Billy Howard, Kook or Criminal ?

Let's chat about Puppy Mill Free Reno, shall we ? The moniker appeared a few years ago, and it's local founder, Billy Howard is known as a " character".  What separates Billy from any other "activists" is the fanaticism he seems unable to control. The fiscal and emotional toll he takes on the lives and families of others.  Please don't get Oreo wrong, we are not trying to make this personal, it's a free world, but I am writing it because his " movement is flawed"..... seriously flawed. Below is an example of the animosity his rhetoric instigates..... Very dangerous, from the Puppymill Free Reno FB page.

"Brent Sanada: Let's quit the talking... Puppies Plus is a small business that likely wouldn't survive an awful holiday sales slump. Those of u who have been swindled by PP have the most persuasive voice! Bring your sick dogs and vet records to show perspective buyers outside of the store. Show up EVERY WEEKEND from now till Christmas and it will financially devastate them... Add a little media coverage and this guy is toast! We closed down EVERY Puppy Store in San Diego this way because it led to permanent city ordinances and financial ruin for the store owners. Hammer Down Reno!

Puppy Mill is a derogatory term used to slander commercial breeders, it's a part of the lexicon of language, currently being used by animal rightist to paint the world as a dark and dreary place.  Are there horrible places that breed puppies ?? You bettcha, and there are horrid places that breed pigs and horses and even Parrots.  Should we work to stop those places ? Absolutely !! Does the anti pet store movement do anything to stop the abuse,  nahhhhh. We live in the desert, we are in a drought, would it make sense for Billy Howard to tell you to take out your kitchen faucet? I thought you were smart enough to get that.  Silly to even think about isn't it ?

Mr. Howard attacked a farm in another state, he never saw the farm, he didn't know the people, nor had Billy seen the conditions at the farm, but they sold " puppies"  So, Billy went online and got lots of images, not of THAT farm, but some " he was sure" were representative, and began his attack.
Three " cease & desist" orders later Billy is still chugging on.. That family has 22 adopted handicapped children, Billy has so drained their resources with his frivolous charges, that they no longer can afford medical insurance.  Does that seem like the right thing for a man who claims he " Founded Compassionate Washoe County" to do.... Really ?

Mr. Howard is a callous,self-absorbed man who cares nothing about the families and reputations he destroys with his rants. If you have no compassion for your own species, then you have no compassion...... period. I looked at his list of " activism achievements "   can we spell wow..., most of that is stuff normal people just do, everyday, because it needs to be done.... I don't believe for a minute he got death threats, ... more fantasies. We used to call people like him " media whores" but that isn't very PC these days, so I will refer to him as " an attention seeking device"  He may as well get a " Hey look at me" tattoo  right in the middle of his forehead.

In his defense, he is a pawn, a pathetic man caught up ( by his own ego ) in a " market share" war.  There is an old proverb that states " When Elephants war, it is the Earth that trembles "   In this instance, it is the animals who suffer as the non profits fight for market share, nothing to do with dogs at all....Market Share... people, Market Share.. by forcing private stores to become satellite adoption centers the big 3 Charities ( who are really the ones living off the backs of animals ) transport more animals and sell more food.... Simple , really.. Why do you think they support TNR ?, because dead cats don't eat...

Oreo has been following the Commercial Animal Welfare Ordinance since it's inception, and it's a poorly written thinly veiled attempt to regulate a legitimate business into serving the non-profit industry.  The big hook the loons like to hang their agenda on is " puppies are not products".... Well, yes they are, and the public is the consumer. All sorts of living sentient beings are " products" and that is not a bad thing. At Oreo's I don't wear leather, eat meat or anything that would draw a breath, I don't support the fur industry or hunting..... and frankly ; it doesn't bother me if you do.  Matthew Scully says it better than I, so I will close with his wonderful quote on Stewardship.....

"Animals are more than ever a test of our character, of mankind's
capacity for empathy and for decent, honorable conduct and faithful
stewardship. We are called to treat them with kindness, not because
they have rights, power or a claim to equality, but in a sense, because
they don't. They all stand unequal and powerless before us." 
Mathew Scully

At The Mercy Of Drunkards And Fools

I will begin with a couple of notes for the Washoe County BCC.

"BCC November 10, 2015

 Consent item 6.C.5  : Microchipping in perpetuity.

 The free Microchip clinics at WCRAS previously were paid for with grant money ( ie: The money has been gifted , we spend it. That was a one time project. )  To transfer funds for a “feel good” project that is the responsibility of the owner, is poor resource management at best and not in keeping with the intent of the ballot inititive:  “WC-3 Shall Washoe County be authorized to issue up to $10,750,000 of general obligation bonds to provide an animal shelter project and to levy an additional property tax rate for the purpose of operating and maintaining the animal shelter project and performing related animal control functions “

There is nothing in the ballot about “ outreach “ micro-chipping is not a function of animal control. The spin about what you save by playing dog taxi, is a numbers game. It’s a courtesy that, if your dog wears ID, and is not far from home, the ACO returns the dog, but many times the owner is not home and the time spent tracking down a place to return the dog is not an effective use of ACO time.   I have known an ACO to spend 2 hours on 1 call waiting for an owner to “ get someone to let them in” All so they can “ look good in the RTO numbers game”

 I have all the stats dating back to 2005, we have fewer trained officers, much longer wait times and poor customer service in the field. Much of the time when the ACO arrives the dog is gone. Since 2009 there has been a steady decline in field services as resources were diverted to the shelter portion, This is standard practice for psuedo No _Kill operations. This propposed non Animal Control diversion of funding is a good example. If they hire ACO’s they can pick up animals in a timely fashion and meet their obligation to the public, which is not happening now.  I would like to see a break down for non field service expenses vs field service.  Stop with the “nanny Washoe County drivel” and put the focus on animal control."

On this level they want to subsidize pet ownership........ share the burden of spaying, chipping and driving home strays, upon people who have chosen not to have pets. This will be funded with money taken from field services,  the very service that was intended to service the entire community, inclusive of those that choose to not have animals at large on their property. Even tho Commissioner Herman tried to bring some sanity back to the rostrum, it was not to be. Vaughn Hartung came down and asked me a couple of question in the audience, he seemed  ( briefly ) to have a moment of clarity, then he went back to the rostrum and his brain dissolved again, never to congeal back into a thinking object.  It's because they have not studied anything to do with WCRAS, they just ask Bobby, and he makes things up as he goes along, the blame is on the BCC because they are choosing to stay as ignorant as the day they were born.

This was followed by item 16 " the puppy mill bill" it's a brainstorm of Kitty Jung and I suspect Marsha Berkbigler, when she can focus long enough.  these women look weary. Quite frankly they look puffed; and like they have spent to much time staring at the bottom of the glass, wondering where life went......I am hoping the City of Sparks can get their attention by a lawsuit or withdrawal from the contract. I've no desire to stop their sick behavior, I just want to get my City away from it.

Sparks has so far shown little respect for it's citizens ( on animal issues ) , but I must say in fairness to Sparks,  I do anticipate they may get the head out of the rectum when they realize it's hitting them in the pocket. I do acknowledge it was Sparks absolute stupidity on the Feral Cat issue that gave the County permission to really throw us under the bus.

Pictured is Miss Priss shortly before her death, an unintended consequence of a crazy feeder dumping food on the ground and drawing wildlife and disease into our back yard through his " off site " littering of food and Decon.