OAAO, Ohio Association of Animal owners inc     oaao, ohio association of animal owners
of animal owners inc
 An  Incorporated  Non-Profit Organization
 
VOL. XXI, NO. 2    Winter  2011   Phone:  (937) 676-2058   300 Stichter  Rd,      PLeasant Hill,       OH 45359           
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"Farm  Bureau  Sells  Out  to  HSUS"

FB Gov HSUS Agreement June 2010

An “agreement” was reached June 30, 2010, between Ohio Farm Bureau, Governor Ted Strickland, and the Humane Society of the United States. When you read the agreement, you will understand the sentiments behind this Coshocton County farmer’s sign.
The agreement states:

 hsus sign
Sign outside a CoshoctonCounty farm
July 1, 2010
1)

 

 Recommendations will be made to The Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board (OLCSB) to take action on issues related to downer cattle and humane euthanasia using language consistent with the proposed ballot initiative.
 
2)

 

 The Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will co ordinate   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. 
 
3)
Recommendations will be made to the legislature to support and pass SB 95 largely in the current form, which regulates dog breeding kennels.
 
4)
Recommendations will be made to the legislature to support and pass HB 108, which will increase penalties on individuals who engage in cockfighting.
 
5)
Recommendations will be made to the OLCSB to adopt the American Veal Association 2007 agreement to transition to group housing for veal calves by 2017.
 
6)

 

 Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) will issue a statement in support of the mission and purpose of the OLCSB and will engage and work with the Board. Organizations representing Ohioans for Livestock Care and the HSUS will examine and jointly fund independent research projects and studies to identify best practices and to work for the highest farm animal care and welfare standards. If assistance of a third party is needed they will jointly agree on a representative to help in these discussions. When this work is complete, the findings will be presented to the OLCSB.
 
7)

 

 Recommendation will be made to the OLCSB for current hog producers and to phase out the use of gestation crates by December 31, 2025. By that date time all sows must be housed using alternative systems. After December 31, 2010,
any new facilities must utilize alternative sow housing (not gestation crates).
It is understood that in all housing systems, sows may be housed in breeding/gestation stalls until they are confirmed pregnant.
 
8)

 

 Recommendation will be made to the OLCSB to adopt standards to instruct ODA to deny permits of new egg facility applicants, based on current permitting standards that call for
the use of battery cages. This standard will be in effect for the  life of this agreement . This provision does not preclude any Ohio farm from expanding or modifying existing permits, using current housing methods at the existing facility.
 
9)

 

 HSUS will also not initiate litigation (nuisance or otherwise) to attempt to use legal process to obtain the same ends as articulated in the ballot initiative in Ohio through the life of this agreement.
HSUS will not fund, advise or otherwise support other organizations to move forward in their place.
 
10)
The HSUS will not submit a constitutional amendment on animal welfare in 2010 to the Ohio Secretary of State. Failure to implement the provisions related to wild and dangerous
animals or the reforms recommended to the OLCSB by December 31, 2010 could void the agreement and allow the HSUS to pursue a ballot initiative when ever it chooses.

However, if the terms of this agreement are  met and implemented to the satisfaction of all parties, the agreement will extend to January 1, 2014. At that time the agreement shall
be extended through January 1, 2017, and subsequently through January 1, 2020, if the terms continue to be met, and no party shall reasonably withhold its consent to the
extensions. Any future pursuit of a ballot initiative by HSUS could nullify the limitation on gestation crate or battery cage facilities until and unless other lawful prohibitions come to
exist.
 
 
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 your Senator and Representative’s phone numbers,
call  (800) 282-0253  (in Ohio) or go to http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/  

The Governor’s number is (614) 466-3555.

Keep your call brief and to the point, try to avoid lengthy discussion. We need to flood the Statehouse switchboard with phone calls. Talking points:
 
1)

 

 

 Any Executive Order 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.
 
2)

 

 Senate Bill 95 would require federally licensed & inspected
dog breeders to tear down their existing facilities and rebuild
them at 3 times the cost, plus it creates a new 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.
 
3)

 

 

 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.
 
4)

 
 

 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.

 

 

 
 
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