Not to be contrary but can we get some representatives from the game/hunting/shooters/NRA community, I mean we'd stand a better chance in Iraq and the middle east if we spoke a little Arab - you might apply that principle here.

Animal welfare groups are organizations that spend their time, money, and resources helping animals. They are different from animal rights organizations with legislative goals for a petless/meatless society. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) are the latter; they have recently begun to devote a small percentage of their huge income to welfare. Animal Rights groups are not easy to identify because they use 'welfare' names. But they are definitely not the good folks who help animals and foster good human-animal associations.

Audubon and hunting groups oppose feral cats. Tnr results in unsustainable, invasive feral cat populations that disproportionat ely destroy wildlife, especially song birds. A pet is an animal that lives in a home.

Quoting A Central PA hunter:

Audubon and hunting groups oppose feral cats. Tnr results in unsustainable, invasive feral cat populations that disproportionat ely destroy wildlife, especially song birds. A pet is an animal that lives in a home.

Absolutely correct. Cats are an alien invasive species and are not "part of the environment" as the guest speaker would have you believe. They need to be removed as much as purple loosestrife or ailanthus.

It is time to make pit bull ownership illegal in PA, and for the Humane Society to stop harboring this dangerous breed.

I offered a comment about fireworks on air this morning, and the oblique response that it was given by the guest should articulate a concern with respect to groups that advocate for animals. It seems, at least with this representative, that groups do not truly understand the detriment that major fireworks pose, whether pets are kept outside or in, given, in particular, the absurd frequency of these events. Any pet owner living in a city, with whom I breach the topic, expresses similar concerns for their pet's welfare, yet the topic seems to elude public discussion or action. When do we draw a line? Businesses may argue that fireworks draw customers, for example at ballparks, but illegal substances might do likewise, yet a line is drawn. Why don't the rights of homeowners and their pets supersede the will of business? Why don't animal groups take up this cause against practices that blatantly traumatize so many pets. Any good vet will concur that this is a serious problem.

Quoting Amy:

What are the guests comments on current agricultural animal confinement practices? When pets are kept in a home where feces are not removed or animals lie dead this is a social issue for the humane society to intervene, not so for hogs, chickens and cows. Please explain why some animals are considered more precious than others.

This is certainly a very true statement, the animals which we allow to live in our homes seem to deserve more respect, room, and a better standard of living than all other creatures in many people's minds. The Humane Society of the United States believes that animals should all be protected regardless of their status as wild, captive, livestock or pet. We have actively worked on voter and legislative initiatives to improve the living conditions of animals kept ins stict confinement systems and hope that one day soon, the bodily integrity of all animals will be respected for the health and safety of both animals and humans.