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Money: Be The Change For Animals, Spend Your Money Where Your Heart Is | #BtC4A

4/15/2014

39 Comments

 
Typist: Bethany
Making sacrifices in where we spend our money is perhaps the most influential impact we can have on changing the world. But it isn't always easy. Many people travel long distances to purchase pet supplies at stores that don't sell animals. Others give up products they like so as not support practices that are cruel to animals. Some end long family traditions of certain meals or events in order to stop giving money to those not protecting animal rights. Signing petitions and sharing horrifying photographs helps spread animal rights messages but the only real way to force the closures of puppy mills, stop animal testing and end animal deaths and torture is to cut off the cash flow.
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Wilhelm and I in an AKC ring together for the first time.
My most recent personal sacrifice for the greater good of animals has been to stop competing in American Kennel Club (AKC) events with my dogs. I used to spend well over $1,000 a year on AKC dog sport events. But with the AKC's continued support of puppy mills, I simply cannot justify the price of the lives of poorly treated breeding dogs simply for me and my dogs to have fun. And competition dog sports are very fun. I already miss the thrill of being in the ring, the joy of working seamlessly side by side with my best friend, the camaraderie of fellow passionate dog enthusiasts. However, there are many other organizations that hold dog sport events. Alternative dog sport organizations don't make tens of millions dollars a year from supporting questionable dog breeders and spend some of their $100K political lobby funds to rally against animal rights legislation the way the AKC does. I look forward to spending my money elsewhere.
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Brychwyn and I learning new tricks at a Rally Freestyle Elements workshop (click on the photo to learn more.)
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Unless the AKC drastically changes it's ways, these will be Huxley's only AKC ribbons. We're moving on to more ethical dog sporting events!
The AKC isn't going to crippled my the lack of my money flowing into their massive bank account but at least I know that my hard earned money isn't supporting puppy mills. Feeling good about where my money goes is sometimes the best I can do to help change the world for animals. For this reason, I am always examining where I spend my money. I avoid products made in China or Japan. I never get a caffeine fix where civet coffee is served or sold. I don't buy food containing palm oil. I, like many others with the resign to help animals, do my best to spend my money where my heart is. I know that if everyone did, there will someday be no more money in the pockets of those who treat animals poorly. And that is a someday worth sacrificing for.
A to Z Challenge: Yesterday was L for Looking: Easter Egg Hunts For Dogs, tomorrow is N for Natasha Katarina II.
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39 Comments
KimT link
4/14/2014 03:54:01 pm

This is such a vital part of doing right by our animal friends - sure would be great if more people realized (and followed) this! You've mentioned some crucial areas where we can all easily promote better welfare of animals simply by paying attention to who/what we implicitly support through our spending habits. Thank you!

And thank you for blogging the change for animals!
KimT
www.btc4animals.com

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Bethany
4/21/2014 05:29:44 pm

Thank you, Kim. It's always all about the money... which is devastatingly sad when then life or well-being of any living thing is concerned!

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Molly The Wally link
4/14/2014 08:55:42 pm

Sorry to read that you had to give up AKC events but we sure understand why. Good on you. Have a terrific Tuesday.
Best wishes Molly

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Bethany
4/21/2014 05:30:59 pm

Thank you, Molly. The toughest decisions are often the very best made ones!

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Anu link
4/14/2014 11:32:05 pm

This is a great post! Thank you for showing that changing your spending habits does not mean you can't do the things you love - you just do them in another arena with other like minded folks :) - Petnetio Anu

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Bethany
4/21/2014 05:33:05 pm

Exactly! It just takes a bit more time, research and seeking to find the places to spend my money that make it so I can sleep with a clear conscience. And it is always worth it!

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Roxy the traveling dog link
4/15/2014 12:34:43 am

great post. And it's the collective everybody that makes a difference.

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Bethany
4/21/2014 05:33:40 pm

Thank you. That is so very true.

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Lara link
4/15/2014 12:40:48 am

We've got similar messages on our blogs today. I was unaware of the AKC supporting anti-puppy-mill legislation and am very disappointed by that. I know that I'll be learning more as I continue reading Be the Change posts today. It's so important to share awareness - thank you!

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Bethany
4/21/2014 05:36:59 pm

I love your shop force-free message, Lara. Spreading the word and learning through this blog hop is often disturbing, always important but oddly comforting in that so many of us want change in the way animals are treated. And we both know tat spending your money where your heart is an excellent and simple step!

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Vicki Cook link
4/15/2014 01:50:39 am

Good for you! Being consistent in your spending choices is an important part of being the change. I agree that we should make conscious choices regarding which companies and organizations we choose to support with our hard earned dollars. Thanks for sharing!

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Bethany
4/21/2014 05:49:04 pm

Thank you Vicki. It is not always easy to spend conscientiously. It takes extra effort and research. But it is always worth it!

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Beth link
4/15/2014 02:59:38 am

I too was disappointed (years ago) when I found out that AKC isn't who I wanted them to be. I try to shop responsibly and support companies who I think are ethical, but I still have to make more changes!

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Bethany
4/21/2014 05:52:26 pm

When looking for links about the evils of the AKC for this post I expected to find a lot of old news stories. I was shocked an sickened to find so many new ones. All the more reason for my boycott! It takes effort to research who you buy from but when the welfare of animals or the health of our planet is at stake, it is worth it! Thank you for you comment.

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Angel_the_Alien link
4/15/2014 03:03:36 am

I never knew that about civets or sun bears. Every day I learn new things about how humans are cruel to animals! It makes me sad to be a human.

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Bethany
4/26/2014 08:58:12 am

We truly seem to keep finding new ways to be cruel to animals. the sun bear and civets treatment is extra sad- those poor animals are just doing what they have always done yet because humans suddenly decide we want a certain food, we torture them or kill them. Despicable.

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Rebekah link
4/15/2014 03:29:51 am

I had no idea about the AKC in these regards. Thank you for opening my eyes.

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Bethany
4/26/2014 09:00:34 am

I first learned about it last year and kind of brushed it off because we were already on a trail hiatus for travel. But when I started to look at this summers trial schedule... I got sick thinking about all my money going to a corporation that is clearly not changing it's ways anytime soon. I am glad I could help to spread the word. Maybe the more of us that know and boycott, the sooner the AKC will shape up!

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Terry Cramer link
4/15/2014 03:34:13 am

I commend you for this excellent post. I am so glad that you are boycotting the AKC. They are so devious. I had a personal experience with them regarding puppy mills. I also thank you for the information about civet coffee and palm oil and those beautiful bears. Are you going to Blog Paws Conference?

Terry from MatildasJourney.com

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Bethany
4/26/2014 09:06:00 am

Thank you Terry. It is so disappointing to me that the AKC is just like every other corporation. All they care about is their bottom line no matter what. But their business is supposedly about animals... it just makes it all that much more disgusting that the AKC can't sacrifice some profit for healthier, better cared for dogs! Coffee makers and palm oil farmers don't care about animals so it's terrible what they do (and I am glad you know now too!) but the AKC's problems really sicken me.

I am going to BlogPaws. I certainly hope we get to meet!

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Jackie Bouchard link
4/15/2014 03:40:56 am

Good for you for sticking to your principals. It can be hard to give up the things we love for our principals - especially if you feel like "oh I'm just one person, what difference will it make" - but all those "one persons" acting out WILL make a difference! Great post with lots of info!

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Bethany
4/26/2014 09:08:52 am

Thank you Jackie. And even if I am literally just one person, making this stand all on my own, I am on person who will sleep better at night! Sometimes following my own heart is more important that worrying about trying to change the whole world (but if the world happens to change... my heart will, of course, be even happier!)

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2 Brown Dawgs link
4/15/2014 05:16:32 am

The AKC also spends a lot of money funding research for canine diseases. For 2014 they awarded 1.5 million in grants. One of the ways these grants are funded are though the club fees from events. I have not heard that any of the alternative dog sport organizations fund research to this extent. Maybe they do, but I have not heard about it. In addition, there is good reason to oppose some of the legislation because it is over broad and will sweep up the responsible hobby breeders with the puppy mills. That would be a very bad thing for the future of pure bred dogs, (especially the less popular breeds). Don't get me wrong, the AKC is far from perfect (believe me I know it too well), but they do a lot of good for a lot of dogs through their research funding.

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Bethany
4/26/2014 09:19:26 am

True. The AKC does do some good with their massive profit too and I thank you for your comment. One of the things that made me think very long and very hard about my AKC boycott is that the trials and shows I have paid to exhibit in are run by non-profit kennel clubs and dog groups. Shows that these small, local clubs put on are their biggest or only fundraisers for them each year. Local dog clubs and training groups do amazing community outreach regarding proper dog care and training, especially with young people, and I certainly don't want their funding to suffer. In my decision to no longer participate at local AKC sanctioned shows, I decided to do more in local club donations as well as volunteer time. You have reminded me that some of my money that will no longer go to the AKC should be donated to dog health research groups as well. Thanks again!

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Guilie Castillo Oriard link
4/15/2014 05:42:44 am

So true, Bethany--cutting off the cash flow is the only way to stop puppy mills, dog fighting, animal testing... All of it. Put your money where your heart is!
Guilie @ <a href="http://lifeindogs.blogspot.com/"> Life In Dogs </a>

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Bethany
4/26/2014 09:20:32 am

If there is no profit, businesses stop doing it. It truly is that simple.

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Michele Truhlik link
4/15/2014 05:55:23 am

Excellent commentary! Very good point. And thanks for the reminders and education about civet coffee and palm oil!

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Bethany
4/26/2014 09:24:29 am

Thank you Michele and you are very welcome. There is so much educating and research involved in being responsible consumers these days, so sharing the knowledge, like Blog The Change, is a wonderful place to start spending your money where your heart is!

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Jan K link
4/15/2014 09:18:24 am

Amen!! And good for you!! It has long been my mantra when writing about puppy mills and animal testing that we need to stop giving groups and companies our money when they don't support our principles. I was very surprised when researching puppy mills to find out that the AKC was fighting legislation trying to stop them. I felt bad that I had registered my golden retrievers with them, but I didn't know. Now I need to go read about civet coffee and palm oil. I remember hearing something about palm oil recently but couldn't remember what it was. Great post, Bethany.

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Bethany
4/26/2014 09:31:13 am

Thank you, Jan. While it is true that some of the anti-puppy mill legislation that the AKC has lobbied against is so extreme that it would hurt responsible, hobby breeders (particularly last years national legislation) there have been plenty of very good local and state bills that would have helped control puppy mills but also coast the AKC a lot of money. Grr. I wish I could get my dogs registration money back!

I first learned about sun bears being shot out of palm trees at our wonderful Seattle zoo. The Woodland Park Zoo has sun bears and a few years ago posted a sign at the bear habitat about the atrocities occurring in their native lands. I stood at the enclosure, watching those gorgeous bears play, and wept...

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Amie
4/15/2014 02:30:10 pm

Great food for thought, Beth! All of us can become complacent and this is a good reminder.

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Bethany
4/26/2014 09:33:08 am

Thank you, Amie. It sometimes feels as if we HAVE TO spend our money on something that will support some evil doing somewhere. But with some sacrifice and creativity, I have found I truly can spend my money where my heart is!

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Jana Rade link
4/15/2014 03:02:28 pm

Bethany, this is awesome. Somehow goes perfectly with what I wrote too :-) It makes perfect sense, particularly in this world. Market is what controls everything.

So far, almost all our money went to the vets. So at least we're supporting the veterinary profession ;-)

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Bethany
4/26/2014 09:36:00 am

And the vets do need money! They have so many school loans and work so hard... Yet, wouldn't it be nice if he had kennel clubs and legislation here, on our threshold (as you so eloquently put it,) that maybe helped us have healthier pets to begin with?

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Jenna "HuskyCrazed" Drady link
4/15/2014 10:48:34 pm

Wow, I had no idea the AKC supported puppy mills. We don't really hear to much about that in Canada. That's horrible! But good for you for standing up for what is right though!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at <i><b><a href="http://ownedbyahusky.blogspot.ca">Love is being owned by a husky!</a></b></i>

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Bethany
4/26/2014 09:37:27 am

I am currently doing some research on the CKC Jenna. I might be coming up there to compete!

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Christine & Riley link
4/17/2014 07:30:35 pm

Thanks for bringing awareness about the ugly truth behind the AKC. I don't compete in AKC, only USDAA & TDAA agility, but I was thinking about it... now I probably wont. :)

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Bethany
4/26/2014 09:42:01 am

Of our five agility instructors, only one would occasionally compete in AKC agility and she was very choosy about the shows she went to. Why? Because she thought the AKC trails seemed to care the least about the health and safety of the dogs. Surprise! For example, the huge AKC Seattle Kennel Club show puts thin carpet over concrete (and nothing more!) for the agility ring. Definitely not a safe situation for jumping, speeding dogs. The AKC is definitely more into their profit than they are healthy dogs. It's sad.

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Pup Fan link
5/6/2014 10:20:09 am

Hear, hear! I really admire you for making a decision to stick to your principles and to "put your money where your heart is." (Genius phrasing, by the way.)

Absolutely awesome and inspiring post.

A.J.
Team BtC4Animals.com

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