LETTERS [Dec. 1993]

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, December 1993:

Vegetarians
Ann Landers recently
wrote as her “Gem of the Day” that
“The happiest person in the grocery
store is the vegetarian looking at the
prices in the meat department.” I
couldn’t resist responding that the
saddest person in the grocery store is
the vegetarain agonizing over all the
dead bodies in the meat department
and the suffering the animals went
through before their remains were
wrapped for sale.

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LETTERS [Nov. 1993]

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, November 1993:

Hunter education
When I speak to groups regarding hunting, I utilize a technique I
learned from Bernie Rollin. Using a chalkboard or something similar, I
ask participants to tell me why they like to hunt. Comments like, “I like to
be in the woods,” “I like spending time with my friends,” and “I like the
solitude of the forest early in the morning” are duly recorded. Of course
no one initially says, “Because I like to kill things.”
Once the list is complete, I point out that I, too, enjoy the
things mentioned, but my enjoyment is complete without the addition of a
weapon. We then proceed to the point where the issues of power and
killing are raised. I am always amazed at how someone in the group will
eventually say something like, “I guess the real reason I like to hunt is that
I like the rush I get when I pull the trigger.” And they sound faintly sur-
prised, as if the thought never occurred to them before. Then they ask,
“Is that wrong?” My answer is generally along the lines of, “I guess that’s
something you’ll have to decide for yourself.”

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LETTERS [Oct. 1993]

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, October 1993:

Premarin vs. horses
Your articles on the connec-
tion between the production of
Premarin female estrogen therapy
drugs and the overbreeding and
slaughter of horses were shockers. I
thought that by now I was shockproof,
but I suppose I am not. Just when you
think you know the worst, there is
more. It is important that we not let
depression take over; we have to act.
I phoned my pharmacist and
learned that I was taking the “natural”
Premarin. I then spoke to you; you
gave me the names of three synthetic
substitutes; I phoned my doctor and I
switched to one of them, Estrace. The
office nurse was appalled when I
explained the reason for my switch. I
am sending her copies of your articles.
I’m sending copies to some organiza-
tions and individuals as well. If just
some of them take action, some hors-
es will be saved––thanks to you.

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LETTERS [Sep. 1993]

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, September 1993:

Controversy
So long as you catch plenty
of hell for printing informative and
factual articles, you will know you are
on the right track. If there is another
side that justifies the light of day, the
bitchers will submit an article that will
further inform your grateful public.
Interested people will read you
because you are the only source that
prints honest articles about the sacred
cows of the humane movement.
Your articles on feral cats
are the most thorough I have found.
Your continuing attention to the rami-
fications of neutering is most informa-
tive. Your January/ February and
March issues are the only things of
their kind in revealing where the
money goes. I have enclosed payment
for a two-year renewal.

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Letters [July/Aug 1993]

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, July/August 1993:

Breeding ordinances
As an animal control officer, I am impressed
by the emphasis on accuracy your publications demon-
strate. Your May article on overpopulation legislation
quite correctly avoided a mistake that San Mateo
County and Denver seem to have made, namely com-
bining a broad-based neutering requirement with differ-
ential licensing fees. To determine what license fee to
charge, the prospective licensee must be asked if the
animal in question is surgically sterilized. An honest
answer may be a confession of unlawful possession of a
fertile animal, which may explain the alleged drop in
license revenue in San Mateo County. Additionally,
courts may rule that the question cannot be asked if it
compels self-incrimination. I am told that Hayes v. U.S.
(1968) contains a ruling that convicted felons cannot be
compelled to register their guns, since such registration
would incriminate them on an unlawful possession
charge. If so, similar reasoning would seem to apply to
mandatory sterilization.

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Letters [June 1993]

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, June 1993:

More on Spira
I’ve belatedly finished
reading the April issue of ANIMAL
PEOPLE. I especially appreciated
the editorial about Henry Spira’s
appearance in the periodical of the
Foundation for Biomedical
Research. He has the right attitude
and approach in addressing our so-
called enemies by trying to show
them our mutual interests in a non-
threatening way, and by seeing
them as people who might, when
approached appropriately, find
alternative research to be in their
own best interests.

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Letters [May 1993]

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, May 1993:

Henry Spira
Thanks for your generous
April editorial––hope it encourages
activists to focus on results, on most
rapidly reducing the universe of ani-
mal pain and suffering.
For the record: as I’m sure
you know, everything we’ve
achieved has been the result of a
team effort, a network, a loop of
organizations and committed indi-
viduals, bringing together different
talents, resources, and
expertise––joining their energies
toward a common goal. I’d be
remiss if I didn’t say so.

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Letters [April 1993]

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, April 1993:

Edison was a genius
I just received your letter
announcing your newspaper. As I
started reeading what you had to say,
I felt as if you knew my husband and
me personally. We are longtime
vegetarian/animal advocates who
write letters, take in strays, spay
and neuter, help the sick and
injured, and do what we can in gen-
eral to fight cruelty.

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LETTERS [March 1993]

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, March 1993:

Money and power
The feature article in your
January/February 1993 issue about the role
or non-role of minorities in the movement
was top-notch. I am proud to have worked
for seven years at the Michigan Humane
Society’s downtown Detroit facility, promi-
nently mentioned in your article as one of
the only major U.S. humane societies still
committed to serving animals and people in
an often dangerous environment where
needs are greatest. Some important facts
not noted in your article are that the MHS
has minorities on its board of directors and
in supervisory positions, and that its
Detroit-based charitable animal hospital
helps thousands of animals each year––pri-
marily at reduced cost, no cost, or with
extended payment plans. In my current

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