Partisan Politics? I'm On The Side Of The Dogs: Dog Files Opinion

So this week I had a few folks that were angry because I didn’t publish their comments on the DF website about the Congressman Steve King story. It was the typical left against right/right against left screaming. They both said the story was false. They both said I wrote it, which I didn’t (which makes me wonder if they even read it.) They both repeatedly tried to attack me via comments on the Dog Files site, contacting me through email, twitter and one saying hateful things about me on their facebook page. They said how dare I delete their comments when we live in a free society.

Well, I hate to break it to them, but the Dog Files has a policy of not feeding the trolls and we are only a free society to people who are respectful to me, the others folks who spend time here, and the dogs. I haven’t spent the majority of the last five years trying to help dogs, for someone to mosey on in here and cast aspersions on my character.

I didn’t delete their posts because I disagree with them, I deleted their posts because they attacked me viciously, convinced I was part of some leftwing smear machine against there man. And that tells me one thing. They clearly have no idea who I am. If they did they would that the Dog Files doesn’t do partisan politics, we do DOGGIE POLITICS. I don’t care what party you belong too, if I believe you don’t have dogs best interests in hand, I’m against you. That is it. Period.

For future note, if they just came onto the site and said, “Hey Kenn, I have to disagree with you. Check out this post, etc.” their comments would not have been deleted and I would have been happy to talk to them. But they attacked my motives and they’ve been banned.

U2's Bono and Arnold Schwarzenegger. What do they have to do with dogs? Read and find out!

If they really knew me they’d know that I actually WANT to talk and try to convert folks to our side. While I don’t always agree with how some animal groups go about their business, (I’ve had plenty of run ins with groups who’ve let their own egos get in the way of caring for the dogs), I truly believe they still have the best interests of the animals in their hearts and I know that we must put aside our differences and work together if we really want to help our cause.

So what do I believe needs to be done, so that we can protect our beloved creatures that can’t defend themselves? Well, first off we have to get past this ridiculous notion of partisan politics.

We will NEVER get anywhere with animal abuse laws or Breed Specific Legislation if we divide into dems, repubs, independents, whites, blacks, hispanics. We must be ONE group… DOG LOVERS. That is how we will succeed.

Let me give you a real world example. Bono, the lead singer of the world famous rock band, U2 decided years ago that he wanted to use his celebrity to help Africa. And one of the best ways to do that was getting first world countries to forgive these African nations of the money that they owned them. Money that would be better spent on developing infrastructure and building their respective nations.

At first, Bono went with the typical mindset. He went and talked to Democrats. And he got some help. But it wasn’t enough and he knew it. One day, while talking about his problems with Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger, Arnold asked, “Why haven’t you talked to Republicans? They ARE half of congress after all.”

And that’s when Bono realized that he had fallen into the trap of believing he could predict where people’s hearts laid just because of their political party. And he made a change. He began to talk to both parties. And he talked to them as human beings.

Ten years later, Bono was instrumental in getting Republican George W. Bush, to do more for Africa than all other U.S. Presidents combined have ever done. And it all started because he listened to the Terminator. Check out a great article about Bono’s work here.

Now back to the doggies.

I’ve been building the Dog Files for five years now. I’ve seen lots of things I never thought even existed. I’ve seen such horrible abuse of dogs that I changed the Dog Files motto from, “Everything you ever wanted to know about man’s best friend” to “Showing the world that dogs deserve our love, care and respect.”

I’ve seen fake Humane Groups like “Humane Watch” created by the Farming and Agriculture Industries that believe if they allow laws to pass about puppy mills then the next laws passed will force them to be kinder to chicken and cows. They’ve successfully defeated puppy mill laws that were voted on BY THE PEOPLE, saying that that clean water and a yearly visit from a vet was too much to ask of puppy mills. They’ve also professed that some puppy mills are beautiful, clean and lovely places, yet none of us have ever seen them, (you’d think if they really existed they would publicize them).

I’ve also seen one political party go on and on about how one presidential candidate travelled with a dog on his roof, only to have to stop talking about it when they realized their own candidate, the now serving president, ate dog when he was a kid in Indonesia. Reality check, folks, these people spewing this nonsense don’t care about dogs. They are just using dogs to get you to vote for their candidate.

And that is why the Dog Files ignores this political nonsense. Because all I can see in this lame political fight is the one loser.

The dogs.

We live in a world where a women can nearly starve a dog to death and throw it down a garbage chute from 20 floors up, and may now get off with no jail time and no record.

A world where a cruel, sadistic dog killer can go on to be loved by a city simply because he may help them win a football game.

And the ONLY way we will EVER be able to fight animal abuse is to successfully maneuver through the government corridors of Washington, DC. And the ONLY way to do that is with a UNITED FRONT OF DOG LOVERS.

A united front the consists of democrats, republicans and independents. Of white folks, black folks and hispanics. Even the support of all our awesome fellow dog lovers from across the ocean. We must ALL support each other if we want to protect our dogs.

THE POWERS THAT BE MUST KNOW, THAT THEIR JOBS AREN’T SAFE, SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY ARE IN THE SAME POLITICAL PARTY AS US. Unless of course that Party is the Dog Party.

You disrespect the dogs, then you disrespect us all! United we stand, the animal lovers of America and the World! If we can join together regardless of race, party and religion, then Washington has another thing coming!

So from the bottom of my heart, I ask you to always question your elected officials, no matter their Party, before you jump on their partisan bandwagon. And to simply ask yourself, “Are they on the side of the dogs?”

Pet your pooches for us!
Kenn, Max & Remy.

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Kelly Stoker
11 years ago

I agree with you 100%.

Kenn at Dog Files
11 years ago
Reply to  Kelly Stoker

Thanks Kelly!

Dr. D.
Dr. D.
11 years ago

I love you. You and your work are my heroes. As a long-time political activist, I know you are correct. As long as the divide and conquer game is played we are doomed.

Kenn at Dog Files
11 years ago
Reply to  Dr. D.

You are sooo right!

Iris Alvarez
Iris Alvarez
11 years ago

Well said!

Kenn at Dog Files
11 years ago
Reply to  Iris Alvarez

Thanks Iris!

Cheri Clawson Burger
11 years ago

Yes, Yes, Yes!! Thank you, Kenn for the voice of reason!!

Kenn at Dog Files
11 years ago

Glad you’re with us, Cheri!

Juli Winford
Juli Winford
11 years ago

Excellent article. Sharing!

Kenn at Dog Files
11 years ago
Reply to  Juli Winford

Thanks Juli!

LindaDogLoverLee
LindaDogLoverLee
11 years ago

You go, Kenn! Stay true to yourself and do not waver, and you’ll be doing the right thing for our four legged friends.

Kenn at Dog Files
11 years ago

Thanks Linda!

Debbie Mc.
Debbie Mc.
11 years ago

Thank you, thank you, thank you. My dogs, Bob, Sadie, and Lucy, thank you too.

Kenn at Dog Files
11 years ago
Reply to  Debbie Mc.

Thanks Debbie, Bob, Sadie, and Lucy! Woof!

Nancy Haley
Nancy Haley
11 years ago

I don’t know too much about American politics because I’m Canadian. But politicians are all the same… %$/$?%$$/”$$ So thank you for having the dogs’ best interest at heart!

Kenn at Dog Files
11 years ago
Reply to  Nancy Haley

Thanks Nancy, us North American dog lovers need to stick together!

Beth
Beth
11 years ago

Well said. I am sorry folks were so crazy mean to you (my words – not yours). You did not and don’t desserve that. Keep doing your good work and forget the “haters”! 🙂

Kenn at Dog Files
11 years ago
Reply to  Beth

Thank you, Beth!

Marlene Pose Betancourt

Keep doing the amazing job you do, don’t worry about what other people think. The dogs and real dog lovers support you and thank you.

Kenn at Dog Files
11 years ago

Thanks Marlene!

Anthony M.
Anthony M.
11 years ago

In the spirit of this post, you should have had one of the pups in a blue collar and the other in a red one. 🙂

Kenn at Dog Files
11 years ago
Reply to  Anthony M.

Good idea, Anthony!

tgoegle
tgoegle
11 years ago

That was so very well said!!! Thank you!! And also thank you for pointing out about the so called humane group that is nothing more than a front for big business.

Kenn at Dog Files
11 years ago
Reply to  tgoegle

Thanks!

Tonia Grant
Tonia Grant
11 years ago

Thank you. Well said and appreciated. I hate the way politics has gone and shame on all the people whom have idolized and forgiven some of these pathetic animal abusers. Keep on doing what you are doing. Thank you from all our 4 legged friends.

Kenn at Dog Files
11 years ago
Reply to  Tonia Grant

Thanks Tonia!

Arlene &Gia the boxer dog
Arlene &Gia the boxer dog
11 years ago

We could all learn a lot from our K_9 friends! That party would get my vote!!

Kenn at Dog Files
11 years ago

Haha, they’d get my vote too!

Sarah Bialobrzski
11 years ago

Well said!!!

Diane McCornack
11 years ago

Well said Kenn, I’d tell you that I would vote for you if you ran for office but I’m afraid to waste a good man in the political arena! It all comes back to basic human, humane decency if our leaders lead in that fashion ours and our dogs lives would all be better. I

Kenn at Dog Files
11 years ago

Basic human decency! Exactly!

robert schlosser
robert schlosser
11 years ago

Bravo!! I wish I could write that well. I would love to see this all over the internet reaching hundreds of thousands of people in all facets of life.

Kenn at Dog Files
11 years ago

Haha, me too!

Donna Schroer Foster
11 years ago

Well said,love the dogs files.

Kenn at Dog Files
11 years ago

Thank you!

Hope Casey
11 years ago

Well said!!!

Kenn at Dog Files
11 years ago
Reply to  Hope Casey

Thanks Hope!

Michelle Wheeler Warner

only thing to say is not just the dogs, all animals. I have said this before and I’m sure I’ll say it again, we were SUPPOSED to be care takers of the earth not destroyers…….

JoAnna LeMaster McIntosh

Very nicely stated! Until we are ONE nation under God, we can never fully resolve these issues. I don’t know what the story was behind this post, but I agree 100%.

Nancy Cole
11 years ago

Totally agree!

fionastemp
fionastemp
11 years ago

well said,wish we had more people like you sticking up for animals

Kathleen Reidy
11 years ago

Sorry but I don’t jump on board with “celebs” and their cause of the day. If they wanted to cure the world’s problems, they could collectively send all their mega millions to whatever third world country they wanted to help. Instead they pester poor hard working people to donate will they jet set around the world and return to their mega mansions and fifty cars. I choose to support charties that are near and dear to my heart and don’t need a rock star to dictate to me how and where I give money. Besides I read that Bono’s charities are under investigation and most of the money never ends up where it is supposed to go.

Kenn at Dog Files
11 years ago
Reply to  Kathleen Reidy

Kathleen, my post has nothing to do with jumping on board with celebrities. It’s about getting both political sides to join together to help dogs. That’s it.

Paula Tripp
11 years ago

Nicely said and I couldn’t agree more. I live in Ontario, Canada where we’ve had breed specific legislation since 2005. Every time there is a provincial election on the horizon I send letters to each party candidate to question their views on BSL and what they plan on doing about it, should they get elected. We now have a bill before legislature repelling this horrible law and I have been told by two of the parties that they will vote in favour of this bill and, hopefully, breed specific legislation in Ontario will be a thing of the past. Once that is accomplished it will be time to start putting on the pressure concerning stiffening up the penalties for people who abuse animals.
Thanks for caring Kenn, Max and Remy
Crazy Dazey, Bailey, Blaze & Belle say woof, woof and Mama Paula too

Theresa & Prudence
Theresa & Prudence
11 years ago

Wow, very well said. Thank you.

MelF
MelF
11 years ago

Amen Kenn! I think you nailed it on the head. This isn’t about Republican or Democrat. It’s about treating animals with respect and dignity. That isn’t a right-wing or left-wing concept. It’s a dog lover’s belief. Thank you for reminding us that we dog lovers are in this together.

KolchakPuggle
KolchakPuggle
11 years ago

Well said Ken! This political system where we try to convince the public why the other candidate is a monster instead of try to promote our candidates in a positive manner has led me to lose faith in the system. Animal lovers need to stand united: regardless of the candidate, regardless of the party. It’s time.

Patricia N. Carr
11 years ago

ohh yea…well spoken… being a “good human” is NOT!!! depending on religion,skincolor or political interrest…it is somthing logikal that comes out of the center of your body…feelings
I can not understand why we the animal lovers have them and others dont…..but beside the cruelty of mean people, the worst are the ones that see the money at first and the resulting purpose that make this planet often sooo frickin sad

Marjolein Thoma
11 years ago

Here in Europe we have a different political system as you might know. Better, but that´s my personal opinion. What we do have here in Holland, since the last elections is our own “party for the animals”. This party has two seats in our Congress and has tried to do her best for animal rights. The big question that remains is whether they will be back after the elections in Septembre, but for now they are there! So change is possible!

Adrianne Lefkowitz
11 years ago

When people chastise me for not playing partisan politics in our efforts to get rid of BSL, I tell them our dogs come in many colors, among them BLUE AND RED.

Kristine
11 years ago

The internet is a crazy place. Good on you for shutting down such unhelpful remarks and getting straight to the point. It makes me bonkers when people start crying about free speech after a comment was deleted. This is your blog, free speech doesn’t apply here. Thanks for standing up for common decency for all, animals and humans.

So Fuchs
So Fuchs
11 years ago

Thank you for sharing the truth and for helping us see it like it is.

diana
diana
11 years ago

Great place to state this – just found this site, and I love it. And you are right…freedom of speech is not guaranteed in private business or sites, and you would think all these vigorous proponents would know this (sigh). But you boiled it down to the bare bone – it’s for the dogs.
Mud slinging just means we have to bath the dogs again…har dee har har Imagine how much could be done once we get people on board with just one species…yowaza!!

Kenn at Dog Files
11 years ago
Reply to  diana

Thanks Diana and welcome to the Dog Files!

MySpyder Web
11 years ago

Hi Kenn, great photos of you and your boys! I also think “would I leave my dogs with this person?”

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