Welcome to the Salughterhouse: Until there are none, adopt one: Top Democrats who buy pets from breeders

"If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter." George Washington

Welcome to the Slaughterhouse, America!!

By Nicholas Meyeres

I was listening to the Glenn Beck radio program on the way to work this morning and heard him promoting a product as all radio personalities do in order to keep themselves on the air. But this one was different and more than just a little bit personal for me. It was an ad for Purina One dog and cat food.



Now, Glenn is the virtual cry baby of the airwaves- no one denies that. If you have ever heard his radio show, or watched his Fox News program you already know this. He is the in essence the Jerry Fallwell of the conservative talk show circuit. It doesn’t take much to get the water works a’goin’ for ol’ Glenn Beck… especially when he is talking about his beloved family of which he proudly says his dog of many years is an integral and important part of.

Glenn has talked about his dog countless times over the years and also about the benefits of his dog eating Purina One for his health and wellbeing. But he has never talked about how or where he got his dog from before now… at least, not that I was aware of. But he did today, and the verdict was simple: he was adopted from a shelter. In fact, ALL of Glenn’s dogs have been adopted from shelters, and all of the dogs he grew up with as a child have been, as well.

He went on to say it was more than a family tradition or particular upbringing, it was a part of his own sense of morality and his family's morality. And that’s why he supports Purina One. Not only is it a great product, but they are the creators of The One Hope Network, which is, in their words, “…a movement dedicated to helping transform the lives of pets… by increasing pet adoptions, volunteerism, donations and by elevating the status of all pets.”

They go on to explain on their website here:

“Are you ready to make a difference in the life of a shelter pet?...
You don't have to go to a pet store or a breeder to find your perfect pet. From purebreds to mixed breeds, puppies and kittens to already trained adult pets, there's sure to be the right cat or dog for you in a shelter nearby.

When you adopt a pet, you save a life.”

Unfortunately, on the opposite side of the spectrum you have Democratic President Barack Obama who received his dog from a breeder when all the while he promised time and again to the American people that he planned to get the "new puppy" for his girls from a rescue shelter. In fact, it wasn’t just from any breeder, it was the same breeder longtime Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy used for his three purebred Portuguese Water Dogs.



But it wasn’t just the Kennedys and Obamas that bought from breeders. Another breeder, Linda Brown, bred and sold Vice President Joe Biden (also a Democrat) his pure German shepherd puppy.

Even the Clintons are culprits.

They had their cat Socks painfully declawed before abandoning him to Bill Clinton’s secretary, Betty Currie, who lives in Hollywood, Md. The Clintons left the White House and Socks in early 2001, who died recently at the age of 18. Not only did they leave poor Socks behind, but the Clintons hadn’t even visited him since departing their former home on Pennsylvania Ave. before he passed away.

But not all was lost, and the Clintons didn’t leave the most famous address in the world completely empty-handed. They did take Buddy- (that’s right)- their pure bred chocolate lab that they bought from a breeder as they left "the cat" behind.

Incidentally and unfortunately enough, Buddy was ran over by a truck at the age of four as he was left roaming off-leash while in the Clintons' care.

Thank goodness we have conservatives like Glenn Beck who believe in animal rescue and welfare, and who is also vehemently opposed to animal cruelty. He was the one who broke the story of American hero and retired Navy SEAL Marcus Littrell’s dog being executed by multiple teenaged males recently.

Watch the moving clip from Glenn Beck's second broadcast on this tragedy here:



But he isn’t the only conservative of his kind to be kind.

If you love animals, you may shockingly have something in common with Rush Limbaugh, as well. His cat of many years, Punkin, is his pride and joy and also a rescue. Limbaugh has even made multiple PSA’s for HSUS (The Humane Society Of The United States Of America) about opposing animal cruelty, adopting shelter companion animals, and also the connection of religion, kindness, and the "faithful stewardship of animals" as he calls it to morality and personal responsibility.

Listen to the PSA’s here:



And here:



And then, you have Matthew Scully.

When you think of vegetarians and animal rights, most people automatically think of the political left which is usually associated with animal activism, legislation and environmentalism. But, this is not entirely justified— at least not in the political realm. On the conservative front you can just as easily find animal advocates like Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and Matthew Scully to name a few.

Matthew Scully is not only active in the political right, but he was a speechwriter in the elections of 2000 and served as a speechwriter and special assistant for George W. Bush from 2001 to 2004.

As a vegetarian, he is also the author of the highly acclaimed book "Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy" in which he draws the attention of the public eye to the fate of the billions of animals suffering and dying daily.

And then you have Executive Producer and Head Writer of the Glenn Beck Show, Stu Burguiere who is not only a conservative who opposes animal cruelty and supports rescue shelter pet adoptions, but he is a vegetarian of many years as well, just like Matthew Scully.

But don’t forget John Mccain, who co-sponsored more animal rights bills than any other Republican Senator currently in office and nearly more than any Democrat. Mccain is an animal lover who has 24 animals including six cats, two turtles, three birds, fourteen fish, a ferret and a mixed breed shelter dog he adopted named Coco.

But now to the rub.

I work at a no-kill animal rescue shelter, and have a love of animals that reaches back likely to the day I was born. I am also a conservative of many years and a vegetarian of over half my life. So, I have a personal vested interest in not just how politicians vote, but how they live their personal lives in regard to animal welfare issues, including where they get their own pets from.

The bottom line is: 5 million American pets die in shelters every year while 80% of new pets are chosen from a breeder or pet store. And with a limited number of homes available, a puppy or kitten purchased from a breeder or pet store takes the home of a rescued shelter pet. In essence, when you buy from a breeder, you indirectly murder a viable, loving, potential family member and companion to you and your loved ones that could have been adopted from any number of shelters the world over. Mostly because a majority of them don’t reside in no-kill shelters like the one I work for.

Top conservatives of the day already seem to have committed these facts to memory. That is one of the tenants of being a conservative, after all, to be personally and fiscally responsible. And what better way to embody this ideal than to see the need to adopt a pet rather than over saturate an already exploding market and contribute to even more irresponsible spending?



Just do me (and shelter pets everywhere) a favor, and spread the word to all the liberal politicians you know: please, adopt from shelters, don’t buy from breeders. The memo was apparently lost when the currier sent it to all of our high ranking democrats in office today— that goes double for you Mr. President, Mr. Vice President, Senator Kennedy, former President Clinton, and Madam Secretary of State, Mrs. Clinton!

Let Adoption Be Your First Option.

Welcome to the Slaughterhouse: The vegetarian conservative

"If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter." George Washington

Welcome to the Slaughterhouse, America!!


By Nicholas Meyeres

Recently a fugitive animal rights activist charged with bombing two California offices made news headlines. 31-year old Daniel Andreas San Diego of Berkeley, California became the first domestic terrorist named to the FBI's list of "Most Wanted" terror suspects.

Law enforcement officials and Homeland Security describe San Diego as a strict vegan who possesses a 9mm handgun. On his abdomen, he has tattooed images of burning and collapsing buildings- most likely representing his extremist outlook and personality to do harm to others.

Which prompts the question: Is there a common personality type amongst vegetarians and vegans, or animal activists in general; and are they all radicals with an agenda of terrorism toward those who disagree with them? Do they all engage in an odd lifestyle through means of their choice in diet, and unnatural love of animals?



For that matter, the same sort of extremism can be said of right-wing conservatives according to Janet Napolitano, United States Secretary of Homeland Security when she issued a newly unclassified Department of Homeland Security report warning against the possibility of violence by unnamed “right-wing extremists” concerned about illegal immigration, increasing federal power, restrictions on firearms, abortion and the loss of U.S. sovereignty and singles out returning war veterans as particular threats, according to a report in WorldNetDaily.

And thus, the move to add a domestic, left-wing terrorist to the list comes only days after the Obama administration was criticized for this report suggesting some military veterans could also be susceptible to right-wing extremist recruiters or commit lone acts of violence. This prompted angry reactions from some lawmakers and veterans groups and perhaps even aided in the addition of San Diego to the list to begin with.

And this got me thinking about the common perception that vegetarians are all tree-hugging, limp-wristed, granola-munching, pot-smoking hippies, which obviously isn’t the case at all. There are common personality patterns, to be sure, but not all stereo-types are accurate. Case in point: Daniel Andreas San Diego.

So, because of San Diego, do all vegetarians have alternative and/or terrorist leanings? After all, Hitler was a vegetarian… so, does that mean all vegetarians are predisposed to support fascist dictatorships? Do all Conservatives have terrorist leanings for that matter because of the warning sent out by Homeland Security? Are all vegans or animal activists liberals? Are all republicans hunters who bomb abortion clinics?

Take this example; liberals typically do not endorse the Second Amendment as heartily as republicans do, but didn't San Diego own a 9mm?

I will say this much: Sure, the largest majority of folks on both sides are in fact in keeping to their respective stereotypes, but not all of them are. Some flat out defy the gravity and seeming logic of their individual Party's platforms in order to become their own person. Some people simply vote their conscience regardless of duty to Party.

When you think of vegetarians and animal rights, most people automatically think of the political left which is usually associated with animal activism, legislation and environmentalism. But, this is not entirely justified. On the conservative front you can just as easily find animal advocates (though, perhaps not as many). One such a conservative vegetarian is Matthew Scully.



Active in the political right, he was a speechwriter in the elections of 2000 and served as a speechwriter and special assistant for George W. Bush from 2001 to 2004. Should he be on the list of potential terrorists for his beliefs, as well? After all, he is not only an animal welfare advocate, but he is a republican associated with the dreaded George W. Bush! He should be on BOTH lists!!!

Since the 1970's Scully has been a vegetarian ever since he saw the awful pictures and images of animals suffering in the modern day animal factories. From that day forward, he decided to go meatless.

As author of the highly acclaimed book "Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy" he draws the attention of the public eye to the fate of the billions of animals suffering and dying daily. The reviews of his work were very positive and rightly so. The National Review described Dominion as "A fascinating and disturbing read." I can't do anything else but agree. He hits the nail on the head in his books and in the articles on his own homesite. Written from a conservative viewpoint, it shows that you don't have to be "progressive" to be animal friendly.

"But, Nicholas," you ask, "how can one be a conservative AND a vegetarian? Isn't vegetarianism incompatible with the hunting, environment rampaging image that any good conservative not only embraces, but proclaims proudly?"

Bottom line, hunting is and has been on the decline for many years now. The number of people who have hunted in prior years is far greater than it is today. Latent or inactive hunters are people who consider themselves hunters but who have not hunted in the past several years for all sorts of different reasons. Approximately 23 million people have hunted within the last five years according to the Southwick Associates back in 2003.

But back in 2001 the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation shows that there are 43.7 million people in the United States who have hunted at one time in their life. That's a MAJOR decline in just a few short years, and it continues to decline today. So, hunting isn't the issue at all.

In fact, for me it is a much more complicated series of issues. I am indeed a vegetarian of nearly 18 years (much more than half of my entire life) and also a proud conservative. I don't hunt, but I am very much in favor of the right to bear arms and own guns. Not because I use them on a regular basis (in fact I have NEVER used them); I simply believe in our Second Amendment right to own them- not for the sport of hunting, but because our Founding Fathers knew a time would come when we would need them for the purpose of our welfare and protection as an entire people.

Thomas Jefferson said, "The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves from tyranny in government."



Our collective hope is that that day will never come, but from the standpoint of our own history, our Framers felt the need to fight back the tyranny of the British Empire for their very own freedoms. So, it should go without saying that they would ensure that right to all Americans for the same purpose if it should ever come to that. After all, the Second Amendment says nothing whatsoever about our right to bear arms being for the purpose of hunting.

Which brings me to another conservative tenant: the Pro-Life movement.

The Pro-Life movement is a tricky one for many folks to wrap their minds around fully. It is a loaded term that can catch you in a multitude of personal hypocrisies that are nearly impossible to get out of if you let it. For instance, traditionally, if you are 'Pro-Life', you are likely also for the Death Penalty. Or if you are for abortion, you are against owning guns, and also predominately against war. I myself am 'Pro-Life' all the way across the board.

I am against abortion AND against capital punishment; I think war is a last option at best and should be for the purpose of the defense of our country and not for preemptive reasons; I am a vegetarian, I don't hunt, and I strongly support animal welfare issues on both sides of the political spectrum.

It may look like my views are all over the place, but it makes sense to me. I don't just support unborn fetal life, or inmates' lives-- I support ALL life! That is why I can truly call myself Pro-Life and keep my complete dignity and conviction in tact when I say it out loud to others.

Another closely held belief in the Republican Party is that of personal responsibility. And what better way to express that ideal than to not kill when it is not even necessary in the first place. If hunting is a sport, then it isn't urgent for our survival. It is not necessary. Even the Christian Bible speaks to this.

The Bible says in Genesis that we have dominion over the animals, not domination. We were not put on this Earth to control them, or subjugate them, or filet them for dinner at The Outback Steakhouse. We have "dominion": meaning, we are charged with the obligation of personally being responsible for their lives and how they are treated as they walk on our Earth.

Also in Genesis 1:30 God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given green plant for food." And it was so.

This sounds very simple to me. It sounds like we were meant to be vegetarians from the beginning of creation by these words.

To be honest, it makes more sense for conservatives to be vegetarians than anything else. After all, in their namesake, a conservative conserves. Conservation of our liberties and freedoms through our Constitution of the United States of America. Conservation of ourselves through the act of preserving, guarding, and protecting all our sentient brethren as reverent. Conservation in and of itself by not ending the existence of anything prematurely for our own personal gain, or for the gains of the State, or any other intent other than purely for preservation. Conservation of life: plain and simple.



Conservation of all life.