Canine-Americans?!?!? Latest from HSUS

[KennelMom]

By TRUMAN TAYLOR, The Providence Journal

Published: Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006

A few weeks ago, not everybody knows, people who think that nonhuman
animals should have more rights, indeed, rights like those of the
species called humans, gathered in Washington, D.C. It was their annual
“Taking Action for Animals” conference. About 200 more attendees than
last year were there.

More than a few said they had come to reflect on all the major changes
in the animal-rights movement over the past few years. You could tell
that some things had changed. At this year’s conference most of the
people were dressed in business-casual attire – unlike in years past,
when a lot looked as if they were ready to take to the streets to throw
red paint on ladies wearing fur coats. Several who attended this year’s
conference commented on how it had a more professional demeanor.

Some of the speakers said they didn’t approve of the more blatant
demonstrations staged in the past by some animal-rights activists. They
claimed to be more interested now in cultivating activists who are
educated and well-organized professionals capable of calculated moves to
further animal rights.

Wayne Pacelle, the head of the Humane Society of the United States,
seemed to have some of those calculated moves in mind. He told the
conference that there’s very little difference between humans and other
animals – that no one should own animals in general just as no one
should own other humans, that Congress should pass animal-guardianship
laws to replace our animal-ownership laws.

Pacelle also suggested that we shouldn’t call dogs dogs. We should be
using the term “Canine-Americans.” Just as we identify people as
Irish-Americans or Italian-Americans. Pacelle thinks if we call dogs
“Canine-Americans,” it would emphasize the importance of their rights,
and of their innate dignity.

We have had no response from German shepherds, Irish setters or Russian
wolfhounds on their thoughts about being called “Canine-Americans.”

And leaders of the incoming Congress are silent on whether they might be
for animal-rights laws. They have to be careful not to offend what could
become a very large voting bloc – Canine-Americans

[DogLover8]

These people are weird and scary.

[KennelMom]

No kidding! Especially this quote:

no one should own animals in general

They can have the animals that I own when they pry them from my cold dead hands.

[DogLover8]

Originally Posted by KennelMom

We should be using the term “Canine-Americans.” Just as we identify people as
Irish-Americans or Italian-Americans.

This is hilarious.

[Novel]

I thought I'd heard something similar to this back in October. The "Canine American" phrase was reportedly taken out of context and I believe it was PETA that it was attributed to at that time. Perhaps HSUS has decided they were serious. I'll have to go back and see if I can find those statements that I remember. They were made on public radio during the program "What do you know?"

[Ritz459]

Originally Posted by DogLover8

These people are weird and scary.

What is scary is this quote:

He told the
conference that there’s very little difference between humans and other
animals

There are big differences between me and my pets, thank you very much. If they think that humans are so much like animals, then why aren't they battling on agiants rights for Misquitoes? They're animals too.....or how about Flies? Hmmm...maybe the Naked Mole Rat too. Shall we call Flies "Insect-Americans"?

[calgal]

Sounds like these folks have too much free time on their hands.

[Novel]

Originally Posted by calgal

Sounds like these folks have too much free time on their hands.

And too much money to go with it!