Horse Industry Ruling & Another Scam
Horse Industry Ruling & Another Scam plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.
The scammers are at it again here in the northwest and you need to be aware that those people selling magazine subscriptions door-to-door might just be out to scam you. Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna has issued warnings about such visitors before, and is again alerting consumers to beware of these solicitors and think twice before buying their magazines. Consumers say they were touched by the solicitors’ stories and believed their purchases would be for a good cause. Always check out a charity with the Secretary of State prior to making a donation.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has amended regulations to require horse industry organizations that license certain people to assess minimum penalties for violations of the Horse Protection Act. The move by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which administers the Animal Welfare Act, is meant to help eliminate the inhumane practice of horse soring—a practice primarily used in the training of Tennessee Walking Horses, racking horses and related breeds to accentuate the horse’s gait. Horse soring may be accomplished by irritating or blistering a horse’s forelegs through the application of chemicals or the use of mechanical devices. An individual who is suspended will not be permitted to show or exhibit any horse or judge or manage any horse show, horse exhibition or horse sale/auction for the duration of the suspension.
Now with today’s Food Forethought, here’s Lacy Gray.
It’s disconcerting to realize the beady black eyes staring at you over the produce isle at the grocery store belong to the chihuahua sitting in the grocery store basket, disconcerting and downright maddening. It would be pushing it to say that it’s a service animal, though I’m sure its owner would disagree. Pet owners love their animals, but to bring them into grocery stores and restaurants is a bad judgement call, but that doesn’t seem to stop them from pushing the “no pets allowed” boundaries. There’s a reason animals are not allowed in places that serve or sell food -animals carry bacteria and parasites that can make people sick. It’s bad enough having to deal with the bacteria that people transmit from person to person! Restaurant and store owners should confront the offending pet owners and ask them to remove the animal from the premises, but many are worried about alienating a customer. What these merchants might be surprised to learn is that the other customers in the store or restaurant would probably give them a standing ovation. Sadly, these over the top pet owners have made it increasingly difficult for people with legitimate service animals to enter stores without feeling animosity from their fellow shoppers.
Thanks Lacy. That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.