AVMA VS. AVAR & HSUS

[Guest guest]

[Newsday - opinion - comments at full story link]It's Godzilla versus Mothra.I'm talking about the recent head-butting between the AmericanVeterinary Medical Association and the Humane Society of the UnitedStates.Earlier this month, the HSUS and the relatively unknown Association ofVeterinarians for Animal Rights announced they would be merging toform the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association.Of the approximately 80,000 veterinarians in the United States, only3,500 are affiliated with AVAR, which focuses on reducing animal usein veterinary training and on advocacy for companion and farm animals.Its supporters say the creation of the Humane Society VeterinaryMedical Association - which is backed by the HSUS' healthy budget andboundless marketing and media savvy - was a response to the AVMA'slack of progressiveness and its kowtowing to industries that viewanimals as commodities, not

sentient beings....As for HSUS, its critics decry its very name, noting that the groupruns no humane societies and saying it is basically a watered-downversion of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which wouldend domestication as we know it and return every dog and cat toborn-free-Elsa status. While HSUS does do important work inhighlighting animal abuse, and while it works hard to maintain amainstream image, it arguably falls more to the left than center.Pacelle, for example, has gone on record saying that he thinks allbreeding of companion dogs should be regulated, regardless of whetherthe puppies are raised in a puppy mill or by a hobby breeder in thehome."This merger sends a message to the AVMA," said Jean Dodds of SantaMonica, Calif., who has been an AVAR member for decades. "As aprofession, we need our national association to continue to be moreproactive and responsive to what society wants

and expects withrespect to animals."-- full story:http://www.newsday.com/news/columnists/ny-hopets5556585jan31,0,7426377.column What Man doesn't understand Man fears What Man fears Man

destroys. NO BSL!