Extortion.  That’s all this is.

I’m very disappointed in this “compromise”, actually.  ANY deal with the HSUS and Wayne Pacelle is a deal with the Devil as far as I’m concerned.  The state of Ohio has basically agreed to throw dog breeders and owners of “exotic” animals, especially snakes, under the bus as a sacrifice to the Animal Rights Demons in order to get HSUS off their backs when it comes to agriculture.  We all know what HSUS wants, ultimately, and that is the abolition of ALL animal use by humans, period.  They will not stop until they achieve that.  We all know that their definition of “puppy mill” is just about anyone and everyone who has a sexually-intact female dog, regardless of the level of care.  We also know that they are absolutely determined to destroy the pet reptile industry and that they use fear mongering tactics to achieve that goal, which have already worked in Florida and Lousiana and are now going to be put into effect in Ohio as well.  In order to save the farmers, put the dog breeders and reptile breeders out of business; cut off your nose to save your face, in other words.
Shame on the governor of Ohio for compromising with the Devil!

Where to begin…H$U$ does not have an in-house law firm for nothing. They would be sure to craft an agreement that got them what they wanted. Since H$US does nothing that adds any value to anything—they are able to focus on advancing their agenda of no animals in our lives.

H$U$ also spends donor money on the best market analysts, lobbyists, public relations etc (no value added here either) to get where they want to go. It also helps that they are totally unfettered by the truth.

On the Ohio Farm Bureau - I do not live in Ohio but I have spent some time with Ohio Farm Bureau officials in various venues and once they found out I was a dog person they were not interested in talking to me. So—-I’m not surprised they threw dog breeders under the bus.

The Governor and other politicians - no news here, it is all about self-interest and the almighty dollar. Be interesting to see if they get a bunch of awards and contributions from H$U$.

Sure hope Missouri does not cave in like Ohio…

I am so tired of reading the glowing headlines of a major victory against HSUS.  the fact that it is considered a victory despite the fact that it pretty well puts dog breeders out of business in Ohio just shows that dog breeders do not count for anything in the public eye.  Just remember that when you go to replace that favorite pet that passes away this year or next year.  And remember this when your grandchildren come sit on your lap and ask you to tell stories of the good old days when you had a dog for a pet and they ask why can’t I have one too.  You legislators especially what will be your answer to them when they ask you why didn’t you stop this?

Talk about caving in.  Where’s FB backbone?  You gained NOTTHING!  YOU caved in and let HSUS put you on a lease.  Other FB members were ready to fight.  Jack Fisher, you let me down. You caved and let HSUS win. Don’t believe for a minute that Wayne and his merry signature gathers’ are going anywhere.

I am sick and tired of animal organizations trying to “negotiate” with HSUS.  HSUS brings nothing to the table and has nothing to lose. However the farmers, ranchers, dog breeders, cat breeders, exotic animal breeders, and so on DO have a lot to lose - their animals. HSUS tries to divide and conquer and Ohio Farm Bureau appears to have fallen for it.

“We have no ethical obligation to preserve the different breeds of livestock produced through selective breeding. . One generation and out. We have no problem with the extinction of domestic animals. They are creations of human selective breeding.”

- Wayne Pacelle, Senior VP of Humane Society of the US

When asked if he envisioned a future without pets, “If I had my personal view, perhaps that might take hold. In fact, I don’t want to see another dog or cat born.”

-Wayne Pacelle Senior VP of Humane Society of the US, quoted in Bloodties: Nature, Culture and the Hunt

I would like to correct all of you…....Farm Bureau did not do this alone.  This agreement was between the OLC (Ohio Livestock Coalition) and HSUS.  The OLC is the heads of the Poultry, Pork, Beef, Dairy, Corn, Soybeans, and OFBF.  Yes this agreement is not legally bidding and can be thrown out at anytime but it was agreed on by all the farmer groups.  Not one of these groups I’m sure is going to sit back and relax, we all have alot of work to do in this state and unfortunetly we always will because farming as our parents and grandparents knew it is long in the past and we have to educate the public and other farmers so that we can still farm in the future.  I think that we can all find issue with parts of this agreement but I can look at this as buying a small amount of time for the Livestock board to get something done.  I think that we gained a little more certainity in the market now we have a timeline and farmers know how to plan for the future.  I was willing to fight right along with everyone but the people in Ohio’s farming community can not afford to take HSUS to the ballot box every year.
Thank you all for the good conversations about this and I’m sure the we will never know how this was all set in motion but it is here now and so I’m going to keep fighting and I will still support the commidity groups in my world because I still beleive that they are trying to do their best.

Ahhh, David, you are very smart but, some of us have fought for the right to have our wonderful animals that more often than not we’ve learned to think like those crooks.  I hate that, I used to be so happy off showing my dogs.  They too were happy!  Now I sit and grow angrier each day fighting this junk and the dogs stare at me and remember the fun we had.

My impression is that this summary is likely a purposely loosely worded nothing,  and not anticipated to have binding effect, but was intended only as a stop gap for HSUS to gain more time to get people to forget the drama (negative) about HSUS, then wait for more bad “abuse” videos which are sure to come about since someone is paying someone to get them.

Unfortunately, this is FAR from being done. This is just the beginning so that people will let their guard down.

Do pet owner/breeders not have state wide organizations?  If they do, where were they in this fight.  Everyone seems upset at FB for the compromise (I’m not thrilled with it either), but where were the pet breeder groups in all of this.  What resources in media time and monetary contributions did they put forth in this fight?

Amen to that Cynthia. I looked at my dogs not long ago and said yes, I know, we don’t do anything fun anymore.

We give up what is valuable to us to fight our own seemingly unwinnable war. After this Ohio defeat I’m going to have a hard time convincing myself not to go AWOL.

Thank you Pam for the clarification that the Ohio Farm Bureau didn’t do this alone. That makes it worse IMO. ALL animal organizations should be in this fight together. Instead, the Ohio Livestock Coalition decided to throw the Ohio dog breeders under the bus to achieve their goals. I understand that Ohio farmers can’t afford to fight HSUS at the ballot box each year. But to throw another animal group into the den of wolves (i.e. HSUS) is unforgiveable.

I am disappointed that the OLC and OFBF were so quick to make this agreement.  However, after last year’s pitiful campaign for Issue 2, I can understand why they would not be up for the fight.  I actively pushed Issue 2 and was surprised at how many FARMERS had no idea what it was about. I doubt OFBF has or would spend the amount of money needed to educate the general public and fight HSUS on the November ballot.

While I do feel sorry for the dog breeders who have been caught in this compromise, let’s not be too hasty to blame all of agriculture for the decision.  It wouldn’t be the first time the OFBF has made decisions on behalf of ag that weren’t supported by all of ag.  I don’t want a world without dogs and cats (or lizards, for that matter) as pets, but I also don’t want one without hamburger, milk, eggs, bacon, and all the other great things that animal ag provides.  And keep in mind, the legislation that HSUS is demanding be pushed through was already in process before the compromise was made.

The most unfortunate thing about this is that the OLC and OFBF have set the Livestock Care Stands Board up to be a puppet of the HSUS.

We now have a bigger fight on our hands.  Are we going to come at them with everything we have, or will we sit back and watch HSUS pull the strings?

Sometimes it’s better to deal with the devil that you know rather than the devil that you don’t. 

While it may be lacking in some areas…at least we know what the deal is with this agreement.  Had this agreement not been reached, and it actually gone to to polls in November and animal agriculture lost to HSUS, Heaven only knows how bad it could have gotten, and how quickly and uncontrolled it could get there.

Wayne Pacelle may have a 40 year plan, but mine in production animal agriculture is multi-generational!  We in agriculture also need to keep a long term perspective in all this.

I hear you Dog Lover on going AWOL…I’m tired of the bickering and those who still say, “That isn’t going to happen” and “What are you talking about” and I want to find the vaccuum those folks who show dogs are living in!  WHY did I have to realize its happening?  Why can’t I just have gone on showing and going instead of trying to RIGHT the politicians who won’t listen?

Its all very depressing and I’m sick of it….David and CCF brought light back again but even then, its not fun living in fear and having no fun while fighting for your right to just own them.

Way to screw over the dog breeders!!! I’ve been preaching to all dog owners to support the liestock industry, that we all need to work together and support each other in fighting this legislation, and now this. THANKS.

I read through the SB 95.  Breeders won’t even be able to remove a dew claw from a puppy.  The vets charge a lot for this times at least 2 for every pup.  Add to this the fact that there are not enough vets to do it all.  So HSUS wins.  Added expenses and time lost traveling to and from the vet ( some of us that can be an hour each way) will bring a lot of breeders to the decision to quit. 
As to where were the breeders associations?  Most times these meetings are by invitation only and breeders are purposely left out.  Most times we are not invited to represent ourselves so we can be sacrificed “for the greater good”
When PA passed their laws the shelters and rescues were expecting this huge influx of dogs (money) into their facilities.  Well it didn’t happen.  Many went out of state.  Many were euthanized for fear of turning them over to a rescue and haveing charges brought against them for something as minor as tartar on teeth or toenails too long. No I’m not kidding. So a law brought about by an organization that touts it’s fight for the animal’s well being was the cause of the unnecessary deaths of hundreds if not thousands of dogs. 
Ohio’s law allows seraches at the disgression of an animal rescue officer wihout warrant.  How would you feel if anyone could demand to search your property on any whim?  If you’re not home they can break into any door on your property.  What other industry has to put up with this? Why should we have to?

Yep, HSUS won another one.
You can bet your sweet bibby that had HSUS really lost, that Pacelle in no way would have been in that photo op.
Makes me wonder where common sense has gone. Seems like FB has sold out to HSUS in several states. I know as mentioned before it was not only FB involved, but saw it in IA. last legislative session when wording was changed from animals to dogs/cats in the dog bill and FB bailed faster than a lightning strike when it no longer affected the farmers.
I no longer have much faith in FB.  Their words just are not matching up with their actions.
they need to get rid of the fear factor and get some backbone.
When the public sees their food prices take a huge jump due to restrictions on farmers like there is now on dog breeders, the public will realize they’ve been scammed. 
Maybe FB will realize they’ve been scammed, too.
Will probably take a few years.

Pending legislation, dog breeding and cockfighting, most likely weren’t passing because of the wording of the bills. OFB and HSUS made an agreement of which OFB had no business entering, using others’ rights. UNETHICAL comes to mind and as low as an HSUS tactic. Analogy: You come knocking on my door, wanting an item very, very much. I go next door, take my neighbor’s item and hand it to you to get you to quit knocking on my door. Ha ha, yea, try that one time and see how quiet and nice your neighbor is about it. I don’t thank any devil-like entity for theft of rights-HSUS nor OFB. Dog breeders and exotic owners were doing their job, protecting their rights. One swipe by FB wiped it out because they play political games with others’ property. Devil, meet devil. HSUS has an indefinite “in” in the state of Ohio. Wonder who is next to go under the bus?

Every time HSUS shows up to agitate for mandatory spay/neuter laws, the veterinary prices rise for all things but ESPECIALLY S/N…...but then, they will all be out of business soon, won’t they? as the push those vaccines on all the animals to make them sick so they can at least keep the doors open til all are dead and there are not more!

I, too, am very shocked and disappointed in this agreement reached between the OLC (Ohio Livestock Coalition), HSUS and Governor Strickland. As an exotic animal enthusiast, I’m also concerned that the tactics used to reach this agreement will be employed as a recipe by HSUS for banning exotic animals in other states.

I would like to call specific attention to the language used in this agreement that includes a ban on all *wild* animals:

“The Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will coordinate and take action on *wild* and dangerous animals including the prohibition of the sale and/or possession of big cats, bears, primates, large constricting and venomous snakes and alligators and crocodiles. Existing owners will be grandfathered in, but they could not breed or obtain new animals.”

where *wild* animal is often defined in statute as any non-domesticated animal.

This agreement could be used to ban harmless, commonly kept animals such as all pet birds, all ferrets, all small animals, all reptiles, all amphibians and all tropical fish.

Stay alert - Be aware!

I am very happy to see the HSUS doing the job of the USDA, which we all know by now IS NOT in busness to look after the animals OR food saftery but rather is to PROTECT the meat-growers and producers. A top USDA guy admited that much himself.  KUDOS Wayne…..keep up the good work. We will get the bastards to treat their food animals humanely yet,...I just think it is a shame that they dont know how to do it on their own but have to be taught like little children. What part of “do no harm” dont the idiots understan?

From OAAO:
In light of the “agreement” reached earlier this week between our Governor, Ohio Farm Bureau and HSUS, we urgently need EVERY OAAO member (and anyone else you can get to do it) to call the Governor, their State Senator and their State Representative. To locate their phone numbers, go to http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/

You will need to address the following 4 points. Keep your call brief and to the point, try to avoid any lengthy discussion. You may want to follow up with an email, but we need to flood the Statehouse switchboard with phone calls immediately.

*Any Executive Order by the Governor prohibiting possession/sale of certain exotic animals is a violation of the US Constitution, as it takes away our right to use our own private property without paying us for it. It’s no different than taking away our guns or our farms and not paying us. Most of these animal owners are federally licensed and inspected breeders and exhibitors who MAKE THEIR LIVING from these animals. I will not vote for Governor Strickland if he signs this Executive Order, and will urge everyone I know to do the same.
*Senate Bill 95 would require federally licensed and inspected dog breeders to tear down their existing facilities and rebuild them at 3 times the cost, plus it creates another state agency that Ohio cannot afford. I will not vote for any Senator or Representative who votes for SB95, and I will not vote for Governor Strickland if he continues to support SB95.
*Ohio Farm Bureau had no right to enter into any agreement concerning dogs or exotic animals, as those animals are not livestock. The groups representing dog breeders and exotic animal owners were not included in the discussions leading up to this agreement. It is unacceptable for dog breeders and exotic animal owners to be used as pawns to get HSUS off the backs of Ohio farmers. Ohio Farm Bureau is a private organization representing farmers, not dog breeders or exotic animal owners. They have repeatedly refused to even take a position on legislation concerning exotic animals and dogs, specifically because those animals are not livestock. Farm Bureau has no right to enter into any agreements concerning non-livestock animals, and I intend to suggest to everyone I know that they reconsider their membership to Farm Bureau.
*HB108 (cockfighting bill) places higher penalties on fighting birds than on comparable offenses against human beings. I will not vote for any Senator or Representative who votes for HB108 in its current form, and I will not vote for Governor Strickland if he continues to support the felony provisions in this bill.

If you receive any feedback, please feel free to forward it to me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Thank you very much for your help in this very crucial matter.

Polly Britton
Legislative Agent
Ohio Association of Animal Owners

What ever people think—we have at least delayed the HSUS and their mission in Ohio.  We now can continue to try and educate the public that agriculture is a positive industry and not take it for granted that people understand and like farmers and their livestock.

Your “we” hasn’t done anything but guarantee HSUS a spot at the table and driven a wedge in other areas. HSUS-win again, and you knew better. Understand and like farmers? Yes. Unethical, waffling and flipping political manuevering? No. While Strickland bought a vote for his opposition, big ag bought a vote against the future. HSUS doesn’t live here, the collective “we” do. Give the dog a bone. Click your heels and call Toto-others didn’t take things for granted so let them pay for “we” instead of taking responsiblility for their actions. That’s exactly what has been done.

Whenever you have an industry that basically regulates itself (animal production) it is ALWAYS a good idea to have someone (some org) on “the humane side” of operations. Lets face it, people who produce animals for profit don’t always have the best interest of the animals in mind. HSUS is there to remind the producers and guide them and show them what is or is not humane ....the “so called” professionals you speak of in the farming industry (farmers, vets, etc) apparently don’t have clue and are more concerned with efficient and economic operations of the business. HSUS cares only about the welfare of the animals…therefore, they are needed as compassionate advocates and guides in any animal enterprise where profit is the motive. They obviously care more for the welfare of the animals than any of your “so called” professionals do. Hooray for the HSUS!

While this isn’t the best compromise in the world it does prevent this legislation from going into the Ohio State Constitution.  (if it would of passed)

There has been talk of changing on how the Ohio State Constitution can be modified (2/3rd’s vote vs a simple majority). Hopefully this change can be fastracked before HSUS want to add changes to the Ohio Constitution in the future.

The HSUS/PETA, etc folks want the animals GONE from our lives and tables.  No amount of explaining to them that hens don’t lay if they aren’t happy, cows don’t give milk if they aren’t content, meat that isn’t properly cared for isn’t fit to eat if the animals aren’t cared for, and there are proper ways to care for all of them.  THEY DON’T CARE, and our pets?? they WANT THEM GONE, nothing that we can do to make and keep them happy and healthy is going to satisfy those people who mostly DO NOT “KNOW” ANIMALS and HOW TO CARE FOR THEM, the SHEEPLE (as they are known by most of us) do not have a CLUE how to give PROPER CARE to pets.  Pets are NOT CHILDREN wearing fur coats! they are ANIMALS who have specific needs and are happiest when those needs are met.  DOGS ARE DEN ANIMALS…..GIVE THEM ONE even if they aren’t in in often, most will get in it when they want to go take a nap or whatever if you leave the door open!

NOTHING any of us does to care CORRECTLY for the animals is going to please those AR Fanatics!

@ MuleKist (I think you might be MULE KICKED….its obvious that you have no clue that animals don’t do well (make good food/product) if not well cared for….the TRICK is knowing HOW TO CARE FOR THEM…HSUS doesn’t want them cared for, they want them GONE….

MuleKist, HSUS doesn’t give a rat’s rectum about the “welfare” of the animals, ANY animals!  You are pitifully misinformed if you actually believe that garbage.  HSUS is about controlling PEOPLE and making MONEY, period, and they use animals as a means of achieving that control because they know that animals make an ideal bargaining chip, given that most of us are involved with animals in one way or another.  HSUS is an animal RIGHTS organization which considers ALL animal-human contact to be “cruel” and therefore they seek to abolish it, and in doing so, they gain control over people’s lives and livelihoods.  This is an organization led by a man who has been quoted as saying, “I have no hands-on fondness for animals” and “I don’t want to see another cat or dog born”.  Does THAT sound like someone who “loves” or “cares” about animals to YOU?  This is an organization who has KILLED hundreds of dogs simply because those dogs happened to be “pit bulls”, and that includes nursing puppies, because they were “too vicious”.  This is an organization who DEMANDED that Michael Vick’s dogs be killed, AFTER they begged the public for money to care for said dogs even though they did NOT HAVE THE DOGS and were not responsible for their care, and when they were ordered by a judge to stop asking for money for the dogs’ care, THEN they wanted the dogs dead!  Compassion?  If that is compassion, I’ve got some nice ocean-front property in Indiana for sale, cheap, and I’ll even throw in a bridge in Brooklyn for free!  HSUS backs bans on “exotic” animals that result in confiscation and KILLING of said animals; again, where’s the compassion there?  They are a cold-hearted money-making machine that simply use animals as a means to an end, and their most successful tactic is deception.  They deceive the public into believing that their donations actually do directly help abused and abandoned animals, when you know as well as I do that is NOT true at all.  If you believe that it is, then Pacelle(or is it Pacelli?  His brother says so)must be paying you really good to troll this and other sites, along with “Hillary” and “Sarah”.

Congratulations, Ohio Farm Bureau. California was a no-brainer, easy win for the evil Jihadists of the H$U$. Your decision to cave in and enable them to incrementally implement the veganists’ version of Sharia Law in Ohio, starting with pet breeders, gave them a no-effort win against an actual opponent that would have been at least a little difficult.

This entire process, in case you gutless jackasses were curious, is known collectively as “Dumbing-Down Totalitarianism”. Thanks so much for making it just a little bit more acceptable in this country.

How ironic that my Captcha is “the winners”.

ChristineJubrik and Mulekist - are you for real?  Have you ever farmed or worked in animal production ag?  I think not by your comments!  I know hundreds of farmers (locally and regionally) who give exceptional care to their livestock and usually put the needs of their animals above their personal or families desires (and often needs).  To insinuate that farmers do not know how to humanely care for their livestock and the HSUS does is absurd!!!!!!!  Have you ever milked a cow?  Has Pacelle?  I have - more times than I can tell you.  My cows are productive because of the attention to quality feed and cow comfort as well as endless hours devoted to their care.  I am highly offended by your ignorant comments and defense of HSUS tactics.  Common sense should affirm to you that animals that are not well cared for are not highly productive.  Therefore, they are less profitable.  Don’t play the “greed” card, its all about money and profitability and therefore needs monitoring - production ag is the lowest profit margin industry in this country (wish I could say the same for the animal rights industry).  News flash - farmers don’t farm because they get rich doing it - duh…  As a person who cares for dairy cows - I can tell you, the maternal process of milk production will not be profitable or sunimalstainable for the majority of dairies if cows are not adequately cared for.  While I never condone abuse to animals, there are times when it can appear in a staged or undercover video as though farms are bad.  The vast majority of farms are not as portrayed in recent media accounts the majority of the time.  There can be bad days on well managed farms that if caught on video can look horrible but may have extenuating circumstances involved for a short time period - like dirty facilities and unscraped manure while fixing a breakdown or because of a weather event.  Or as a neighbor recently experienced, his wife rushed to the hospital and nearly died, and his barn wasn’t scraped as often as usual for the week she was in the hospital.  I am glad no one exploited that family’s circumstances with a video.  The bottom line is this - HSUS has an animal RIGHTS agenda, therefore, they should not have a seat at the table in discussions about animal welfare, period!  Ohio Farm Bureau and governor - bad move.  You didn’t just throw the dog and exotic animal breeders under the bus, you also threw the animal agriculture future under the bus - thanks:{.  This will not pacify Pacelle - mark my words, you only gave him more credibility to advance the agenda.

I would like to expound on the comment “farmers don’t farm because they get rich doing it - duh…” posted by WeGotMilk. I’m the proud daughter of a FARMER and being so I can tell you this statement is absolutely TRUE! They do so because they LOVE it….the hands on work, the unpredictable odds, the grueling hours, the humble lifestyle and most of all the connection to God that comes with the highs and lows that is the cycle of life! And if you are not lucky enough to know A FARMER, let me give you a little glimpse of my life experiences with one: My father’s job was 4 seasons, 12 months a year, 7 days a week and sometimes almost 24 hours a day! So important was his job that our family was always last to arrive at holiday meals and the first to leave. During harvest he’d spend weeks working 20 hour days and still set the alarm clock because the animals were on a schedule and needed to be fed when the sun rose. And like the H$U$’s Father Wayne, my dad sported a summer tan, but it wasn’t the Florida fake-baked kind. Its the kind that’s burnt in by hours spent in the squelching summer heat packing hay, grinding livestock feed, checking sprinkler (cooling) systems in the barns and tending fields and livestock. It’s the kind of tan that leaves a wrinkle every year that’s etched by the rivers of sweat produced by HARD WORK. And six months later there is no respite because you’ve traded one extreme for another. I can’t count the number of times us kids would circle him in the pig yard for hours, keeping the hogs away while his wet bare hands worked to fix a frozen water fountain in sub zero temperatures so the animals had water. Sometimes he’d have to stop because his eyelids froze shut. Not even getting hurt could keep my father from his livestock. I’ve seen my father tend a farrowing barn after invasive knee surgery (a farming accident) despite mom’s protests, because he was nervous to leave his animals for any length of time without HIS supervision. I’ve seen him climb a grain bin in a storm with a broken ankle (another farming accident) to fix a broken lid to protect his corn, a major component in hog feed.  To farm is to nurture life….and as most people know ‘life’ is comprised of both health and vitality and disease and death. There is an unavoidable dark side to farming. It is the farmer’s never-ending challenge to prevent it, NOT exploit it, and find glory in the health and vitality that they work so hard to create. And the proverbial ‘cherry on top’ is knowing that he is also one of the few that works to feed the world. Dear Mulekist, I doubt you’ve ever worked that hard at something you love or ever will. So when you post “…the ‘so called’ professionals you speak of in the farming industry (farmers, vets, etc) apparently don’t have a clue….”  All I can think is HOW DARE YOU! There are a million farmers with their own ‘chicken soup’ memories just like the ones I shared above and I’d love to hear them. We care. The ag industry will always care!

Metalhorses….excellent post

Love animals? Dont eat them, or beat them either.
Your animals are just “products” to you - that why you have them, isnt it, to make $$$ from the exlpoitation?

That’s right Christine, we eat them. It’s something that’s been going on since the dawn of time. There are many people who would be greatful to live in a country with such a healthy ag industry that provided plenty of options for their dinner table. There are some places in this world that have NO option. You should consider yourself lucky to live in a place where you can even have an opinion in this argument. Remember this the next time you fight to pass those restrictive laws on our industry….the consequence of such laws increase production costs that transfer to the marketplace. This is a hidden tax on everyone, but most importantly the lower class. A population that spends the largest percentage of their income on food, but who can least afford it. Secondly, either you missed the point in my first posting or are obtusely choosing to ignore it. Farmers are NOT rich people. They make a modest living with many bad years to temper the good ones. Why would anyone willingly choose a modest livelyhood with such unpredictable odds and hard physical labor for anything other than a love for what they do? Want proof? Just ask a retired farmer what its like to walk out to an empty barn after the animals have left. I watched my father-in-law make ONE, TWO, THREE attempts at retiring. The day the cows left was the first time I saw my husband cry. Thirdly, it’s a product when it reaches the grocer’s shelf. In the barn, it’s an animal. I’m not sure what you were taught growing up, but I was taught if you chose to keep it, you took care of it. I think my parent’s were referring to RESPONSIBILITY! I didn’t have community-ed or much after school sports…I had CHORES! And the lessons I learned were as important as any schoolwork. I could identify most symptoms of disease and treat them in order to alleviate their discomfort. Some of these practices might seem primitive or simple to you, but I doubt Blue Cross Blue Shield would have accepted the claim if we tried our family practitioner. Lastly, I realize that our industry has its sour grapes. Every profession has them, but its disrespectful and unfair to damn an entire industry for those few. Remember, farmers are respectful enough of you to offer freedom of choice. Every time you walk through a grocery store you have the right to purchase or pass the meat & dairy aisle. If you want the right to pass, you have to allow others the right to purchase.

Metalhorses, you are absolutely right and very eloquently speak the truth.  My life too 24/7 is as you have described.  We have a passion for what we do and how we care for our animals, farmland and natural resources.  We feel we have been blessed with the opportunity to live close to the land and close to the Lord.  Stewardship is such an integral part of our being, that we don’t really give it much thought until we are asked about it (or as is happening ever more frequently - accused of having a lack of it in typical stereotyping that does not represent the majority of those in our industries).  We raise our children with the understanding that people were created to take care of the Earth and its inhabitants. The gifts of the Earth, plants, animals and natural resources are here for our use.  They are to be used wisely and conservatively - not abusively.  They know we are morally charged with taking the best care of our animals that we can reasonably do until their end use.  We don’t have a “policy” for welfare on our farm - we work hard to take care of our cattle and we respect what they provide us - milk, meat, hope, smiles, tears, humor -  a nudge, a lick and a dirty tail across the face on occasion.  Sometimes a stomped on foot or a rare kick.  Sometimes great disappointment when we lose a calf during a difficult birthing or have to come to the decision of euthanizing the “herd matriarch” at the age of 14 after giving us over 300,000 pounds of milk in her lifetime and countless daughters, granddaughters ....we have 4 generations from her but her arthritis will limit her time with us.  My children share affectionate hours with their 4-H show calves - even swapping slimy nose-bump “kisses” with them.  All the while, sharing these daily interactions with our cows (not all of them by the way are affectionate or like attention, many do not want extra handling but are very docile for routine handling during milking, feeding and herd checks by the vet) our overriding purpose is to be highly productive providing a high quality, wholesome product for ourselves and other people.  We make decisions to be profitable so that we can continue farming and hopefully have the opportunity for one of the next generation to continue farming (if interested).  Profitability and long term sustainability means being good stewards and being highly productive.  That requires taking good care of cows.  Period.  Our farm family is cash poor.  It is a choice we made when we bought the dairy farm - we knew it would be economically difficult.  I don’t mind the financial stress most of the time, it just means we can’t be wasteful, we appreciate all the more what we do spend money on and we are pushed to make better business decisions.  We have a lot on paper because of the value of farmland, but that doesn’t matter either, because we hope to spend the rest of our useful lives here farming - so I really just need to earn profit to keep a good business going (this includes reinvesting in my farm facilities and making conservation improvements) and provide for my family.  I am not satisfied that we have done that yet, but I am hopeful we can keep working toward that goal.  Most farmers I know, even ones who seem to be financially secure, have times of extreme economic stress.  Farmers work hard with a lifelong investment in a risky business.  I do not begrudge profitability or financial success.  If you eat, you shouldn’t either.  Christine, I respect your right to choose a diet free from animal products.  I demand you respect my right to choose an omnivore diet (my anatomy classifies me as an omnivore).  I don’t believe you are more highly evolved, socially responsible, more intelligent or a better person for your animal rights position.  Do not dictate to me the “right way” to eat or your opinion of the humane way to care for farm animals.  Your moral values are no better than the majority of farmers I know, so get off your pedestal and show a little respect for hard working, struggling American farmers.

Dear WeGotMilk,
What a good read! Everything you’ve recounted about your personal experiences farming are worth their weight in gold. I cannot count the number of times I’ve read, “Our animals wouldn’t be productive if we didn’t treat them humanely” or some version thereof. Although this is a true statement, the redundency loses its effectiveness. My riding instructor says I have a habit of thumping my left leg when I ride. By the time I need to use my left leg aid to press my horse into the outside rein, he is numb to the feeling and ignores the aid. Same concept! I enjoy reading the comments at the end of these blogs, but I think readers tend to feed off eachother’s comments and the repetition loses credibility with reader’s that really need to be listening. I read your post and a story evolved…most importantly, I READ IT TWICE! Dear WeGotMilk consider this a pat on the back to my fellow American Farmer. It was a great account of rural life….

All I have gleaned from the various groups interested in protecting the farmers’ rights to inhumane cruelty is that the screams of tortured animals do not trump the screams of “don’t tell me what to do” greed driven special farm interests

Summarizing—It seems that atrocities in Ohio are a cultural right and therefore not open to challenge

May I offer another view   “The onlooker sees more of the game”

@Doug—Neither I nor anyone I know really cares. We just want to eat meat, and that’s everyone’s right! And don’t you forget it!