Human Rights

Human Rights  » National Animal Identification System is a Bad Idea

National Animal Identification System is a Bad Idea

I am resolved to the fact that government legislation will

continue to erode away at our freedoms. Government likes to

paint itself as the lamb, but usually is the wolf. It's the

rules of necessity to protect us from certain harm. Take for

instance the latest hot topic in farming, NAIS, National Animal

Identification System.

The NAIS is a government created animal identification and

tracking system created under the auspices of protecting the

food chain from such things as mad cow disease. Their plan is to

require every horse, cow, pig, goat, sheep, llama, chicken, and

pigeon to be micro chipped, every owner to be registered, and

track every movement of these animals. It is already being

implemented, and will be mandatory by 2008. The claim is that

they will be able to trace back the location of any contaminated

animal within 48 hours to stop the outbreaks of potential

diseases.

Look again at the list of animals currently listed as part of

this legislation; remember this is designed to protect the "food

chain." Did you notice anything odd as I did? When was the last

time you had one of those horse burgers? Horses are not raised

for human consumption in the United States; in fact, it is

actually against the law in many states. How about those llama

steaks? Llamas and alpacas are raised for their wool, not for

meat. Seems odd to me that legislation designed to protect the

food chain, would require participation from non food animals.

I prefer not to have my personal information available for

others to misuse. I am often asked for my social security number

and will not place it on many documents, and refuse to give it

in many situations. As an animal raiser you will be required to

register your premises, including much of your personal

information. The USDA website states that because of the Freedom

of Information Act this information will not be kept private.

Any extremist animal rights group will have access to your

personal information, as will many others with a potential to

misuse your information, so much for privacy.

In considering the food chain, the easiest way to achieve 48

hour trace ability, is to have local farmers sell directly to

consumers. Any one that purchases from me, can tell authorities

within 30 seconds where they purchased their animal. In fact if

there are any issues with my animals it will affect my small

herd and no one else's. The necessity to include the local

farmer or homesteader in this legislation is ridiculous. There

is even some debate about how this applies to those that raise

food for their own consumption. Many experts believe that they

too will be required to register.

The costs associated with this program will have a huge impact

on everyone. You may not be a farmer, you may not raise cattle,

but you will be affected by this legislation. Again in reviewing

the USDA website, they make it clear that the cost of this

program will be passed on to the animal owner. The farmer will

have to pay for their own compliance. They will have to pay for

the microchips; they will have to pay for meeting all the

paperwork requirements. More than likely this will force local

farmers and small homesteaders out of the production of their

animals. As it is they make little or no money. Don't expect

large scale producers to absorb that cost out of the goodness of

their heart. They will pass that expense on to every consumer.

The price of meats, eggs and milk will certainly see large

increases to meet the costs associated with this program.

Under the regulations of the NAIS, every animal movement must be

reported to the US Government. Every time an animal is born,

every time an animal dies, every time you take an animal to a

show, every time you decide to eat one of your own cattle, etc.

must be reported. Since horses are included in this legislation,

every time you take your horse out for a ride, you must let

Uncle Sam know. In fact those running animal shows such as horse

shows will also be required to report the animals shown to the

USDA.

Cattle farmers already have in place a way of identifying their

animals. Many other animal raisers have their form of

identification already in place. The USDA will tell you that on

their website. So why is it necessary for them to create a

government managed system? It must be because the government

feels and can do a much better job than those actually in the

industry. Of course we've seen how great the government is at

managing our resources like social security.

So will the ability of the USDA to track these animals really

reduce the risks of food illness and contamination? Historically

most meat recalls happen not because some local farmer had

issues at his farm, but because a large scale meat packing

facility contaminated the meat. Often contamination occurs

because of improper handling of fecal matter. However, those

meat packing facilities are unlikely to assume responsibility.

Only one cow has entered the United States with mad cow disease.

That animal was quickly destroyed. However panic was set off

about the disease by reports like this UPI report declaring that

hundreds of cases probably existed in the US

http://www.upi.com/inc/view.php?StoryID=20040630-042354-9787r of

which many would go undetected. In fact only one US resident has

contracted mad cow, and she was in England when she contracted

the human form of the disease. I don't know how much better the

US government thinks it can do than what our cattle raisers have

already done. This legislation does nothing but increase costs,

and centralize and increase the size of our already over

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inflated government. It removes more of our freedoms, and brings

us closer to complete government control of our food supply.

Many rabbit owners, buffalo breeders and elk herders will

rejoice that their animals are not on the list. Don't sit still

for too long. The NAIS is looking to expand its authority and

certainly some of these animals will be included in future

legislation.

So what can you do? First, contact your local government

representatives.

http://www.stopanimalid.org/action/contactgov.php. The Stop

Animal ID web site also has form letters for writing to elected

officials. http://www.stopanimalid.org/action/forms.php Write to

your area newspapers regarding the issue

http://newslink.org/statenews.html the Yahoo Group Americans

Against NAIS has several form letters available for sending to

newspaper editors.

http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/Americans_Against_NAIS/

Sign petitions such as the following:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/369063795?ltl=113700558

2

USDA & US CONGRESS

http://new.petitiononline.com/nousaip/petition.html US CONGRESS

http://new.petitiononline.com/nopaws/petition.html U.S. CONGRESS

http://www.petitiononline.com/usanimal/petition.html ALABAMA

http://www.petitiononline.com/albsl/petition.html CALIFORNIA

http://www.petitiononline.com/nosb861/petition.html GEORGIA

http://www.petitiononline.com/gabsl/petition.html INDIANA

http://www.petitiononline.com/inbsl/petition.html MARYLAND

http://www.petitiononline.com/marybsl/petition.html MISSOURI

http://www.petitiononline.com/mobsl/petition.html OHIO

http://www.petitiononline.com/ohiobsl/petition.html OREGON

http://www.petitiononline.com/orbsl/petition.html OKLAHOMA

http://www.petitiononline.com/nookbsl/petition.html TEXAS

http://www.petitiononline.com/txbills/petition.html S. CAROLINA

http://www.petitiononline.com/scbsl/petition.html WASHINGTON

http://www.petitiononline.com/wabsl/petition.htm

Most of all, take some course of action and then stay informed.

Don't be complacent about these types of matters. Your own

apathy will result in lost freedoms for yourself, your family,

and our country. Join the Yahoo Group Americans Against Animal

ID, and watch the web site http://www.stopanimalid.org for the

latest information.

About the author:

Rob Usakowski is owner of Three Little Ladies Rabbitry which is

run by his wife Cathie and their three daughters. Visit their

site Three

Little Ladies Holland Lops for lots of rabbit raising

information for both pet owners andbreeders alike.