National Animal Interest Alliance

Last updated
National Animal Interest Alliance
Founded1991
Founder Patti Strand
Type 501(c)(3)
Location
Website NAIAOnline.org

The National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA) is a non-profit organization in the United States dedicated to promoting animal welfare and animal husbandry practices, strengthening the human-animal bond, and safeguarding the rights of responsible animal owners and professionals through research, public education and public policy. The NAIA mission is "to promote the welfare of animals." [1]

Contents

The organization's focus is clarifying the difference between animal welfare, the promotion of responsible and humane animal use and human-animal interaction and companionship, and animal rights; the ideology that seeks to end most human uses of animals. [2]

History

NAIA was founded in 1991 in Portland, Oregon by Adrian Morrison, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, [3] and Patti Strand, a dog owner and breeder of Dalmatians. Since the founding of NAIA, it has created partnerships with individuals and groups promoting animal welfare and animal husbandry, such as the American Kennel Club, Canine Companions for Independence, Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, and others. [4]

Positions

NAIA supports the responsible and humane use of animals for food, clothing, medical research, companionship, assistance, recreation, entertainment and education. [5] It believes that the relationships between humans and animals, on many levels, is important to both.

Pets

NAIA has taken a moderate approach to new measures for the protection of animals. In many cases, it believes that existing legislation is sufficient and that more effort needs to go into enforcement. In 2001, the NAIA opposed the Puppy Protection Act (S. 1478 and H.R. 3058) on the grounds that its definitions were too broad, classifying family breeders on the same lines as large commercial operations. NAIA noted that the measure would be used to regulate every person who sells even one litter of puppies. [6]

Some animal rights organizations support legislation to establish or increase civil damages for the harm or loss of pets or companion animals. [7] In 2007, Mark Cushing, a legal adviser for NAIA, argued on their behalf that damages for loss of or harm to pets should remain unchanged. This position is also endorsed by the major veterinary organizations.

For years , NAIA has collected data from shelters across the country to document the status of pet and companion animal populations. The Humane Society and PETA have raised funds and argued for certain legislation based on an alleged problem of pet overpopulation. NAIA has not documented overpopulation; shelters report they have fewer animals. The Salem News of Oregon reports that shelter euthanasia rates have decreased markedly in most parts of the country, as shelters market their pets better, and demand for puppies and dogs is high. [8]

According to the United States Center for Disease Control, "300,000 dogs are brought into the US annually," and street dogs are being smuggled in from other countries for "adoption". [8] The National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians recommended: "The movement of dogs for purpose of adoption or sale from areas with dog-to-dog rabies transmission should be prohibited." [8] Such importing puts Americans, their dogs and other animals at risk from disease. [8] For this reason, NAIA supported efforts in the 2008 Farm Bill to add protections regulating the importation of dogs and other pets. [9]

The Humane Society of the United States reports that about 4 million cats and dogs are euthanized yearly in shelters in the US. [10] But, the NAIA says that the Humane Society does not differentiate in its reporting on euthanasia between the number of adoptable animals and others. For instance, shelters generally consider feral cats as unadoptable, as are a number of dogs that are too old, too sick or have behavior problems. [11]

NAIA is opposed to mandatory pet spay/neuter legislation. According to NAIA, costs and euthanasia rates both increase after the introduction of this type of legislation. [12] NAIA claims that "spay or pay" licensing schemes [have] little effect on reducing shelter intake and euthanasia rates, while producing serious unintended consequences.” [13] The animal rights group PETA disputes this, saying that spay/neuter is the only way to eliminate pet overpopulation, and that mandatory spay/neuter legislation is a step towards this goal. [14]

NAIA opposes laws restricting the practices of docking, ear cropping, bark softening of dogs, and removing the claws of cats. They believe such decisions are best left to animal owners and their veterinarians. NAIA states that docking, when done within the first few days, does not cause pain because the nervous system has not yet developed. The other procedures require appropriate veterinary care and pain management. [15] Some jurisdictions have banned these three practices. [16] An example of increasing concern about animal welfare has influenced local legislation; for instance, the Hastings Borough Council in the United Kingdom has passed an animal welfare charter. [16]

NAIA has noted the unintended consequences of legislation prohibiting the commercial slaughter of horses in the United States. It has led to horses being neglected and abandoned to poor health by people who cannot afford to care for them. [17] USA Today reported in 2010 that the Humane Society of Missouri "and other anti-slaughter advocates claim" that there has been no increase in the number of abandoned or unwanted horses since the federal ban on slaughter in 2005. [18] But, the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) in 2011 found that Colorado reported more investigations of abuse, and Texas, California and Florida reported more horses abandoned on private and public lands. [19]

The GAO has documented that, since the federal legislation, many unwanted horses are now being transported on long rides from the United States to Canada and to Mexico, where they are slaughtered in a manner far less humane than that used in the US. [19] The meat is shipped to markets in Europe and Japan. [19] GAO reported: "From 2006 through 2010, U.S. horse exports for slaughter increased by 148 and 660 percent to Canada and Mexico, respectively. As a result, nearly the same number of U.S. horses was transported to Canada and Mexico for slaughter in 2010--nearly 138,000-as was slaughtered before domestic slaughter ceased." [19]

The American Kennel Club lists NAIA as an allied group; in Oregon, it is provided as the state AKC contact for Oregon concerning legislation related to dog fanciers. The AKC says that the NAIA is “interested in protecting and promoting the world of purebred dogs”. [20] Patti Strand, one of the NAIA founders and a longtime dog breeder, is a member of the board of directors of the AKC. [21]

Industrialized farming

The NAIA lobbied against California Proposition 2, passed in November 2008, which was strongly promoted by the Humane Society of the United States. [22] It believed that elements of the proposition were too restrictive and would adversely affect the availability of food for human consumption.

Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act

NAIA lobbied for passage of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA). It allows for special consideration of terrorism issues in the sentencing of animal rights activists. NAIA testified that radical environmental and animal rights groups increasingly dominate the mainstream animal welfare movement. NAIA said such groups have used “violence, intimidation, arson, theft, and other crimes against biomedical researchers, furriers, hunters, trappers, dog and cat breeders, livestock farmers, zoos, circuses, rodeos, exotic animal breeders, and related enterprises.” Such actions of radical animal rights activists have often been reported by the news media. [23]

In 2007, in an article on domestic terrorism, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) discussed a draft report of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), published by the Congressional Quarterly , in which the DHS listed radical animal rights and environmental groups, such as the Animal Liberation Front, as "the only serious domestic terrorist threats." [24] Its writers noted that such groups had done extensive property damage, but in the US they had not killed anyone. The SPLC article continues: "something that most definitely cannot be said of the white supremacists and others who people the American radical right.", which the DHS did not include. [24]

The ACLU opposed the AETA, on the grounds that the proposed law "criminalize(d) First Amendment activities such as demonstrations, leafleting, undercover investigations, and boycotts." [25]

Challenges to non-profit groups

Since 2001, NAIA has challenged the non-profit status of certain animal rights groups, notably People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), saying that it and similar groups “use intimidation, harassment and deception to raise money” and use those funds for purposes other than those identified in their campaigns. [26]

It has documented that the Humane Society of the United States does not operate any animal shelters or provide direct care to animals.[ citation needed ] HSUS spends a great proportion of its revenues on lobbying and working to write and pass legislation.

NAIA Shelter Project

In order to understand pet population trends, improve the health and welfare of animals and reduce euthanasia of adoptable pets in shelters the NAIA created the NAIA Shelter Project. [27] This project has helped countless organizations, educational programs and research groups [28] over the years to inform, educate and provide comprehensive information about individual animal shelters.

They have compiled a large database of statistics that can be visualized graphically [29] of most of the animal shelters in the United States reporting information by year such as:

Discover Animals

In 2016 in conjunction with other animal experts the NAIA created Discover Animals, a program and free online resources which promotes responsible pet care, ownership and also serves as a compendium of factual animal information and multimedia for animal lovers and enthusiasts. [30]

Funding

NAIA receives its primary financial support from donations from individuals, the majority of whom are pet owners who support the goals of NAIA.[ citation needed ] In addition, it receives some funds from related businesses and associations in farm animal agribusiness; commercial breeding, hunting, fishing, trapping, fur ranching, animal research, rodeos and circuses.[ citation needed ] It has created alliances to work for the responsible treatment of animals while preserving opportunities for companionship with humans, animal husbandry, conservation of habitat for wild animals and birds, and animal research.

Related Research Articles

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing animal cruelty. Based in New York City since its inception in 1866, the organization's mission is "to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pet adoption</span> Adoption of pets that have been abandoned by previous owners

Pet adoption is the process of transferring responsibility for a pet that was previously owned by another party. Common sources for adoptable pets are animal shelters, rescue groups, or other pet owners. Some organizations give adopters ownership of the pet, while others use a guardianship model wherein the organization retains some control over the animal's future use or care.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Animal shelter</span> Place where stray animals are housed

An animal shelter or pound is a place where stray, lost, abandoned or surrendered animals – mostly dogs and cats – are housed. The word "pound" has its origins in the animal pounds of agricultural communities, where stray livestock would be penned or impounded until they were claimed by their owners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trap–neuter–return</span> Strategy for controlling feral animal populations

Trap–neuter–return (TNR), also known as trap–neuter–release, is a controversial method that attempts to manage populations of feral cats. The process involves live-trapping the cats, having them neutered, ear-tipped for identification, and, if possible, vaccinated, then releasing them back into the outdoors. If the location is deemed unsafe or otherwise inappropriate, the cats may be relocated to other appropriate areas. Ideally, friendly adults and kittens young enough to be easily socialized are retained and placed for adoption. Feral cats cannot be socialized, shun most human interaction and do not fare well in confinement, so they are not retained. Cats suffering from severe medical problems such as terminal, contagious, or untreatable illnesses or injuries are often euthanized.

Animal euthanasia is the act of killing an animal humanely, most commonly with injectable drugs. Reasons for euthanasia include incurable conditions or diseases, lack of resources to continue supporting the animal, or laboratory test procedures. Euthanasia methods are designed to cause minimal pain and distress. Euthanasia is distinct from animal slaughter and pest control.

The Anti-Cruelty Society is an animal welfare organization and animal shelter in the River North neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. The Anti-Cruelty Society is a private, not-for-profit humane society that does not receive government assistance. It is one of the largest such organizations in the United States. The organization offers adoption, veterinarian, and training services.

In some countries there is an overpopulation of pets such as cats, dogs, and exotic animals. In the United States, six to eight million animals are brought to shelters each year, of which an estimated three to four million are subsequently euthanized, including 2.7 million considered healthy and adoptable. Euthanasia numbers have declined since the 1970s, when U.S. shelters euthanized an estimated 12 to 20 million animals. Most humane societies, animal shelters and rescue groups urge animal caregivers to have their animals spayed or neutered to prevent the births of unwanted and accidental litters that could contribute to this dynamic.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is an American nonprofit organization that focuses on animal welfare and opposes animal-related cruelties of national scope. It uses strategies that are beyond the abilities of local organizations. It works on issues including pets, wildlife, farm animals, horses and other equines, and animals used in research, testing and education. As of 2001, the group's major campaigns targeted factory farming, hunting, the fur trade, puppy mills, and wildlife abuse.

A no-kill shelter is an animal shelter that does not kill healthy or treatable animals based on time limits or capacity, reserving euthanasia for terminally ill animals, animals suffering poor quality of life, or those considered dangerous to public safety. Some no-kill shelters will commit to not killing any animals at all, under any circumstance, except as required by law. A no-kill shelter uses many strategies to promote shelter animals; to expanding its resources using volunteers, housing and medical protocols; and to work actively to lower the number of homeless animals entering the shelter system. Up to ten percent of animals could be killed in a no-kill shelter and still be considered a no-kill shelter.

AB 1634 was a 2007 bill in the California State Legislature which would require that dogs and cats in California be spayed or neutered by 6 months of age.

<i>Best Friend Forgotten</i> 2004 American film

Best Friend Forgotten is a 2004 American documentary film about pet overpopulation. The documentary, hosted by David Duchovny, tells the stories of Oreo the cat and Clover the dog as they face the realities of pet overpopulation. Viewers are given a balanced look at the controversial practice of euthanasia and the alternative no-kill movement. Interviews discuss common myths about spaying and neutering, and leaders from government to animal rights groups discuss pet overpopulation and the impact on our society.

BAD RAP is an animal welfare and rescue group based in Oakland, California, devoted to caring for and improving the public image of pit bull terriers as pets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine Animal Welfare Society</span> Organization

The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) is a volunteer-based, non-government organization whose goal is to prevent animal cruelty through education, animal sheltering and advocacy, based in Quezon City, Philippines. It was founded in 1954 by Muriel Jay. PAWS believes that the creation of a more peaceful society starts with the widening of mankind's circle of compassion which includes animals, thereby envisions a nation that respects animals, practices responsible pet ownership and protects wildlife. The volunteer-based organization rehabilitates these animals in the hope of finding them new homes and a second chance at a good life. PAWS does not take in pets of other people, but only victims of cruelty or neglect where the animal offenders are charged with violation of the Animal Welfare Act in court.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Humane Canada</span> Canadian animal welfare organization

The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS), branded as Humane Canada, is a non-profit animal welfare organization in Canada, representing humane societies, SPCAs, and animal rescue organizations. The organization's stated goal is to promote the welfare and humane treatment of animals and work to end animal cruelty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Compassion and Responsibility for Animals</span> Organization in the Philippines

Compassion and Responsibility for Animals (CARA) is a registered non-profit, non-government animal welfare organization in the Philippines. It was founded in 2000 by a group of animal lovers determined to help the plight of animals in the Philippines. The current president of CARA is Nancy Cu-Unjieng.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Petland</span> Chain of pet stores

Petland is a privately owned operator and franchisor of pet stores based in Chillicothe, Ohio. Ed Kunzelman founded the company in 1967. Petland currently operates 131 stores in the United States, and at least 63 in foreign markets including Canada, Japan, China, Mexico, Brazil and El Salvador. The chain is notable for its controversy over documentation from the Humane Society of the United States revealing the purchase of dogs from puppy mills.

The North Carolina Animal Protection Act aims to protect pets and their owners in North Carolina. This legislation models the Animal Welfare Act of 1966 and can be found in the North Carolina General Statutes under Chapter 19A: Protection Of Animals, Article 3, consisting of six articles.

Patti Strand is the founder of the National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA), a broad-based, mainstream, nonprofit animal welfare organization dedicated to encouraging high standards of animal care and treatment, and to preserving the human animal bond. She is an author of books and articles and has served on numerous local, state and federal animal welfare advisory boards, committees and task force bodies.

The International Society for Animal Rights (ISAR), formerly known as the National Catholic Society for Animal Welfare and the Society for Animal Rights, is a nonprofit organization based in the District of Columbia, Washington, D.C. ISAR's mission is to advance animal rights through education and legislation.

The Sato Project is an animal rescue and protection organization founded in 2011 by British-born Christina Beckles. It works to rescue abused and abandoned dogs in Puerto Rico, educating the public and advocating for abused and abandoned dogs. "Sato" is the Spanish word used in Puerto Rico and Cuba for referring to stray dogs or cats. Many of the project's missions have involved airlifting dogs before and after natural disasters, including Hurricane Maria in 2017 and the earthquakes that struck Puerto Rico in 2019 and 2020. "Spayathon" is a spaying and neutering program, attended by Sato Project and other animal rights organizations in Puerto Rico, which has had an impact on the stray dog population.

References

  1. ↑ "About Mission", NAIA Online, official website
  2. ↑ "Animal Rights, Animal Welfare: Which Is It?", NAIA Online, official website
  3. ↑ "Adrian Morrison" Archived 2009-05-04 at the Wayback Machine , University of Pennsylvania
  4. ↑ "About the Board", NAIA Official website
  5. ↑ "NAIA Values Statement", NAIA Online
  6. ↑ "LETTERS NEEDED IN OPPOSITION TO THE 'PUPPY PROTECTION ACT'" . Retrieved 11 September 2010.
  7. ↑ Mark Cushing; Chris Green; Sonia Waisman (28–30 September 2007). "The Debate over Advancing Civil Damages for Companion Animals". Animal Law Conference. Lewis & Clark Law School, Library. Archived from the original on 14 June 2010. Retrieved 11 September 2010.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Group Urges Strengthening of Pet Import Regulation to Alleviate Dog Smuggling". Salem News. April 7, 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2010.
  9. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-05-29. Retrieved 2009-12-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ↑ "Pet Overpopulation". Humane Society of America. Retrieved 11 September 2010.
  11. ↑ "Definitions" Archived 2013-11-26 at the Wayback Machine , ASILOMAR Accords
  12. ↑ "BILL SUMMARY: Dogs and Cats: Spaying and Neutering" (PDF). Cat Fanciers Association, Inc. May 5, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 November 2010. Retrieved 11 September 2010.
  13. ↑ "MANDATORY SPAY/NEUTER LAWS - A MISGUIDED APPROACH TO STABILIZING PET POPULATION" . Retrieved 11 September 2010.
  14. ↑ "Introducing PETA's ABC Campaign". Archived from the original on 25 July 2010. Retrieved 11 September 2010.
  15. ↑ "NAIA POSITION STATEMENT: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY PRACTICES" . Retrieved 11 September 2010.
  16. 1 2 "Animal Welfare Charter". Hastings Borough Council. Archived from the original on 2008-11-21. Retrieved 2008-07-20. It is now illegal for ear cropping and debarking of dogs as well as the declawing of cats to take place.
  17. ↑ Cindy Schonholtz, NAIA Director (October 12, 2007). "ANIMAL RIGHTS WIN, HORSES LOSE!" . Retrieved 11 September 2010.
  18. ↑ Winter, Michael (Mar 10, 2010). "Mo. lawmaker wants to revive U.S. horse slaughter for food". USA Today. Retrieved 11 September 2010.
  19. 1 2 3 4 Action Needed to Address Unintended Consequences from Cessation of Domestic Slaughter- GAO-11-228, 22 June 2011, Government Accountability Office
  20. ↑ "Federations of AKC Dog Clubs and Other Allied Groups" . Retrieved 11 September 2010.
  21. ↑ "AKC Board of Directors" . Retrieved 11 September 2010.
  22. ↑ "JOIN NAIA AND NAIA TRUST IN OPPOSING CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 2!". Archived from the original on May 12, 2009. Retrieved 11 September 2010.
  23. ↑ "ACTION ALERT: ANTI TERRORISM BILL" . Retrieved 11 September 2010.
  24. 1 2 Andrew Blejwas, Anthony Griggs and Mark Potok, "Terror from the Right: Almost 60 terrorist plots uncovered in the US", Intelligence Report, May 2007, Southern Poverty Law Center
  25. ↑ ACLU Letter to Congress, Urging Opposition to Animal Enterprise Act"
  26. ↑ "NAIA Calls on President Bush to Act Against Animal Rights' Extremists". Fur Commission. June 1, 2001. Archived from the original on 22 September 2010. Retrieved 11 September 2010.
  27. ↑ "NAIA Shelter Project", NAIA Shelter Project - Official Website
  28. ↑ "Resources for Shelter Professionals", Humane Society for Shelter Pets - Resources for Shelter Professionals
  29. ↑ "NAIA Animal Shelter Data", NAIA Animal Shelter Statistical Data
  30. ↑ "Discover Animals Official Website", About Discover Animals - March 2017

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