09-11-2020, 12:41 PM
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On 9/9/2020 at 8:39 AM, heavyhorse said:
The only point I would disagree on is that the Societies are not all-volunteer. They rake in $ millions a year with commercials showing sad, sad puppies, selling subscriptions and monthly auto-donations, sponsored by TV celebrities (remember Bob Barker?). They (and their hackers and lawyers) are quite well financed.
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On 9/9/2020 at 9:02 AM, caikgoch said:
That's true but it's not the best reason to worry about them. Most are quasi-governmental organizations. That means that they are a private corporation contracted by the government to fulfil a governmental function and given governmental powers to do so. Their "experts" can order your animals seized or declare you an abuser and it's up to you to prove different in court.
HSUS being referred to here. No, their finances aren't small, but little of that is directed toward us. Puppy mills, hoarders, meat markets, cosmetics testing & other targets are more high profile targets of theirs, & ones I support. That is my point. When it comes to outting & investigating individual zoophiles they are indeed all volunteers, unless it is an extremely high profile "zoo" target (who usually makes themselves so).
HSUS is NOT a Government agency. They can recommend seizure of your animals though, and usually succeed when they do. The SPCA's ARE Government agencies, they are Law Enforcement. They don't recommend, they do. HSUS tactics are to involve the various SPCA's so they don't HAVE to deal with the chance of having a recommendation denied. Your animals are simply taken.
It is difficult with both these agencies, where our "enemies" are also (for many reasons related to the health, welfare & safety of animals) our friends.
Again, plain common sense protects you the most. You have it, use it. OPSEC here, no pay-sites, don't buy toys (if customer lists can be shared they can be used), choose friends wisely and DON'T "share" your companions (not just for security either, there're ethics to consider).
None of the above keep a 'zoo' from enjoying being "zoo", nor do they make you paranoid, just careful.
