Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance

[Bob_Kane]

HSUS’s VA PAWS Bill (HB538) Clears Crucial Hurdle

Dear Virginia Dog Owners,

The Humane Society of the United State (HSUS) is about to gain in Virginia what it couldn’t in years of Washington, DC lobbying, a hobby dog breeder licensing and inspection regulation. HB538 was reported this morning by a 7-1 vote from House Appropriations Economic Development, Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee of Cox (Chairman), Morgan, Hogan, Abbitt, O’Bannon, Phillips, Dance, Shannon. Only Delegate Abbitt voted against HB538.

The subcommittee incredibly didn’t review HB538’s fiscal impacts, its raison d’être (reason for being). Instead it permitted a replay of the emotional puppy mill stories from the Agriculture Committee hearings and totally ignored the bill’s significant unfunded new regulatory requirements on Virginia counties and cities. See the attached analysis. Also ignored were expressions of concern and requests not to report filed this week by at least one city and multiple counties.

A few cosmetic, non-substantive changes were made in today’s subcommittee. The commercial dog breeder definition was raised from 20 females to 30, and the adult dog 50 limit now specifies one year, rather than four months. The amended bill still deserved to die. HB538 duplicates the federal licensing system that registers and inspects most dog breeders with four (4) or more females about whom a legitimate complaint has been received or those businesses that voluntarily self-register. USDA-APHIS has 5700+ Class A breeders that it monitors and inspects at least once per year, including 14 in Virginia. The feds did 10,000 inspections last year, checking compliance with 60 pages of detailed dog care standards.

Junior Horton in Carroll County, the HSUS puppy mill cause célèbre, was well known to authorities and the ACO there for years. He had a business license, a 500 dog kennel permit, five employees, bought dog food by the ton and advertised puppies in newspapers and on the Internet. He should have been federally licensed and inspection by law, but wasn’t. On that there’s no dispute. That situation was a local political problem, not a federal enforcement shortfall. At any time, someone could have brought him to the USDA’s attention. Three months after the HSUS November 1st “raid,” there still hasn’t been a formal complaint lodged, nor has the local ACO returned to that facility, from which Horton’s still selling puppies. The fourteen USDA licensed and inspected VA dog breeders are listed on the USDA-APHIS website. This isn’t some mysterious, unknown or unaccountable animal welfare service, just one the State Veterinarian’s Office and ACOs need to learn about, rather than being asked to supplant, or duplicate the federal program at great cost to local taxpayers and risk to responsible dog owners.

They’ll be time for more thorough and studied postmortems later, but my personal gripes just now involve the only identified dog owner group to support HB538, the Virginia Foxhound Club, and the Virginia Association of Counties . VACO committed to oppose HB538 this week, then reneged today. The Middleburg based Virginia Foxhound Club and its Masters of Foxhounds Association affiliated members should be dragged behind their horses for advancing HSUS’s anti-dog owner agenda.

Thank you for your individual efforts over these last trying weeks. We were up against HSUS’s five paid Richmond professional lobbyists, its DC personnel and numerous very well coordinated local semi-pro activists.

Forward and cross post freely.:mad:

[Bob_Kane]

HSUS’s VA PAWS Bill (HB538) Clears Crucial Hurdle

Dear Virginia Dog Owners,

The Humane Society of the United State (HSUS) is about to gain in Virginia what it couldn’t in years of Washington, DC lobbying, a hobby dog breeder licensing and inspection regulation. HB538 was reported this morning by a 7-1 vote from House Appropriations Economic Development, Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee of Cox (Chairman), Morgan, Hogan, Abbitt, O’Bannon, Phillips, Dance, Shannon. Only Delegate Abbitt voted against HB538.

The subcommittee incredibly didn’t review HB538’s fiscal impacts, its raison d’être (reason for being). Instead it permitted a replay of the emotional puppy mill stories from the Agriculture Committee hearings and totally ignored the bill’s significant unfunded new regulatory requirements on Virginia counties and cities. See the attached analysis. Also ignored were expressions of concern and requests not to report filed this week by at least one city and multiple counties.

A few cosmetic, non-substantive changes were made in today’s subcommittee. The commercial dog breeder definition was raised from 20 females to 30, and the adult dog 50 limit now specifies one year, rather than four months. The amended bill still deserved to die. HB538 duplicates the federal licensing system that registers and inspects most dog breeders with four (4) or more females about whom a legitimate complaint has been received or those businesses that voluntarily self-register. USDA-APHIS has 5700+ Class A breeders that it monitors and inspects at least once per year, including 14 in Virginia. The feds did 10,000 inspections last year, checking compliance with 60 pages of detailed dog care standards.

Junior Horton in Carroll County, the HSUS puppy mill cause célèbre, was well known to authorities and the ACO there for years. He had a business license, a 500 dog kennel permit, five employees, bought dog food by the ton and advertised puppies in newspapers and on the Internet. He should have been federally licensed and inspection by law, but wasn’t. Of that there’s no dispute. That situation was a local political problem, not a federal enforcement shortfall. At any time, someone could have brought him to the USDA’s attention. Three months after the HSUS November 1st “raid,” there still hasn’t been a formal complaint lodged, nor has the local ACO returned to that facility, from which Horton’s still selling puppies. The fourteen USDA licensed and inspected VA dog breeders are listed on the USDA-APHIS website. This isn’t some mysterious, unknown or unaccountable animal welfare service, just one the State Veterinarian’s Office and ACOs need to learn about, rather than being asked to supplant, or duplicate the federal program at great cost to local taxpayers and risk to responsible dog owners.

They’ll be time for more thorough and studied postmortems later, but my personal gripes just now involve the only identified dog owner group to support HB538, the Virginia Foxhound Club, and the Virginia Association of Counties . VACO committed to oppose HB538 this week, then reneged today. The Middleburg based Virginia Foxhound Club and its Masters of Foxhounds Association affiliated members should be dragged behind their horses for advancing HSUS’s anti-dog owner agenda.

Thank you for your individual efforts over these last trying weeks. We were up against HSUS’s five paid Richmond professional lobbyists, its DC personnel and numerous very well coordinated local semi-pro activists.

Forward and cross post freely.:mad:

[Bob_Kane]

HB538 Fiscal Impact Analysis Prepared by Virginia Dog Owners’ No HB538 Coalition

Bill: HB 538
Patron: Orrock
Date: February 7, 2008

Fiscal Impact Analysis Prepared by Virginia Dog Owners’ No HB538 Coalition

$1,643,000 Unfunded Mandate to the Counties and Localities

($407,000 Commonwealth Agency Cost)

Analysis Basis

Commission on Local Government published estimate of Local Fiscal Impact

$1,350,000 Extrapolated cost of 100% Counties and Localities reporting

13 of 134 (10%) of Commonwealth Counties and Localities reported to the Commission on HB538’s FY '09 Fiscal Impact study. $135,000 reported dollars expanded out to 1.35 MM if all counties and localities actually report. Reported costs ranged from no impact, to increased expenses only, to additional full time ACO’s required. No new training costs were included.

Virginia Animal Control Officer Training

$293,000 $2200 per one current ACO per county/locality. Basis: 2006 training costs per approved ACO training facility. Assumes one week of new VA standards training and one week of federal USDA training as mandated in the HB538.

Department of Planning and Budget published Fiscal Impact Statement
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

$106,762 FY '09 VDCAS new Full-Time Veterinarian

VDACS estimated FY09 cost for implementation rulemaking pursuant
to Virginia’s Administrative Procedures Act

$300,000 Cost of Dept. of Agriculture of HB 538 implementation rulemaking to promulgate Commonwealth-wide inspection standards for breeding kennels. (Virginia currently has a single 37 line page describing general animal care “goals.” USDA at the federal level, by contrast, has 60 pages of detailed standards.)

[U]$2,050,000 Estimate of total Virginia first year costs (conservative)[/U]

[Hokieman]

The session is almost half over. Next week is cross over when the House of Delegates takes up Senate passed bills and the Senate takes up those bills passed by the House. The fun begins again!

The Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance has continued to work against a long list of bad “Animal Rights Bills”.
a number have been killed, but are still a number to be defeated. We have taken positions on all bills that effect hunting, but because of the large number of bills this year have left the “Gun Bills” to the NRA and Virginia Civilian Defense League. We will get involved when our friends say they need our help!

A complete list of Bills that the Alliance is following and our positions are on the web site http://vahda.org. The Board of Directors in Accordance with the By-laws has approved these positions.

[Bob_Kane]

HB1352 DEFEATED

[QUOTE=Hokieman;2990027]
HB1352 PASSED THE HOUSE AG AND WE NEED EVERYONES SUPPORT. EMAIL YOUR SENATOR AND ASK THEM TO VOTE YES TO HB1352.

Virginia Sportsmen and Sportswomen ask yourself this Question. If This Hound Hunting Study Or These Actions Were Taken By The Wildlife Department In Any Other State, Every Sportsman and Sportswoman In America Would Call It Anti-hunting. Dgif Is Pointing To Their 91 Year History Of Support For Sportsman To Say Trust Us! I Say Look At Their Track Record For The Last 2 Year History Of This Board! “The people have a right to hunt, fish, and harvest game, subject to such regulations and restrictions as the General Assembly may prescribe by general law. Virginia Constitution, Article XI, section 4”

The DGIF derives all authority from the legislature, which according to Article 1 Section 2 of the Virginia Constitution is derived from the people.

The DGIF Board members all 11 are currently appointed by the Governor and serve “at his pleasure”. Only the Governor sets policy for his administration, Governor Kaine has a record of being aggressively anti-gun and pro animal rights! We need the members of the General Assembly to help defend our Heritage and put the hunters of Virginia trust back into the DGIF! Call your Virginia senator today!!! and ask them to “support house bill 1352 and Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance efforts to de-politize the DGIF Board by restructuring the Board so the six positions are appointed by the General Assembly and are no longer” at will" positions.

“The DGIF Board consists of 11 members appointed by the Governor of VA, with one representative selected from each congressional district in the state. The Board meets approximately six times a year to set regulations and policy for the operation of the Department. Proposed regulations are presented at public meetings so that anyone who has an interest in them is able to voice their opinion. Once the discussion is completed, the Board votes on the regulation and sets a date for when it will take effect if it passed.”

It’s important that you understand that all hunters in Virginia should do this not just the hound hunters to preserve their way of hunting for the future generations.

Let me explain, House Bill 1352, First of all if we can succeed in getting six of the eleven members of the DGIF Board appointed by the Legislature… 4 House, 2 Senate and have all members of the Board serve for “good service” as opposed to “at will” they will be better able to resist the pressure from the appointing authority to follow political winds and more likely to follow their conscience. If they are required to hold a Virginia hunting, fishing or trapping license for the three years prior to their appointment you most likely will get a better group of Virginia hunters that will be more likely able to perform their job making important decisions in the department on issues regarding rules and regulation, wildlife management, etc based on prior hunting experience and to follow the voice of the people.

Restructuring The Dgif Board Is the only “Key To Preserving Your Hunting Heritage For Future Generations.” Call And Ask Your Virginia Senator!!! To Support House Bill 1352 Vote Yes.[/QUOTE]

HB1352 Defeated
You’re a one trick pony Derick and not a very good one at that. VHDA’s HB1352 failed because six (6) GOP members voted against it twice today. Only one Democrat supported the bill. Please just go away before you do any more damage to Virginia sportsmen.

HB1352, the DGIF Board restructuring-reorganizing bill introduced for Kirby Burch, Derick Ratcliffe, et al (AKA VA Hunting Dog Alliance) was defeated on two House floor votes today (48-Y 50-N) and (47-Y 52-N). The measure was GOP leadership backed and seen as a slap at the Governor. The actual vote tallies are posted at http://vhdoa.uplandbirddog.com/staterk.html

The HSUS anti-dog breeding HB538 passed (91-Y 6-N), thanks in part to several foxhound hunts and clubs.
:mad::mad::mad:

Bob Kane, President
Virginia Hunting Dog Owners’ Association
Chairman Emeritus, Sportsmen and Animal Owners’ Voting Alliance
http://vhdoa.uplandbirddog.com http://saova.org

[Hokieman]

[QUOTE=Bob Kane;3002262]
HB1352 Defeated
You’re a one trick pony Derick and not a very good one at that. VHDA’s HB1352 failed because six (6) GOP members voted against it twice today. Only one Democrat supported the bill. Please just go away before you do any more damage to Virginia sportsmen.

HB1352, the DGIF Board restructuring-reorganizing bill introduced for Kirby Burch, Derick Ratcliffe, et al (AKA VA Hunting Dog Alliance) was defeated on two House floor votes today (48-Y 50-N) and (47-Y 52-N). The measure was GOP leadership backed and seen as a slap at the Governor. The actual vote tallies are posted at http://vhdoa.uplandbirddog.com/staterk.html

The HSUS anti-dog breeding HB538 passed (91-Y 6-N), thanks in part to several foxhound hunts and clubs.
:mad::mad::mad:

Bob Kane, President
Virginia Hunting Dog Owners’ Association
Chairman Emeritus, Sportsmen and Animal Owners’ Voting Alliance
http://vhdoa.uplandbirddog.com http://saova.org[/QUOTE]

No Bobby, I am not going away. It didn’t pass this year but there is always next year. The Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance are hunters working freely for hunters. We don’t except under the table money and term them reimbursments like some do. We are not making a living off it, like some are. Those who know you know you well and those that don’t soon will. Have a good day.

[Bob_Kane]

Hokieboy

[QUOTE=Hokieman;3002286]
No Bobby, I am not going away. It didn’t pass this year but there is always next year. The Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance are hunters working freely for hunters. We don’t except under the table money and term them reimbursments like some do. We are not making a living off it, like some are. Those who know you know you well and those that don’t soon will. Have a good day.[/QUOTE]

Hokieboy,

That “money under the table” calumny is both juvenile and ridiculous, as anyone who knows me, the Virginia Hunting Dog Owners’ Association http://vhdoa.uplandbirddog.com or SAOVA http://saova.org/ will attest. It’s a tragic shame that you’re so myopic and misdirected that all your considerable Internet energy is being squandered on efforts that hurt Virginia sportsmen. Two years from now, no houndsman will remember what they saw in VHDA and we’ll all be the worse off for your nonsense blogging.

My apologies to the moderator.

[Hokieman]

[QUOTE=Bob Kane;3002428]
Hokieboy,

That “money under the table” calumny is both juvenile and ridiculous, as anyone who knows me, the Virginia Hunting Dog Owners’ Association http://vhdoa.uplandbirddog.com or SAOVA http://saova.org/ will attest. It’s a tragic shame that you’re so myopic and misdirected that all your considerable Internet energy is being squandered on efforts that hurt Virginia sportsmen. Two years from now, no houndsman will remember what they saw in VHDA and we’ll all be the worse off for your nonsense blogging.

My apologies to the moderator.[/QUOTE]

Bobby, I have worked very hard and am doing what I feel is right and no matter what you say or falsely claim is going to detour me from giving Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance and it’s members my full attention in getting the job done so that the hunting dog community will have a political voice that will be heard through out Virginia. We are growing by leaps and bounds and will be even a stronger force next year. smile Bobby we aren’t even a year old yet and I am still wet behind the ears but willing to learn as I go.

[system]

Look at the bottom of every one of Hokiemans VHDA web page. Says “Authorized and Paid for by the Commonwealth Sportsmen’s Alliance P.A.C (91-401)”. So they’re actually the mouthpiece of a political group. any funds sent in go somewhere else - not what they lead you to believe you’re supporting. Nice job Derick!

[Hokieman]

[QUOTE=Big-Bird-VA;3019811]
Look at the bottom of every one of Hokiemans VHDA web page. Says “Authorized and Paid for by the Commonwealth Sportsmen’s Alliance P.A.C (91-401)”. So they’re actually the mouthpiece of a political group. any funds sent in go somewhere else - not what they lead you to believe you’re supporting. Nice job Derick! :D[/QUOTE]

I guess you missed this link.

http://vahda.org/about.htm

The Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance is a Committee of autonomous organizations and individuals working in conjunction with the Commonwealth Sportsmen’s Alliance, Inc. a Virginia Political Action Committee registered with the Virginia State Board of Elections. All expenditures and receipts of the organization are reported in accordance with the Code of Virginia (Law). Financial reports are made quarterly and may be viewed at the State Board of Elections web site - http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/

[system]

[QUOTE=Hokieman;3019854]
I guess you missed this link.

http://vahda.org/about.htm

The Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance is a Committee of autonomous organizations and individuals working in conjunction with the Commonwealth Sportsmen’s Alliance, Inc. a Virginia Political Action Committee registered with the Virginia State Board of Elections. All expenditures and receipts of the organization are reported in accordance with the Code of Virginia (Law). Financial reports are made quarterly and may be viewed at the State Board of Elections web site - http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/[/QUOTE]More lies. The VHDA is owned/run by the same person as CSA. That would be Kirby Burch, HM coonhound buddy. The funds go straight to Kirbys PO box and into the PAC. They’re not working with, they’re owned and run by CSA. BIG difference. Anyone starting to see the game here being played?

Next time how about telling it like it is to start with?

[Hokieman]

[QUOTE=Big-Bird-VA;3021555]
More lies. The VHDA is owned/run by the same person as CSA. That would be Kirby Burch, HM coonhound buddy. The funds go straight to Kirbys PO box and into the PAC. They’re not working with, they’re owned and run by CSA. BIG difference. Anyone starting to see the game here being played?

Next time how about telling it like it is to start with?[/QUOTE]

The website clearly shows who the officers and directors are and its all there for everyone to read.

http://vahda.org/faqs.htm

Why do we need another organization?

The Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance (VHDA) was formed as an umbrella organization, part of the Commonwealth Sportsmen’s Alliance PAC, to give Virginia Sportsmen a political voice within the law. Many groups came together because many of the"old line established or nationally affiliated organizations" simply were more interested in going along to get along. They did not criticize the DGIF Board or staff when it was needed! Now the DGIF Board has undertaken a dangerous course the Hound Study that they say"Will determine the future of hunting in Virginia"! Virginia’s Sportsmen need a strong voice to tell the bureaucrats and politicians not to tread on our rights! They want their Sportsmen’s organization to be bold defenders of their Heritage not elitists that ignore the hunting traditions that are as old as Virginia herself!

You have been to the website. I encourage you to look it over more closely.

[Hokieman]

Another resolution passed in King William Co. thats 11 and more to come.

Hunters express support for hounds
They attend hearing in King William to protect their pastime

Tuesday, Feb 26, 2008 - 12:25 AM

By LAWRENCE LATANE III
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
KING WILLIAM – Deer hunters unleashed their support for hounds, and residents took another bite at the pros and cons of motocross racing at a packed public hearing last night.

The crowd numbered in the hundreds and overflowed from the meeting room into the hallways of the King William County administration building.

Deer hunters backed the Board of Supervisors’ unanimous resolution in support of hunting with dogs.

The county is the 11th to endorse the pastime, which advocates say is under pressure as suburban development spreads into rural outposts such as King William.

“We need to pass this thing to stay the same so we can continue to do what we’ve always done,” said Mike Turner, one of the legion of hunters wearing blaze orange hats and canvas field coats.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries launched a study late last fall that is examining hunters’ use of hounds in the pursuit of white-tailed deer.

The study has fanned fears that the state may be looking for support to outlaw deer hunting with dogs, but Rich Busch, assistant director of the department’s wildlife division, disagrees. “We want to find a way to have hound hunting continue into the foreseeable future,” he said in an interview. He did not attend the King William meeting.

Residents also continued the furor for the second monthly meeting in a controversy about motocross motorcycle racing.

Developers tabled a proposal for a 327-acre motocross park in January before it reached the Planning Commission after critics overwhelmed an informal presentation of the plan.

At the time, the proposal called for four tracks and a campground about 5 miles west of Central Garage off state Route 30. The developers say they intend to return with a more palatable proposal, but they have not filed anything yet.

Last night, advocates of a track traded places on the podium with opponents who, so far, have dominated the debate.

“We go motocrossing every weekend,” Eli Hopkins told the supervisors. “It’s the number one family-oriented sport there is.”

But Margo El, who lives near the proposed track site, said she fears racing will destroy her peace and quiet. “I’m used to listening to the birds, the crickets,” she said.
Contact Lawrence Latané III at (804) 333-3461 or llatane@timesdispatch.com.

[Hokieman]

Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance
News Briefs
Powhatan, Virginia
Thursday, February 28, 2008

2008 General Assembly
The session is almost over. On balance, the session produced some good pro-Sportsmen legislation without any really bad bills passing, yet! Your phone calls and emails have made a substantial difference! We hope to increase that contact next year! We have updated the web site so that you can see who voted with and against us on all of the bills we were working. Some highlights and some comments:

SB538, sponsored by Delegate Robert D. Orrock, Sr., ® - House District 54, is still alive, but amended to lessen its potential impact and looking for funding in a tight budget year. Call your Senator and ask him or her vote no to any budget that contains funding for HB538!

HB 1352 sponsored by Delegate R. Lee Ware, ® - Powhatan was defeated in the House (47-52), but it sent a serious message that the Sportsmen are tired of the DGIF Board of Directors ignoring their interests only to service the will of wealthy elitists who selfishly abolish or severely limit centuries of Virginia Heritage! Please take the time to thank the delegates that supported this effort. Delegates Hogan and Saxman worked hard for passage when our bill reached the floor! Of course, Delegate Ware was instrumental in all of our efforts in the House this year. A special thanks goes out to Delegate Johnny S. Joannou (D) - House District 79 – Portsmouth for courageously standing with us on this bill. He is a longtime friend of Virginia’s Sportsmen and of the Second Amendment!

SB 263 sponsored by R. Creigh Deeds (D) - Senate District 25, after passing the Senate 38-1 with amendments, it was killed in House Agriculture Committee by a voice vote. The sponsor complained that the Senate had reduced the penalty from a class four misdemeanor to a class two, but retains the revocation of the hunting license and forfeiture of firearm or bow involved. In the House, the sponsor argued that the class four misdemeanor provisions be reinstated. It is worth noting that Senator Deeds is an announced candidate for Governor in 2009!

A complete list of bills that the Alliance followed and our positions can be found on the web site http://www.vahda.org/legislation.htm .

The Board of Directors in accordance with the By-laws has approved these positions. We encourage our members to contact the Directors with questions about the positions taken. This is your Alliance! Because of the long days at the Legislature, we do not have the time to explain to everyone that is not an Alliance member why we spoke for, worked in favor of or opposed a certain bills. As the organization develops a more extensive process will be used to develop and debate policy, but due to the fast moving nature of the legislature the Board must often decide on a course of action on short notice and the folks on site must be able to act.

Sunday Hunting
The VHDA opposes Sunday hunting as one of the quickest ways to turn the non-hunting public, landowners and all who keep at Sabbath against Hound Hunting. James Hazel, Chairman of DGIF Board from Fairfax Co., representing himself and not the DGIF Board, in an unprecedented move, spoke in favor of Sunday hunting, as did an NRA’s representative Joel Partridge and an individual from Tidewater. Senator Stolle tried to put the camel’s nose (and body) under the tent with his urban archery bill SB708, but was soundly defeated by a vote in House Agriculture Committee. Speaking against Sunday Hunting were the Virginia Farm Bureau, the Virginia Agribusiness Council, and the VHDA! We have received some complaints about our position from a few Sportsmen who still-hunt and are NOT members of our organization. Many were used to hunting on Sunday where they came from. There are no plans to seek any modification of existing law to end any Sunday exemptions that currently exist, such as the 2:00 AM Sunday provision to allow for retrieval of dogs.

Making DGIF Hunter Friendly!
House Joint Resolution by Delegate Chris Saxman ® - Staunton: HJ 231 Game and Inland Fisheries, Board of; Board & Department to provide for citizen input in regulations; urges the DGIF Board to return to the two-year regulatory cycle and local meetings by Board members and staff to explain proposals for new regulations. It was made clear that the use of the Internet alone was not a practice favored by legislators. The staff was receptive to this request. We continue to hope that the Board will take the Resolution to heart! The Senate rules committee amended the Bill to require a report by DGIF on their efforts to implement this resolution. At the January 22, 2008, Board meeting, we were left somewhat cynical about their willingness to abandon the Internet as a method of receiving comments! They have decided to use the internet for another survey on Hound Hunting. To date the survey is neither on the web site nor in the mail! Mailing all hunters or a large sample would insure input more representative of the Hunting community.

The Hunting Dog Study!
The advisory committee members have been named. Letters have been prepared and will be mailed soon. In spite of public assurances by Mr. Duncan at a number of meetings, NO VHDA BOARD Members have been named to this committee! The VHDA is the largest hunting organization in the state and is dedicated to hunting with dogs! DGIF still has a lot to learn and a long way to go before we will ever trust them again! Please notify us immediately if you are asked to serve on the committee! Delegate Watkins Abbitt, (I) – Appomattox, one of us and one of the best friends hunters that use dogs will ever have, was asked to be on the committee, but declined.

OUR FRIENDS
Members of the House and Senate including Speaker Howell and Majority Leader Griffin of the House constantly helped us. Some folks, hope we didn’t miss too many of our loyal friends, that stand out because they dealt daily with many of our bills and were stalwart defenders of your rights are listed below:
Delegates: Morgan, Ware, R.L., Wright, Saxman, Hogan, Scott, E.T., Marshall, D.W., Lohr, Poindexter, Abbitt and Senator Ruff.
Please remember to give them special thanks!

Some thoughts:

1.Every hunter needs to be registered to vote! Many are not currently registered. If you know someone, friend or families, please get them registered to vote. Make sure they vote in every election. It does matter!

2.Your phone calls and letters made a major difference.

3.Governor Kaine has promised that next year will be the year of the environment! With the completion of the Hound study we know they will be bring legislation to take away your rights! Mr. Hazel, DGIF Chairman, told the VHDA that NO legislation will be recommended by the study! Presumably he intends to bring regulatory changes. We must be ready; they will come after us this year with new regulation or next year in the legislature!

4.Resolutions by the County Boards of Supervisors that say they oppose the study are the best way to answer to anti-dog study recommendations! The Boards of Supervisors know better than a couple of VT professors!

5.The strength that comes from large numbers of members and their families give us a voice in the Virginia General Assembly and with the Boards of Supervisors. Please get everyone that you know to join the Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance. When you join on line it shows you which legislative district you are in.

Our next News Brief will deal with where we go from here. The VHDA is an organization on the move. Watch the web site http://www.vahda.org/ for news and updates. We are growing everyday!
Remember this is your organization! If you don’t want it to be like those “other” hunting organizations that let you down, you must get involved! GET IN THE FIGHT OR LOSE YOUR RIGHTS!

[Hokieman]

Goochland county has passed the Brunswick Resolution. Check out our website for more news and updates.

[Hokieman]

Hunting with Hounds in Virginia: A Way Forward
Focus Group Meeting Summaries (10 of 16 Posted)

http://www.huntfishva.com/hunting/hounds/?tab=focus-group-summaries

[Hokieman]

Virginia hunting dog owners, We can make a difference by uniting and working togeather. Have you done everything you know to do? Have you joined Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance? join online @ http://vahda.org

[Hokieman]

[QUOTE=Hokieman;2900314]
This Resolution was passed by Charlotte, Brunswick, Mecklenburg
and Lunenburg Counties and is currently under consideration in at
least seven other Counties.

Ask your Board of Supervisors to help now!

A Resolution of the Brunswick County Board of Supervisors Where as Brunswick County has a tradition of hunting with dogs and specifically with hounds that is as old as the County; and Where as the Brunswick County tradition of hunting with dogs provides significant economic benefit to the county and her people; and Where as the Brunswick County tradition of hunting with dogs significantly contributes to the public safety by controlling excess wildlife populations that would otherwise increase automotive collisions, crop and other property damage, and disease control; and Where as the Brunswick County tradition of hunting with dogs, especially hounds, is practiced on the vast majority of land in Brunswick County and is a source of revenue and a major resource management tool; and Where as the Brunswick County tradition of hunting with dogs is a wholesome family oriented heritage that teaches self-reliance, individual responsibility, and the values of community and stewardship of our GOD given natural resources; therefore Be it resolved that the Brunswick County Board of Supervisors supports our Heritage of Hunting with Dogs, especially hounds, and opposes any studies or actions on the part of Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and Virginia Tech as detrimental to that tradition. Be it further resolved that the Brunswick County Board of Supervisors in support of our Heritage of Hunting with Dogs, especially hounds, hereby calls on the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to work to increase communication with hunters and their hunting organizations and to increase law enforcement of the existing laws.[/QUOTE]

This resolution has just been passed in Spotsylvania County and Caroline County. more to follow.