“If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures

From the shelter of compassion and pity,

You will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.” 

St. Francis of Assisi

I’ve been an animal rights activist

Almost my entire earthly life

Being a Christian I consider it my duty

To be their caretaker and not add to their strife

Therefore I like many other compassionate human souls

Have been a proponent of The Animal Fighting Prohibition Act

Which would make it a felony for cruel profit driven human dogfighters

To transport dogs such as the one pictured above sparing them deadly attacks

Although this bill is supported by three quarters of the House of Representatives

And numerous humane societies and law enforcement agencies across this vast land

It has been diligently blocked by proponents of The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act

Which would make people like me ‘terrorists’ and give dogfighters a slap on the hand

Just yesterday The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act was quickly passed by Congress

While The Animal Fighting Prohibition Act still lingers in the House where it will die

And now people like me are considered terrorists and can be sent to prison for 10 years

Well I almost feel like laughing but every time I look at that dog’s picture I want to cry

And now with the passage of The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act

Even pet stores that buy their puppies from vicious puppy mill factories

Can point to people like me who advocate pet adoptions versus purchases

And if their profit margins drop can now have we ‘terrorists’ arrested with glee

So if I or any other animal rights activist members of Authors Den

Should suddenly stop posting and mysteriously vanish into the night

We have probably been arrested by the Department of Homeland Security

While vile lobbyists callous politicians and vicious dogfighters laugh with delight

I was once threatened with arrest

For attempting to help a homeless veteran

Now I could face prison for helping animals

I doubt the insanity of mankind will ever end

The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) passed yesterday

Despite an outpouring of faxes, emails, and phone calls

From concerned animal advocates like myself.

It passed unanimously in the Senate.

And it passed without any debate on the House floor at all.

It passed in roughly 15 minutes.

 
Dennis Kuchinich (D Cleveland) was the lone Representative to speak out against AETA.

Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R Wisconsin) was its champion.

Chairman Sensenbrenner is also responsible for blocking the passage of the Animal Fighting Prohibition Act, although this bill has languished in the House forever, and is supported by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the National Sheriffs' Association, numerous humane societies, and more than 400 state and local law enforcement agencies across America.

In fact, he has blocked every animal protection bill before his
committee this year, including a bill that would stop the killing of exotic
animals via remote control over the Internet.

And now I wonder how long it will be,

Before revealing how Congressmen vote on an issue,

Will be considered a crime, too.

“Ever occur to you why some of us

Can be this much concerned with animal suffering?

Because our government is not.

Why not?

Because animals don't vote or make political contributions.”

Paul Harvey