The Observation Deck

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/31422688/ns/u ... atted-fly/

PETA was upset President Obama had the nerve to swat and kill a fly buzzing around him during an interview.

Another example of this group’s EXTREMISM.

They’d protect Zika and West Nile Virus carrying mosquitoes!

Why humans have no right to kill not just pesky, but dangerous insects!

PETA positions are not grounded in reality. These are people who believe ALL medical research involving animals should be stopped under any circumstances.

These are not “balanced” positions.

PETA is NOT a fair and balanced organization and should never be cited as a rational for any legislation.

PETA doesn’t think you should own a pet AT ALL.

Here is their position from their own website

https://www.peta.org/about-peta/why-peta/pets/

Having a pet restricts the animal from freely living its life! Humans have no right to own cats, dogs, turtles, bunnies, or any animal.

This is an EXTREMIST position.

Just like their anti-dairy and anti-meat positions.

If we adopted PETA positions our lives would be vastly different.

Yet the mayor claims PETA can be relied on to provide a “balanced” view.

This is insanity.

Tristan Rader and Dan O’Malley appear to be taken aback by the mayor’s reliance on PETA as a credible source of information.

O’Malley tweeted today:

With all due respect to @peta their positions on domestic animals are not basis for sound public policy (they are against very idea of pets). Lakewood would do well to heed guidance of great orgs like @HumaneSociety and @ASPCA and repeal #BSL.

Thank you for recognizing the folly of relying on PETA, an EXTREMIST organization.

I used to be chair of the animal board, I quit for many reasons....however in previous meetings, my rescue and myself (we are 1 sometimes) presented information from the following organizations...all not having a stake in anything.
The American Bar Association
The American Kennel Club
Animal Farm Foundation
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
The American Veterinary Medical Association
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior
The Association of Professional Dog Trainers
Best Friends Animal Society
The British Veterinary Association
The Humane Society of the United States
The National Animal Control Association
The National Canine Research Council
The Pet Professional Guild
The United Kennel Club
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – UK
State Farm Insurance
The Department of Justice
The Obama Administration

PETA no matter their stance on anything is no group I will align myself with. They have sent me yearly emails begging me to shut my rescue down and euthanize my dogs in the rescue because they are unwanted and I am causing them great harm. How am I doing that? By giving them love, food, a warm bed and lots of love every day? Oh it must be the sleepless nights making sure the sick dog makes it. All the vet care too? This group believe NO ONE should own a pet of any kind at all. No matter the breed. They report their numbers to their state where their one "facility" is located. They kill 90+% of the animals they take in. The only keep a few around for "show"... but they euthanize. They feel a dead animal is better than an animal being in a home. Again no matter the breed. Even if PETA came and said BSL is wrong (which it is) I would NEVER listen to them. I prefer to listen to real experts, trainers, vets people who actually save animals.

My rescue has been exempt from the previous ordinance for years. I have had many pits in my home, in my rescue. ALL my neighbors are safe. My kids all have their toes and fingers and no one has been bit. (minus the great dane who bit Brian pretty bad) Now you would think that since pits are so evil, at least someone around my house or in my house would have been maimed. I mean I get dogs from the streets, dogs from fighting rings, dogs that were burned over 90% of their body....but nope the only dangerous thing is their farts. Seriously that might kill someone. Now I am not saying all dogs are good...no any dog can bite. They cannot speak and say go away, stop that....they bite. they let us know in their language. we just need to learn to listen to them....

Did someone here just call for a banjo?

Well, at least banjo and drum heads are no longer (for the most part) made of animal hides.

Regarding the criticism offered that pit bulls (itself a vague term at best) were allegedly bred for violent purposes?

A quick look around the internet will show anyone many SERIOUSLY violent reasons that some of their other cute and cuddly dog breeds came about.

And violent? Shall we talk about cats?

Don't worry, even banjo players know not to criticize cats...

But since we're talking about dog breeds...Why not talk about St. Bernards; that wonderful lovable gentle rescue dog of the Swiss Alps?

This is a beloved breed with over 90% approval ratings for being around other pets and children. (given proper training of course, and that my friends, is the point here, as you will shortly discover)

The gentle St. Bernard has that long and distinguished history of being a reliable people-serving service animal. Who does not remember those pictures of St. Bernards with casks around their necks, rescuing a lost skier?

But my friends, this is the problem with my being a teacher....particularly one who has taught Holocaust studies for many years...

There are exceptions to every rule....

There was, for example, the dog named Barry...the dog of the Treblinka Concentration Camp.

As the story goes, Barry was a dog trained to attack on the command "Man get that dog", to go after prisoners and rip them apart.

There is a stirring first person account on Vimeo abut Barry. Although hard to watch, there is a touching moment when Barry refused to kill a baby and is beaten for it. The story's outcome is interesting too,as Barry returns to being a loving house pet in the hands of a civilian after the war, but that is beside the point here...or perhaps, not.

Watch it if you will, but you have been warned, the content is graphic...

https://vimeo.com/138844275

There's an old argument among psychologists, sociologists and other academic disciplines over what more greatly influences patterns of behavior in complex organisms...nature or nurture...heredity or environment?

Truth be told, with animals AND people, it's a bit of a complex mix, I suppose, regarding how we all turn out.

Honestly, if there is an answer to any of this, and I'm not sure there is, if you take the politics out of it, looking at these things on a case by case basis seems to make the most sense to me.

If we judge dogs by their breed alone, will our actions then be so very different from those taken by the ones who trained Barry to do the same thing, except regarding people?

I mean this seriously too. WHERE DO WE DRAW THAT LINE, OR SHOULD WE EVEN TRY TO DO SO AT ALL???

Back to the banjo...

Missy

Thank you for your sensible post.

Look at that long list of credible and reputable sources that ALL understand BSL does NOT increase public safety.

How is it that the mayor can ignore that entire list and instead embrace a LUNATIC FRINGE organization that would prefer to see dogs killed rather than be a pet in a family home?

It’s INSANE!

I seriously question the mayor’s ability to lead on this issue.

The sign on the window of the bait store on Detroit Ave said PETA People Eating Tasty Animals. Tell our forefathers to eat plants only, they would not have survived.

Missy-- Thank you for your depiction of PETA based on your personal experience. I can only conclude that Adolph Eichmann is their inspiration. Stan Austin

Check out the “comic” books they made for children on the Bizarre PETA thread.

This is NOT a credible, mainstream organization. PETA is a lunatic fringe group that would harm humans to “free” animals. No matter if it’s animals in medical research facilities, zoos, or in your own home.

Whoever “advises” the mayor should be fired.

Except that I think it’s himself.