AVMA Responds
Dr. DeHaven takes the Humane Society of the United States, and specifically HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle, to task for favoring scare tactics and emotionalism over science and real expertise:
Tugging on people’s heartstrings to raise money is easy. Finding real solutions to animal welfare concerns and the challenges that go with them is not easy. HSUS certainly excels at the former … Mr. Pacelle is ignoring the legitimate concerns, and the perspectives and expertise, of legitimate animal welfare scientists and veterinary experts. And he is misleading the public to further his own organization’s agenda. If Mr. Pacelle truly cared about the welfare of animals, he would not be so quick to criticize and minimize the expertise of veterinarians … A knee-jerk response based solely on emotion, and ignoring all of the relevant science, might not be in the best interest of the animals.
I noted this morning that HSUS’s own online “Leadership” list doesn’t include a single veterinarian. That just seems wrong, especially at a time when HSUS is trying to compete with the AVMA by running its own activist-oriented “Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association.”
That organization (HSVMA) was originally called the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights (AVAR). But HSUS changed its name shortly after annexing it in 2008, apparently recognizing that leaving the words “animal rights” in the title might give people the wrong right idea.
Vet Student Misdirection
Aug 19 2010
Humane Society Veterinary Misdirection Association
Daring to say that the vegan emperor has no clothes can be pretty rewarding. As HumaneWatch Nation grows, we’ve emboldened countless Americans to articulate their fears, doubts, and (sometimes) anger about the Humane Society of the United States. Last week we heard from a pet shelter director. And today’s feedback comes from a veterinary student who is asking some tough questions about the “Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association.”
It would be interesting to learn whether her concerns represent the thoughts of most U.S. veterinary students, or of just a handful of alert doctors-to-be. We’re withholding the author’s name at her request.
………Click to see the full story………..
Veterinarians’ misgivings may be borne of vets recognizing ulterior motives behind the creation of the HSVMA. (After all, the organization used to be called the “Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights” before HSUS acquired it.) It might be that the veterinary profession understands that HSUS’s long-term agenda involves a shrinking of the American pet population—which isn’t exactly good for business. Or it could be that animal doctors, who spend every bit as much time in training as medical doctors (and often more money), resent being preached to by a group of laymen whose leadership includes zero veterinarians.
In any event, the veterinary “establishment” (by which we mean the leadership of the American Veterinary Medical Association) has little patience with HSUS. The AVMA’s top doc even poured his views into a YouTube video last year.
At the end of the day, it’s unlikely that HSUS, the HSVMA, or the people who promote the RAVS program will be able to convert today’s veterinarians into animal rights activists. (Just like it’s unlikely that PETA will turn today’s adult omnivores into tomorrow’s vegetarians). So HSUS is targeting veterinary schools students—the young people whose moral compass isn’t yet set in stone. (The parallel with animal rights activists putting curriculum materials into public schools should not be lost on anyone.)
It’s all about the next generation. HSUS is going after them. Is the AVMA pushing back in a way that tomorrow’s DVM’s can see and appreciate? No one we’ve spoken to seems to know for sure.
Universal Truths
1. I think part of a best friend’s job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.
2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you’re wrong.
3. I totally take back all those times I didn’t want to nap when I was younger.
4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.
5. How the heck are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
6. Was learning cursive really necessary?
7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I’m pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
9. I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t at least kind of tired.
10. Bad decisions make good stories.
11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren’t going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.
12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don’t want to have to restart my collection…again.
13. I’m always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.
14. ”Do not machine wash or tumble dry” means – I will never wash this – ever.
15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Damn it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voic email . What did you do after I didn’t answer? Drop the phone and run away?
16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.
17. I keep some people’s phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
18. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
19. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.
20. I wish Google Maps had an “Avoid Ghetto” routing option.
21. Sometimes, I’ll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.
22. I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.
23. The only time I look forward to a red light is when I’m trying to finish a text.
24. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.
25. How many times is it appropriate to say “What?” before you just nod and smile because you still didn’t hear or understand a word they said?
26. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent an ass from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!
27. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.
28. Is it just me or do high school kids get dumber & dumber every year?
29. There’s no worse feeling than that millisecond you’re sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.
30. Sometimes I’ll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
31. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey – but I’d bet my behind everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!
One Good Dog
Hey Julie,
I just read a great book that I know that you will love. I loved it and I know as a dog lover that you will love it as well. It is One Good Dog by Susan Wilson. It is about the reclaiming of the life of a man that has lost everything and the reclaiming of the life of a dog, a pit bull that is rescued from the illegal dog fighting ring. It has lots of heart and I think you will really like it- a must read.
Jon R.