This past Wednesday, I attended the first dog law advisory board meeting held in Harrisburg after 15 months of silence from this group. The anticipation was spiked as one could tell by the many articles written earlier this week by so many newspapers including one by the Huffington Post. Wow…..the Huffington Post….impressed? Not me.
Why, you might ask? After such a long silence from this board, my expectations are too realistic. When you’ve been around this “game” that is parlayed into resembling what may appear to translate into animal welfare, those of us who know better have a different version of the truth than what is portrayed in the media by politicians and government officials. (Before anyone pounces on me, not all are bad and to be honest, there are those who do truly care about animals!)
FYI- If you want a reporter’s account of the meeting, you’ll have to google it. I plan to speak from my gut and share my thoughts and feelings. Just beware, there aren’t many articles about it. Hmm…wonder why?
So let me set the stage for you. The board sat in a square (pictured) with four rows of seats for those of us in attendance to see what would unfold before our very eyes. I would say ears but the lack of amplification by a non-working microphone was irritating since it was very difficult to decipher what was being said. Despite a working microphone, it was mainly reserved for two people who addressed the board and audience members, one being Lynn Diehl, our new Director of Dog Law Enforcement Office. More on her later.
As I struggled to hear the board, I observed them. I noticed three of the women play with their hair. Never heard anyone of them speak while I was there. Seemed quite evident there was little interest on their part to be there. Only my opinion.
I also observed the suits worn by most as one would at a board meeting but it only lends itself that these people, in my humble opinion again, have never gotten their hands dirty with animals. Haven’t been in the trenches, so to speak. I suspect I’m correct.
I heard no real passion or compassion from the board over the concern for the animals in PA that are and will be affected by a bankrupt dog law fund except for one gentleman whose tone of voice indicated clearly his concerns. What was the response to him from the board….”Thank you for your comments.”
Are you kidding me, dog law advisory board? You completely dismissed him. I was slated to speak at the end of the meeting but I had to return to Berks County to do my regular tv show on Animal Issues and didn’t have the luxury of commenting on anything. I was so prepared but as the meeting dragged on, I only became more irate listening when I could hear with such dismay at what a pitiful joke this board really is.
HERE ARE MY COMMENTS TO THE DOG LAW ADVISORY BOARD:
On the Department of Agriculture’s website under the heading of “DOG LAW REGULATIONS- MYTH VS REALITY, COMMERCIAL KENNEL OWNER CONCERNS”, it states clearly that we, as advocates, are not attorneys nor are we experts on interpreting laws, reconciling conflicting provisions, the difference between laws and regulations, or navigating the regulatory review process. We misperceive the issues.
In other words, if none of us is an attorney, we clearly misunderstand what you represent and do. In other words, we’re not too bright; otherwise, as it also states, if we did, we wouldn’t fight so hard against the regulations. Seriously?
No, I’m not an attorney but I am formally educated and am able to read and comprehend but more importantly know when the Dog Law Advisory Board isn’t doing their job. Do they not understand they were supposed to hold a meeting last yr. Why did they wait 15 months? I guess none on the board is an attorney to understand the law!
Here are the words from Karen Overall- a veterinarian and principal author of the canine health regulations which took effect last July. She says, “This wasn’t just an academic exercise. This was about humane welfare of animals and they’re being completely ignored.” Thought they might appreciate her words since she is a veterinarian, not an attorney though.
The board stated at the beginning of the meeting that “yes, PA does care about animals and we have one of the toughest dog laws in the land.” Wrong on both accounts. If you, the board, cared about our animals, you would have not hired Lynn Diehl who has ZERO experience and met no criteria for her position except that she has a dog. The wardens haven’t been inspecting the kennels as they are supposed to which you said they’re doing twice a year. Really….show me the proof! MORE LIES! And you would have not waited until now to have a meeting knowing the dog law fund will go bankrupt next year if nothing is done. But you knew this when Rendell’s Administration withdrew 4 million out of the 13 million account. Plus, there have been reports of the Dept’ of Agriculture withdrawing over a million themselves which, of course, is denied.
So we’re in a pickle. What will happen if this fund goes bankrupt?? All hell will break loose, that’s what!
Despite the new regulations that were to be enforced July of last year, the office is only beginning to to enforce them. No citations were issued after Lynn Diehl was hired with a salary of $80,000. The board explained that no new dog wardens can be hired because there simply isn’t enough money. If Lynn Diehl was hired last June, why didn’t she promptly start to address the lack of money in the dog law fund? She’s not doing her job but she gets paid handsomely for doing….what? And you can’t hire a dog warden but you can pay administrative assistants between $60,000 -$70.000 per yr.
Don’t tell me you care about the animals when you forced one puppy mill farmer to close his kennel after being convicted of animal cruelty but allowed his wife to reopen the same kennel! You care about animals? Do you honestly think we, animal advocates, are naive or fail to comprehend what is happening in the state of PA?? Please don’t insult my intelligence.
We, the “real” animal advocates do care and we fight because we want to help and save these animals. You won’t outlaw commercial kennels, knowing full-well what happens inside these hell-holes because it is revenue for you, the Dep’t of Ag.
Very little is being accomplished to protect the animals as this fund goes bankrupt. If it wasn’t for rescues who go in and save some of them or others who speak about these very issues, there would be no help at all.
But, as I understand from you, we are the ones who don’t have the capacity to understand the problems because we aren’t attorneys.
I, among so many, care so deeply about the plight of animals and am not afraid to express those feelings in an educated manner.
As I see it, your failure to meet as a board for 15 months, shows your incompetency and lack of intellect to not only understand the law but to uphold the law that you were appointed to do.
The plight to help the animals has been going on for decades. Very little has been done, on your part, to help the voiceless. That is why we do what we do.
Your lack of compassion or passion about the welfare of animals in PA is not only disheartening but shows the real lack of those who misperceive the issues.