SENATE BILL 6 IS NOW LAW. WE MUST FIGHT BACK. change.org/petitions/oregon-state-senators-delay-vote-on-senate-bill-6-regarding-egregious-small-animal-rescue-provisions The passage of SB will have a demoralizing major effect: more homeless companion animal losses/deaths in Oregon. The Oregon House of Representatives passed SB 6 today by an unknown number of votes. The sponsors of the bill, OHS, HSUS, other corporate humane societies and government animal control agencies strong armed SB bill through to increase their unfettered power and authority over small independent rescues on the demonstrably false pretext that an isolated case of abuse in Brooks, Oregon, the Alicia Inglish case, was committed by a rescue group and, therefore, all rescue groups are potentially “suspect” and must be licensed and subject to warrantless searches. The sophistry used by the sponsors and the easily misled legislature with this simplistic embarrassing analogy offends everyone who has ever rescued even one animal. Ms. Inglish was not a rescue by any common definition of the term but an individual with a long criminal history. The legislature knows that. And the needed enforcement tools were available. They simply were not utilized properly despite timely complaints because enforcement places a low priority on animal abuse cases. By using this case, the sponsors created legislative hysteria, a common tactic, and cost others their civil rights. The excuse that transfer of unfettered absolute power to county enforcement agencies, is needed on an “emergency” basis while the legislators “rest” for the season is a shocking display of ignorance and grand indifference that is impossible to respect. Not having permitted any independent small rescues to participate in the drafting of this bill the legislators have no information or knowledge about how often animal control agencies and corporate humane societies abuse and exceed their power and authority. It happens every day. The legislators and sponsors of SB 6 have now just enhanced the probability of the abuses towards citizens and small rescues. Documented examples from the most populated Oregon county include extortions of consent to euthanasia; retaliations for reporting officer misconduct, and the use of fear, threats and intimidation against vulnerable citizens. That is what has been unleashed by those who want unrestricted power without regulation. The effect will be that rather than submit to the tyranny of those now granted unfettered power, who are often those who abuse power themselves, rescues will close their doors and needy deserving companion animals will die for lack of resources. The majority of animal control agencies and corporate humane societies already reject all but the “perfect” companion animals. It is the small independent rescues who pick up the pieces and take the unwanted animals they discard, saving their lives at all cost and then find them permanent homes. That is who this legislation has hurt. Options for thousands of “less than perfect” companion animals will be gone now. Independent small rescues can only take so much abuse before giving up. That is what is happening now. This petition site will remain active and “up” just like the bear pictured until we find a way to take our power back. ________________________________________
Posted on: Sun, 07 Jul 2013 04:27:59 +0000
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