As noted previously on this blog, the Animal Employment Protection Act has good intentions. If you’ve forgotten what the AEPA is all about, click below for a video explanation.
As the video explanation explains, only one animal is excluded from the AEPA’s protection–the beagle. It wasn’t fair when the law was first passed, and it’s now unconscionable. As you undoubtedly know (if not, click here), a beagle won Best in Show at the 132nd annual Westminster Kennel Club dog show this week. It’s the first time ever a beagle has won. If a beagle can win Best in Show, a beagle deserves to have the stigma of exclusion from the AEPA eliminated.
Contact members of Congress. Contact the White House. If we can spend billions in tax rebates, we can amend the AEPA.
Also contact the campaigns of Clinton, Huckabee, McCain, Obama and Paul. Demand that they speak out on this issue. If you attend a campaign rally, begin the chant: “Beagle, beagle, beagle, beagle, beagle.” That’ll get their attention. If they won’t support giving the beagle the protection it has long deserved and now won, they’re not the kind of leaders we need.
Change is in the political air these days. Let’s begin by changing the AEPA.
10 responses so far ↓
1 Charlie (Oklahoma) // Feb 15, 2008 at 4:32 pm
When Beagles are outlawed, only outlaws will have Beagles.
2 John Phillips // Feb 15, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Charlie in Oklahoma,
Wow. This is profound. I was looking at this only from the standpoint of fairness. You’ve taken it to another level. I hope you’ll, therefore, join our cause. We’re thinking of a March on Washington, led by Uno, the beagle who won Best in Show at Westminster.
Thanks for weighing in, and please keep those deep, albeit strange, thoughts coming.
3 Boyd // Feb 16, 2008 at 1:36 pm
To those who remain indecisive, ask yourself: What would Charles Schulz do?
4 John Phillips // Feb 16, 2008 at 2:25 pm
What a brilliant question. I hope Schulz isn’t spinning in his grave. He’ll be with us in spirit.
5 ACU Frank // Feb 18, 2008 at 1:14 pm
I have nothing against Beagles. In fact, I once threw a stick for a Beagle to fetch… Of course, it was to get him away from the tee box at the Country Club. I could stretch things, and use the old cliche “some of my best friends are beagles”, but that seems transparent.
Anyway… While I believe I have established that I have no specifically anti-beagle feelings, and am therefore a completely fair individual full of egalitarian excess, I have to warn you that including the Beagle in the AEPA would start this country headed down a slippery slope that none of us want to traverse. It would not be long before the Beagle was followed by similar additions… Would you, as an employer, want to face similar restrictions on your ability to deal with animated animal “employees”, such as a cartoon animal trademark? What about deceased animals you may be employing as props or decorations? Do THEY deserve similar rights? I’m telling you - first the Beagle, then Tony the Tiger or that stuffed elk’s head at the lodge!
Where will the madness stop?
6 John Phillips // Feb 18, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Perhaps I have opened a real can of dog food. Your persuasive commentary will, at the very least, cause me to rethink my position. I must say, however, that before the rethinking begins, I’m not too concerned about Tony the Tiger (a favorite to generations of people who would no doubt support his inclusion in the AEPA). Props and/or dead animals present a more vexing problem I think. In any event, thanks for weighing in. It’s good to know that some of the deepest thinking from some of the best minds in the country is being focused on one of the most important issues facing us today.
7 ACU Frank // Feb 18, 2008 at 2:59 pm
John, if WE don’t think these things through, who will?
8 John Phillips // Feb 18, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Well said.
9 pamibe » Blog Archive » Canine Carnival 17 // Feb 22, 2008 at 8:51 am
[…] Phillips says that the AEPA must be changed. That’s the Animal Employment Protection Act for those of us who didn’t know […]
10 John Phillips // Feb 22, 2008 at 10:46 am
Thanks for the mention, but the AEPA is not, of course, exactly a law.
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