:

1.     Log onto www.house.gov/writerep/

2.     Fill in your state and ZIP Code on the prompt that appears.

3.     Add your name, address and E-Mail address on E-Mail Form for your U.S. Representative; and on the Subject Line add: Request the IRS Investigate the HSUS; and then add the following message:

“In a Joint Letter dated April 18, 2011, which was addressed to the Inspector General of the Treasury Department, Six of your Colleagues in the House (Congresswomen Hartzler and Emerson, and Congressmen Luetkemeyer, Graves and Long from Missouri, and Congressman Young from Alaska stated: “we write to request investigations by the Inspector General into HSUS’s (the Humane Society of the U.S.)  apparent improper activities and its tax-exempt status.”  Would you please send a similar letter on my behalf to the Inspector General of the Department of the Treasury?”

NOTE:  If your U.S. Representative is either Representative Hartzler, Emerson, Luetkemeyer, Graves or Long from MO, or Representative Young from AK, your E-Mail Message should be: “THANK YOU!!!!!”

SIX MEMBERS OF CONGRESS JOIN THE CALL FOR IRS ACTION

THE SPEED OF THE IRS INVESTIGATION OF THE HSUS MAY 

BEGIN TO MOVE MORE QUICKLY!

An Update and Report by Frank Losey

A “Congressional Cavalry” of Six Members of Congress has now formally asked the Inspector General of the Department of the Treasury (IG) to “re-evaluate the tax-exempt status of the HSUS under the applicable legal standard” and to “investigate IRS’s potential failure to conduct a proper investigation.”  These requests were included in the signed Joint Letter that was dated April 18, 2011.  

The Six Members of Congress who signed the Joint Letter included Congresswomen Vicky Hartzler and Jo Ann Emerson from Missouri, Congressmen Blaine Luetkemeyer, Sam Graves and Billy Long from Missouri, and Congressman Don Young from Alaska.  Significantly, Congressman Young issued a Press Release dated March 30, 2011 in which he refused to accept an Award from the HSUS, and went on to say:  “HSUS are hypocrites, plain and simple, and I will not join them by accepting this award.”

In addition to attaching to the Joint Letter illustrative examples of documentation that showed the magnitude of the excessive lobbying by the HSUS, the Joint Letter also contained the two following, riveting quotes:  “We believe that HSUS’s own public documents show beyond question that lobbying is a ‘substantial part’ of its activities, and feel that IRS’s failure to act is attributable to the politically sensitive nature of HSUS’s activities.  Due to this, we write to request investigations by the Inspector General into HSUS’s apparent improper activities and its tax exempt status.” . . . “If the HSUS is not complying with the law, it should be investigated and disciplined just like any other organization, as taxpayers would be effectively subsidizing a political organization.”   Not only is this letter “HUGE,” but it could “breed” supplemental letters being sent to the Treasury’s IG from other Members of Congress.  

The pressure on the IRS to investigate the HSUS has never been greater!!!!!

When the Treasury’s IG is briefed by his Senior Staff about the April 18^th Congressional Joint Letter - - SUCH BRIEFINGS OCCUR WHEN A JOINT CONGRESSIONAL LETTER IS RECEIVED - - and learns that several thousand concerned citizens have also contacted the OIG Hotline Office by E-Mail or Phone, the room  temperature will rise in the Treasury’s IG Office!!!!!!  And this BRIEFING is an additional reason for another wave of E-Mails and Phone Calls to the OIG HOTLINE OFFICE to occur within the NEXT 30 DAYS.  Even if you have already sent an E-Mail or Called, do it again.   And encourage those who have not done so to E-Mail or Call.  NUMBERS DO MATTER, especially when such a high level Senior Official in the Treasury Department begins asking hard questions and is briefed  on  the  fact that the HSUS may have under-reported its revenue by over $500 Million; that over 6,000 tax-payers from all 50 States asked the IRS to investigate the HSUS; that a new wave of E-Mails and Calls is being received by  the OIG HOTLINE OFFICE; that the HSUS  claims credit for the passage of over 550 Federal and State Statutes; and that the IRS assigned a Tax Fraud Case File Number (29-92012) to the HSUS in November 2008 - - 29 months ago! 

E-MAIL ADDRESS for OIG:  Complaints@tigta.treas.gov   

(Subject:  OIG Case File 55-1005-0025-C)

OIG HOTLINE PHONE:  1-800-366-4484 (Press 5)

 (May be anonymous if you choose)

Suggested Short Message: 

“Would you please do what Six Members of Congress asked the Inspector General to do in their 

Joint Letter dated April 18^th.”  

Each E-Mail or Call will make a difference!

For the first time in 17 months, Missouri is free from Proposition B!!!

Today the Missouri legislature strengthened regulations for dog breeders while protecting Missouri agriculture, its economy, and its citizens' "right to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness and the enjoyment of the gains of their own industry."

This morning Governor Nixon signed SB113.  This afternoon, SB161 passed through both the House and the Senate with the attached amendments known as the "Missouri Solution" as well as an Emergency Clause. The "Missouri Solution" strengthens key provisions of SB 113 to ensure the proper care and treatment of dogs, while protecting Missouri's agricultural industry. (Emergency Clause: A statement added to the end of a measure which causes the act to become effective before the accustomed date. An emergency clause either sets a specific date or is effective immediately, which means that the measure will take effect on the date of its signature into law.)

Then this evening, Governor Nixon signed SB161 into law, and because of the attached emergency clause it goes into effect immediately.

We have been incredibly humbled by these past seventeen months. First, by the hundreds of people --
the grassroots effort -- who unified all across Missouri to stand up and fight the radical animal rights agenda behind Prop. B!  We did so by simply revealing the TRUTH.

We have also been incredibly humbled by the fragile process of our legislature. What a ride of unpredictable twists and turns!  I am extremely appreciative and empathetic of our legislators who endured the many threats by the animal rights activist groups who applied their bully tactics in an attempt to get their way.  I am especially grateful to our legislators who voted in favor of SB113 and endured an extra serving of bully tactics.

We appreciate the support of everyone who helped in some manner to protect our great state of Missouri from Proposition B and its agenda.  Missouri is the first state to overturn an HSUS-sponsored initiative! We should all be very proud!

This celebration will be brief, however. HSUS is rolling into Missouri with another ballot initiative slated for 2012 called the Voter Protection Act.

Onward!