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Tuesday, February 22, 2005

Is This Really Necessary?


From the "Useless Legislation" File:

HONOLULU -- A state legislator is pushing a bill that would ban the slaughter of dogs and cats for food, drawing protests from members of some Asian ethnic groups who believe the measure is aimed at unfounded and racist stereotypes of their cultures.
You see... there's only one problem with this- there isn't a big market for fillet of Fluffy these days in the 50th State. Perhaps when some groups migrated to Hawaii, but not now.
State Rep. Glenn Wakai, who introduced the measure, said it is aimed at stemming the growth of a "cottage industry" with the potential to threaten public health. He said news reports last August about dogs being stolen and butchered in some Oahu neighborhoods proves there's a problem....

The news reports he cited were based largely on tips from Carroll Cox, president of the local environmental activist group Envirowatch, who said his own undercover investigation found evidence of the practice on Oahu.

But investigations of two of those tips came up empty, said Letha DeCaires, a Honolulu police detective and a coordinator for Animal Crimestoppers, part of the local nonprofit Crimestoppers program.

"Either the Humane Society or the police department followed through with every tip that we had," DeCaires said. "There was no evidence of slaughterhouse equipment, butchering tools, or anything to substantiate such claims at the time we visited the locations."
So... no need for the legislation, right? I mean... The Puppy Blender hasn't taken up residence in Oahu, so all's good. Right? Noooo... that would make sense.
Cox claims the Humane Society mishandled the cases and blew his cover by alerting the media to his investigation.

"It is commonplace in Hawaii. It's a practice that has been known, noted and documented and no one has touched it because it's a cultural issue," Cox said.
Prove it. Oh, wait! You tried. You failed. Next environmental crisis, Carrol.

In the end, this legislation will get a vote. And it will probably be voted in. Not because it's good legislation, not because it's necesary. It will be made into law because the Legislature likes having a job, and the Sheeple of the Great State of Hawaii have been freaked out by Cox and his loons.
Honolulu resident Kim Soiti, who has a dog and two cats, thinks Wakai's bill should be passed even if there is no evidence that anyone in the state is consuming dog or cat meat.

"Cats and dogs are great companions. They're not stupid. They have emotions," said Soiti. "Dogs and cats are generally household pets and are like part of the family."
They might not be stupid, Kim... I'm concerned about their owner's intelligence (as well as the intelligence of Rep. Wakai), but not the pets.



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