Comments on: Cecil County Animal Law: Good Intentions Run a Costly Amok; Zoning Issues Ignored

By: Thomas Kirby

Thomas Kirby — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 17:04:07 +0000

The ASPCA is also an extremist group and it’s just as bad as the rest. It has been so for over a hundred years.

You can see it from the way that they support so many animal rights causes like the elimination of the exotic animal industry and carriage horses.

Now you have heard the ASPCA referred to as an extremist group.

They also work side by side with PETA to attack circuses and to try to outlaw circus elephants.

By: Cecil Times

Cecil Times — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 18:34:17 +0000

Jenn, since you have been Dr. Carletti’s vet tech and friend for many years, your perspective may be clouded. In fact, COMAR 15.11.01 and its subsections in the state code for the Agriculture Dept. deal with “importation” of livestock into the state. At the end of the section, in subsection .08, there is a section on dogs that is clearly related to importation of dogs for commercial purposes, such as retail sales, as the entire section deals with commercial importation of animals regulated by the Ag department. There is no point in including a dog health certificate in the county ordinance, which makes the COUNTY taxpayers responsible for its enforcement and the implication of it applying to individuals rather than commercial operations. The state Ag department regs would still apply to commercial operations. The state regs also do not intrude into private ‘free to good home’ pet transfers among individuals, while the pending county proposal would require a vet’s health certificate even in these private, non-commercial adoptions.

Edie Crick was never appointed by the County Commissioners as a task force member. All official task force members had to be approved by the Commissioners, and I dare you to show a vote by the County Commissioners as recorded in their official meeting minutes. Indeed, on some documents she is listed as an “administrative aide” who took notes.

You try to distance your friend and the task force from groups such as HSUS, but in fact Crick has donated to a political action committee that was set up with assistance from HSUS and has co-ordinated lobbying efforts in Annapolis with HSUS.

We have never heard of the ASPCA in New York EVER referred to as a radical group, and, as the oldest humane organization in the nation, it has avoided the extremism of other groups. It actually operates its own animal shelter and one of the oldest humane-based low-cost animal hospitals in the nation. Do not malign the ASPCA, which is NOT affiliated with and does not financially operate other local shelters. But unlike HSUS and PETA, ASPCA walks the walk of helping animals, not just talking the talk.

By: Jenn

Jenn — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 01:07:05 +0000

Just want to clarify a few things. First, regarding the health certificates, both citizens and Cecil times would be wise to look at the state laws of Maryland, the state in which you live. The health certificate is a STATE law, and as such, if you don’t like it, need to contact your state delegate. The state law on health certificates does include an exemption for shows, exhibitions, etc.

HSUS, PETA and the ASPCA are radical groups. The task force has no interest in those organizations and their kill more animals agenda. However, I will point out that when Cecil County SPCA, who you pay with your tax money, came under fire for alleged abuse, they called those very groups in to do assessments of their shelter.

Further, Edie Crick was voted onto the task force after another member resigned. If you had come and listened to those meetings, you would know that.