The Hog Blog

I don’t post up a lot about the issues surrounding sporting dogs, breeders, and associated hoopla… but maybe I should.  The HSUS and PETA have both taken a pretty resoundingly confrontational stance against sporting dogs, and the people who breed and raise them.  They disguise their position as “animal welfare”, and spend an awful lot of time propagandizing about folks who abuse their animals, or so-called “puppy farms” where the poor critters are raised in squalor and disease… certainly some pretty serious issues that need to be addressed.  Spend a couple hours watching the Animal Network shows and you’ll see what I mean. 

But the problem with the propaganda is that it totally obscures the truth that most dog breeders, trainers, and owners are diametrically opposite of the stereotypes the HSUS and cronies would like to present.  The majority of breeders and trainers are either hobbyists, or true business people who love the animals they raise, and wouldn’t dream of treating them in the ways portrayed by the antis. 

Anyway, there’s an Alliance of breeders, handlers, and trainers out there that is trying to stand up against this assault.  They’re squeaking by, as they did with the recent legislation in CA, but they’re largely unrecognized.  They are the American Sporting Dog Alliance, and their mission is a pretty important one if you enjoy hunting behind a good bird dog, or working big game hounds. 

Here’s their mission statement:

The American Sporting Dog Alliance (ASDA) is an association representing the mutual interests of sporting dog owners, breeders, trainers, guides, hunters, field trialers and handlers of all the sporting breeds. We also seek common ground with hunters, farmers, landowners, pet food and supply companies, and wildlife management and veterinary professionals. We work with individuals, groups, clubs and organizations in order to further our common goals, and to combat the threats against the traditions we represent. Those threats have become powerful and pervasive in American society today.

 A lot of dog owners think they’re immune to the attacks on breeders, and particularly on folks who raise specific breeds like the “pit bull”.  That’s exactly what the HSUS and their ilk want to see.  “Sure,” you say, “those pit bulls are a threat to humanity and have no honest purpose.  Getting rid of them won’t affect me.”

But the fact is, that tactic is no different from the one used by any other organization with an agenda to advance.  You take your weak spot, leverage it, and drive a wedge.  Want an example? 

Look what’s been happening with assault rifles.  The anti-gunners know that most hunters and outdoorsmen don’t use assault rifles (or at least they didn’t until fairly recently).  It was a weak link, the division between the “Fudds” and the “Gun Nuts”.  A lot of otherwise reasonable people were willing to see the “evil black rifle” banned, because it had nothing to do with their hunting guns, and hell, nobody but gangbangers cared about AKs, ARs, and the like.  The wedge was driven and exploited… and it danged near worked. 

The HSUS is doing the same thing to dog owners… or trying.  Organizations like the American Sporting Dog Alliance are the only thing standing in their way. 

So anyway, get on over and take a look at the website.  I’m not shilling for them, and if you don’t want to donate money, then don’t.  But at least look at the issues, and do your part at the polls, and by speaking out with a unified voice to your elected representatives. 

Related Articles:

• Another Dog, Gone.