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A jolt of realityBy Holly Martin Often on these pages, we run reports of animal rights groups who are working to change how you and I do business. They want to control you through public perception. And I know that it is true. But that is hard to wrap your mind around. I think, "Yes, they want to put us out of business, but the smart people out there won't fall for it." Then something happens to jar me back into reality--to make me aware that animal rights proponents have made significant progress. The newspaper headline was, "Pleasant Hope family allegedly behind state's largest case of animal neglect." The situation was serious. More than 350 animals, including dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, goats and birds, were severely neglected and malnourished. The situation was appalling from all reports. But what was even more appalling to me was the fact that authorities also removed six children from the home. Their grandmother was charged with two counts of felony child endangerment. The homes--a series of mobile homes on the property--were filled with trash and crawling with cockroaches. There was no running water. The sheriff called the conditions the worst he had seen in his 16 years of public service. Animal rights groups had nothing to do with the story, but what does the headline tell you? It tells me, news decision makers out there decided that the animal neglect was the bigger story than the child neglect. Could people really believe that? Oh, they must, or the story and nearly all the stories reporting the situation wouldn't have read the same way. They would have led with "six children are removed from a trash-filled, cockroach-infested home with no running water." I don't believe that anyone would judge the children's neglect as anything less than appalling and I don't ever believe animal neglect or abuse is appropriate. But when given a choice of what to lead with, these journalists chose the animals over the children. It raises a red flag to me, and it should to you, as well. They intend to chip away at us, piece by piece, until public sentiment is such that people will never be allowed to use animals in any way. They want the public to believe that animals should be treated the same way you would treat your child. It appears they are making progress. Don't let that happen. When you see something, like I did, call them on it. Wake them up. Say to that reporter and editor, "Do you really think that animal neglect trumps child neglect?" Jar them back to reality, the way this story did to me. Holly Martin can be reached by phone at 1-800-452-7171 ext. 1806 or e-mail at hmartin@hpj.com. 8/25/08 Date: 8/20/08
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