Valley Exotics Zoo – Eaton, Ohio

An Eaton, Ohio family with two young boys run the Valley Exotics Zoo, travels to county fairs, doing educational exhibits at libraries, festivals and other community events. The wife is a school teacher, so well-versed in educating our children.  A chance to get up close to animals and talk one-on-one isn’t usually offered in zoos or as easily accessible. Valley Exotics Zoo offers common farm animals, a variety of exotics and a hands-on experience bringing children and adults to a better understanding of interacting with animals.

Struggling to make ends meet is known more often than not lately. Not many have been fortunate enough to deal with the economic downturn unscathed. Valley Exotics Zoo is a family business, supporting a family along with a teacher’s job. The last time I checked, teachers were not listed as a high paying career! Sometimes we don’t see the people behind the very things we enjoy and take for granted. Many of the proposed animals to be banned are owned by Valley Exotics Zoo and would cause financial loss if they were not allowed to exhibit the animals, but had to continue to feed and house them. Would a livestock farmer raise cattle for a no return? Could they afford to keep them, feed them, house them and pay for veterinary care?

There are many reasons it is beneficial to allow places such as Valley Exotics Zoo to continue and grow their business. People visiting their exhibit or attending an educational presentation learn about the world’s animals, some living in cities and towns rarely having a chance to connect with the natural world. It’s a job, it’s work and helps keep the economy going in many small ways – feed, supplies, building supplies, business expenses, advertising, draw for the events where being exhibited and many more. The work of running the business is hard, long hours and I still see genuine caring for the animals they keep. Anyone willing to work so hard must have a genuine love for what they do or would be looking for an easier way of life. Raising two young boys to have first-hand knowledge of such a variety of animal care should be applauded by all, and certainly not banned or regulated out of existence.

                                           

                                                      Valley Exotics Zoo on Facebook

                                                         Valley Exotics Zoo Website

Ohio Farms, Animals - Including Dogs and Exotics

On June 30,2010,Governor Ted Strickland, along with Ohio Farm Bureau, announced a deal had been made with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).  In exchange for not filing a ballot initiative potentially affecting livestock in Ohio, Governor Strickland enacted an emergency ban on the listed exotic animals the day before he left office.  Such cowardly tactics did not go unnoticed by many paying attention to the “agreement” and what it would cause, while HSUS continued their course of claiming animal rights cloaked as animal “welfare.”

In most circles, what HSUS did to make the deal would be considered blackmail. “You give us the exotic animals listed and dog breeders and we’ll not bully you with the initiative and ruining your reputation with carefully edited video and campaigns against raising livestock” - is what many heard upon hearing of the deal.

 

Many, farmers included, felt betrayed by the deal being made with HSUS. Governor Strickland previously publicly denouncing HSUS, along with Ohio Farm Bureau’s statements about HSUS, left many with their heads spinning. How could they do this? Making deals with the devil never end well, for anyone involved – except the devil himself.

Personally knowing many farmers and at one time being involved in farming, raising feeder calves and finishing steers, gave me a perspective from both sides,  as an owner of the listed exotics. Riding a fence WILL leave splinters in your rear. Often, it gives a view into what is right and what is wrong and why it is wrong. THIS “deal” was very wrong, not indicative of the integrity I know the majority of farmers to have, and disgusting to exotic owners and dog breeders across the country.

Many people are beginning to realize the similarities between all types of livestock, animal use- from pet to plate – and while this may sound odd to group “pet” and “plate,” I assure you, the animal rights agenda view the use of animals for pets as offensive as eating meat. Incrementally working toward no animal use is a real goal; they have strategies, tactics, attorneys, networks, and money. They have been working steadily while most farmers, dog breeders and exotic owners work hands-on with their animals every day. Never suspecting such a fundamental way of life, including our diets and choice of pet, is under attack.

Visiting Ohio farmers, exotic owners and dog breeders to frequently give a look into the people involved - those living and working with the animals, making a living for their families - will show the similarities amongst all of us. Interspersed with other cases, incidents of how the HSUS has slowly gained control of animal use of every kind will likely prove a very interesting project.

The Agreement with HSUS in Ohio

AGREEMENT:

1) Recommendations will be made to The Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board (OLCSB)

to take action on issues related to downer cattle and humane euthanasia using language

consistent with the proposed ballot initiative.

2) The Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will

coordinate and take action on wild and dangerous animals including the prohibition of the

sale and/or possession of big cats, bears, primates, large constricting and venomous

snakes and alligators and crocodiles. Existing owners will be grandfathered in, but they

could not breed or obtain new animals.

3) Recommendations will be made to the legislature to support and pass SB 95 largely in the

current form, which regulates dog breeding kennels.

4) Recommendations will be made to the legislature to support and pass HB 108, which will

increase penalties on individuals who engage in cockfighting.

5) Recommendations will be made to the OLCSB to adopt the American Veal Association

2007 agreement to transition to group housing for veal calves by 2017.

6) Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) will issue a statement in support of the

mission and purpose of the OLCSB and will engage and work with the Board.

Organizations representing Ohioans for Livestock Care and the HSUS will examine and

jointly fund independent research projects and studies to identify best practices and to

work for the highest farm animal care and welfare standards. If assistance of a third party

is needed they will jointly agree on a representative to help in these discussions. When

this work is complete, the findings will be presented to the OLCSB.

7) Recommendation will be made to the OLCSB for current hog producers and to phase out

the use of gestation crates by December 31, 2025. By that date time all sows must be

housed using alternative systems. After December 31, 2010, any new facilities must

utilize alternative sow housing (not gestation crates). It is understood that in all housing

systems, sows may be housed in breeding/gestation stalls until they are confirmed

pregnant.

From Ohio Farm Bureau:  http://ofbf.org/uploads/Agreement.pdf

HIGHLIGHT AND URGE EXPEDITED IRS ACTION ON THE HSUS “LOBBYGATE” COVER-UP

The IRS and the Department of the Treasury’s Office of the Inspector General for Tax Administration have now received a Background Paper that is entitled “THE HSUS LOBBYGATE COVER-UP.”  This Background Paper summarizes the most flagrant lobbying and tax-related actions of the HSUS that are documented by over 1,400 pages of  incriminating documents that include extracts from the HSUS Tax
Returns for the years 2005-2009. 

Several of the highlights of the Background  Paper summarize how the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) may have under-reported over $500 Million in revenue on its 2005-2009 Tax Returns; may have expended over 40% of its monetary expenditures and the time of its Paid Staff and volunteers on direct and indirect lobbying activities; may have “laundered” money and lobbying activities through its infrastructure of Affiliated Organizations; may have improperly endorsed political candidates; may have generated BILLIONS - - YES BILLIONS - - of lobby-related E-Mails to its Members, Volunteers and Elected Officials; and has explicitly claimed credit for the passage of over 550 Federal and State Statutes and Ballot Initiatives.


The first of the 1,400+ pages of documents were forwarded to the IRS over two years ago.  Rest assured, the IRS is “quietly” investigating the lobbying activities of the HSUS because it has
assigned a Case File Number (29-92012) to its investigation, and the Department of the Treasury’s Office of the Inspector General for Tax Administration has also assigned a Case File Number (55-1005-0025-C). 

However, after more than 2 years of an “on-going examination” by the IRS of the lobbying activities of the HSUS, it would appear that the IRS has not demonstrated a “sense of urgency” or high priority for bringing closure to its “on-going examination.”  In this regard, I believe that if the “Hotline” for the Inspector General for Tax Administration of  the Department of the Treasury received 5-10,000 E-Mails from concerned citizens who asked that Office to urge the IRS to  expedite finalization of the IRS investigation of the excessive lobbying activities of the HSUS, IT WOULD DO SO!  If you wish to participate in this E-Mail Blitz, you may do so by following the directions as set out below:



1. Address your E-Mail to:
Complaints@tigta.treas.gov

    
2. Use for the Subject line of your E-Mail:     
                OIG Case File Number 55-1005-0025-C.

    
3. For the text of your message,you may wish to use language such as: 
“Now that the IRS has received over 1,400 pages that document the 
excessive lobbying activities of the HSUS, which may amount to an
“HSUS LOBBYGATE COVER-UP;” and that the HSUS  may have 
under-reported its revenue from Membership dues on its 2005-2009 
Tax Returns by as much as $500 Million or more, would you please
urge the IRS to complete its investigation of the HSUS in an
expeditious manner in order to ensure that the integrity of the
IRS Compliance  Program for tax-exempt, public charities is
maintained.”   
(Note:  You do not need to includeyour name or address if you do not wish to do so.)
 
If you do send an E-Mail to the OIG Hotline, please blind copy me on the bcc line of
the E-Mail so that I may keep track of how many E-Mails are sent.
         Frank Losey  f.losey@insightbb.com