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Last weekend kicked off this years’ AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) convention in New Orleans. I was meant to attend but, sadly, it fell casualty to my own pets’ needs. Luckily, I have Mr. Wayne Pacelle of the HSUS to keep me informed on how the AVMA’s House of Delegates voted on the issue of veal calf confinement (see below for the link).
I checked on this myself and read that the AVMA, bless its (our?) soul, finally came out and said it: Confinement is bad for calves. Let’s be done with it. Find more humane alternatives and move on to the next hotbed of animal welfare discontent. Here’s the statement:
The AVMA supports a change in veal husbandry practices that severely restrict movement, to housing systems that allow for greater freedom of movement without compromising health or welfare.
Me? I like to give credit where credit is due, even when it’s clear the statement’s long overdue. But Mr. Pacelle is not so friendly towards the AVMA. He likes to jab when the jabbing’s good.
PETA complains of Pacelle’s lax pace on animal rights issues and, as if on cue, he regurgitates this argument against the AVMA:
The action taken this weekend does at least show respect for the position that HSVMA advocated, and reflects some awareness that the AVMA is lagging noticeably and dangerously behind.
In his blog post from July 21st titled, “The Dr. Will Free You Now,” Mr. Pacelle lets rip with an indictment of the AVMA and its “lagging…behind,” all the while plugging his veterinary organization, the HSVMA.
Could it be he fears the AVMA’s clear and present attempts to revise its positions on animal welfare, to modernize its approach to animal agriculture?
After all, if the AVMA makes good, as we veterinarians within its ranks are pressing it to do, how’s Pacelle going to keep his HSUS coffers stuffed on the pretext of incestuous ties to the veterinary profession?
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AVMA release:
http://www.avma.org/press/releases/080721_hod_calf...
Pacelle's blog post:
http://hsus.typepad.com/wayne/2008/07/avma-veal-cr...
While AVMA was doing it's thing, I actually attended the HSUS annual conference. 1,000 people in attendance, discussing issues from puppy mills to lab animal treatment to downer cows . . . so, trust me, attacking the AVMA is just on the fringes of their message. LOL. As though an organization to make that much money off criticizing organized veterinay medicine. Not in my lifetime.
And if its any comfort to you, their folks usually speak of vets only in glowing terms, albeit as individuals, rather than the AVMA in particular. This was one of the reasons I went -- to remind them that there are some animal abusers who have a license, literally, to keep up what they are doing, precisely because they are vets and therefore immune from prosecution in over half the states in this country. Baber has his license back. Convicted horse abuser "Dr." Sean Saltsburg got his license back in PA, MD, and VA. The HSUS is silent on the topic of State Vet Board enforcement of regulations (or lack thereof) which is something I criticize them for. I guess everybody's a critic from some angle, you certainly can't please all of the people. I'm not happy, you're not happy. LOL.
But even if I criticize them at times, I like where their hearts are. Having spent 3 days immersed in their "agenda" I can tell you that It's certainly a vast exaggeration to say that criticism of AVMA keeps HSUS coffers stuffed. LOL.
They devoted their "lobby day" to the issue of puppy mills. Can you stand with them on that?
I am glad you and your like-minded colleagues are pressing the AVMA to move forward on treatment of animals in the food chain, sincerely. But AVMA has a long way to go before it makes the HSUS irrelevant, and HSUS is active on many more issues than treatment of food animals.
For example, your organization -- the AVMA -- will probably never stop sending its lobbyist (McClure and his ilk) around the country DEFEATING proposed legislation that would allow our pets to have greater value in the eyes of the law. Hopefully, HSUS and some other groups will eventually become powerful enough to provide a counter to that power. Organized veterinary medicine has defeated proposals in several states this year that would have provided recognition of our pets value beyond "market" value.
By its nature (economic/business interests), AVMA will always have to keep agribusiness desires in mind, not making animal welfare pre-eminent. By its nature, AVMA will always fight AGAINST accountability/liability and non-economic damages, even when there are reasonable caps on recovery. By it's nature, they will always keep arguing that our pets are worth nothing more than "market value."
Thus, AVMA will never have animal welfare, compassion for animals, or valuation of companion animals, as a controlling values.
Someone needs to keep the pressure on them. If you are a part of that, good for you. But it is never a good idea to leave scrutiny to people on the inside.
I say -- good for HSUS exposing the hypocrisy of organized veterinary medicine's positions on humane treatment of animals. Here's hoping someday they extend that to legal recognition of the value of companion animals.
The AVMA does not, nor has ever had, the goal of making the HSUS irrelevant. The converse, however, cannot be said of the HSUS, hence my renewed disdain of the HSUS.
It never has been an either/or discussion as far as I'm concerned. Both organizations have unique and different roles to play. I certainly don't begrudge the HSUS its publicly stated mission. I welcome it and support it (for the most part).
That the AVMA has tremendous issues, no doubt. But take care when you wield a power-painter at the profession with issues surrounding individual practitioner malpractice. Yes, the AVMA currently supports a policy against non-economic claims (one I do not support) but that, too, is an issue being debated in the profession.
As to the AVMA being exclusively an economic/business organization--you're wrong. The AVMA is the umbrella group for all the local VMAs and as a board member of my local VMA I can tell you that business interests amount to a pittance of what we do. Education, inter-vet cooperation and charitable giving make up most of our workload. If the national organization takes visible stands on business issues you disagree with, I'm sure that colors your view somewhat.
And finally, the HSUS IS pushing the vet profession somewhat and I see that as favorable in some cases. But the HSUS should probably clean its grimy windows before it throws more rocks at the AVMA's.
To relate to the organization in general, I liken it to the "Association" I belong to (also sometimes referred to as a union, though my previous comments illustrate some of its 'failures'), that also have individual state chapters. And as you have commented before, those chapters vary widely in the work, ethics, and good provided. No doubt in my mind, FL. is working very hard on a viable s/n program, shelter work, and a whole bunch of public education.
But here is where the AVMA or similar chapters part ways: there is ZERO tolerance within my association or the entire USPS (made up of several associations) to fraud, abuse, thievery, intentional misconduct or harm. There is absolutely no feeling comradeship or bad for any individual that crosses that line even once or ever, regardless of any circumstance.
Individual state boards are made up of these same AVMA members (both local, regional, or national) and for whatever reason, whether personal or professional, a blind eye/private slap on the hand is given for the most egregious conduct.
It is completely foreign to me, I can't grasp the "why?" in it. It drags on the profession, insults the achievements and all the goodness. If more speak up, join together, vote their conscience---this all could change rather 'quickly'. Legislation to add non-economic damages will force change (as in humans). I have 'renewed' my pride (corny as that sounds) in my honest labor. And I can't imagine, if I devoted years, money, and huge effort to become a doctor, to look around and be ashamed of the bad apples around me that have the same 'right and use' of that prestigious and honarable title.
The old goose/golden egg thing.
Instead, they play to the gallery with media ops - puppy mills and dog fighting are the gifts that keep on giving for them. Most of what they spray around is a crock, starting with the fact that we need more laws, etc to thwart these abhorrent practices. There are enough laws on the books. What's missing is the political will to make it a priority and actually enforce those laws.
The more people believe their propaganda about mills, fighting, overpopulation, etc, the more money they rake in and the closer they get to their goal of animal liberation. They are not a humane society in the classical sense.
Veal is the most government-inspected meat out there, bar none. Only a small amount of veal is the kind that is kept in the dark. Most of the veal you buy is grass fed and out in the fresh air. I got that from my former vet who knows a lot about it.
"Wayne and his ilk want is a marked increase in animal welfare - which is why they don't lobby for it, endorse it or take any steps to make it happen".
What are you talking about? That is SUCH an ignorant comment. You don't know what you are talking about.
How is trying to eradicate the abuse of dogs in puppy mills NOT trying to improve animal welfare?
FYI, in MY STATE, HSUS conducted an undercover investigation of treatment of downer cows and reported a livestock auction operator for cruelty. They dragged a downer cow by the neck on a chain and then left her unable to get up overnight in the elements. They were not even going to humanely euthanize her until HSUS intervened.
They did not even make a big splash about this -- it wasn't a major news event like that other California bust months ago -- it's just what they routinely do.
AND YES, that is trying to get my idiotic State of Maryland to ENFORCE THE LAWS that are already on the books. They hardly did a thing to that livestock operator, and the State Veterinarian wrote me an email basically claiming that his operation was never before, nor has been since, a problem. I DON'T BELIEVE IT.
Vets look the other way every day re: this treatment of animals raised for food, HSUS is trying to expose that mistreatment and get states to enforce the laws that are already on the books, as well as create new legislation where needed.
I was at their conference for 3 days. NO ONE there was talking about eradicating the keeping of pets - contrary to many claims made on this blog.
You don't know whereof you speak.
Breed rescue groups formed (as independent or part of breed clubs) to fill a serious need and to take burden off shelters. In some areas, this has changed significantly with cooperation falling drastically---why?? I can assure you first-hand that the majority of rescues are NOT club member bred dogs. I would be most grateful to see those horrid mills eliminated permanently! And along side, successfully funded spay & neuter programs. This will mean an end to overburdened shelters.
But, I agree 100%---humane laws are not enforced by the law enforcement & government officials we pay & elect to Protect us!! It is scary, very scary!
(as an aside, I drive by a local farm, that used to raise veal (no longer do)---they were short-length chained to fiberglass igloos. I can't believe how long it took me to realize that they were "veal", until one day they all disappeared.
Eradicating the farming of dogs and shipping of the underaged offspring like cabbages to retail outlets where they languish, often in solitary confinement, without opportunites for play and socialization until they are sold to unwitting and unqualified strangers is an urgent and important goal.
Respecting, if not honouring, the prey animals we contain so we can feed ourselves is not just something to strive for, it's something that past generations understood and adopted as an unwritten yet inviolable clause in our contract with nature.
Unfortunately, the profiteers and cultists are not the ones to retain those traditions, or help us progress to newer and more enlightened habits.
Like anything, the animal welfare movement became corrupt when money and power were factored into the mix. All noble objectives and meaningful philosophies are degraded when they become objects of commerce. Examples of this are legion if one studies the history of humankind.
The H$U$ is no friend to man or animal. That is my conclusion, based on years of research.
The Devil can quote scriptures to suit his purpose. Beware the wolf in sheep's clothing, for he will persuade you he is gentle as he hamstrings you and makes you his dinner.
I am basing my opinion on having attended their annual conference serveral years (3 or 4) running. They seem quite sincere.
Why do you think that puppy mills, dog-fighting, and treatment of farm animals is mere proopaganda? Do you doubt the existence of these conditions?
All I have to do is go to "Just Puppies" a few miles from me and SEE the outcome of puppy mills. These are the animals living in GOOD conditions -- that is to say, their very small, flourescently lit cages with mesh or wire flooring are occasionally cleaned of the incessant diarrhea. They typically do not have a soft bed or toy. Staff ignore the aggression that inevitably occurs in such small quarters. Many look sick, all look depressed. And these are the lucky ones, not the ones held to breed year after year.
Why do you diselieve these things?
Do you think the entire Michael Vick story was concocted?
i think its quite possible that AVMA has a symbiotic relationship with the disgusting factory farming industry....... right? so how they are not to be an unbiased source of what is best for the animals? our country is pretty infamous for the fact that our factory farmed animals have NO RIGHTS ... yet our dogs, cats do. what is wrong with this picture? i see it very wrong.
and so i digress--
i think that eating smart, intelligent pigs, cows, and yes even chickens, it is very much like eating dogs or cats. which is another reason i have gone veg. i wanted to start ending cruelty by what i choose to eat on my plate.
-raelene