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Amendment 13 is a Trojan Horse

October 19, 2018 - 1:00pm

As a veterinarian, I’ve spent my entire career caring for the health and wellness of animals. I’ve seen firsthand how farmers, horse breeders and pet owners care for their animals. I’ve also seen firsthand the impact of neglect and abuse on animals. This November, I plan to vote no on Amendment 13.

Amendment 13 is a Trojan Horse. While it appears to be an amendment to simply end dog racing, the fine print you won’t see on the ballot could have devastating consequences on Florida’s family farms.

Activists behind the amendment have openly declared their desire to remove meat, dairy and eggs from our diets. These same activists have said they are on a mission to end hunting everywhere. And they’re making progress. Animal rights activists have passed 30 measures through Congress and more than 1,100 regulations in the states.

Now, their target is Florida.

Amendment 13 declares “the humane treatment of animals is a fundamental value of the people of the State of Florida.” This type of vague, undefined declaration in Florida’s Constitution will be exploited by activist groups to bring lawsuits against family farms, equine enthusiasts and sportsmen.

Their efforts to end animal agriculture will devastate the family businesses that produce the food we feed our own families. We’ll be forced to import more food from countries that have lesser standards for the care of their animals. With businesses forced to close and higher prices at the supermarket, Florida’s economy will take a hit.

Don’t let this Trojan Horse find its way into Florida’s Constitution. A “No” on 13 is a vote against extreme activists with hidden agendas. 

Dr. Liz Steele is a veterinarian in Zolfo Springs, a member of the Florida Farm Bureau and a member of the executive committee for the Florida Cattlemen’s Association.

Comments

Language: Phases out commercial dog racing in connection with wagering by 2020. Other gaming activities are not affected. With all due respect Dr,please tell me where does it say anything about the affects on the cattle industry etc?

Please read the entire amendment not just what is printed on the ballot, there is more to it.

The problem is not about phasing our dog racing. The problem is vague language in the fine print that can be misinterpreted and exploited for purposes other than phasing out greyhound racing. the devil is always in the detail!

Yes, yes, you must be right (extreme right) . . . . . the people shouldn't have a say on the issues that affect them . . . . . only "wise" politicians like Donald Trump and Rick Scott should be able to decide everything for the common folk . . . . . . . . . in your mind, citizens, as Trump recently pronounced, are the mob . . . . . . . . . . naive, and absolutely . . . . . . . . . . . PATHETIC . . . .

I vote no o most amendments because once in constitution it is harder to change if it is found to be flawed. Florida legislature could deal with most things but do not have courage to make any dec isions which may be controversial.

Frank behaves like a Republican plant in the comments section here. His assignment is to point out just how out of touch with reality leftist view points really are. Keep up the good work my man! We know you really do not believe the foolishness you speak of.

You miss the point. Individuals have a say through their elected representatives. Every suggestion is not a good one for all.

We vote, and or representatives do not always follow our wishes...so the individual can make their own decisions.

the individual makes a decision not having out of state lobbying groups with a lot of money pushing a state constitution that they dont reside in, filling the air waves with lies and deceit, and when its over they dont have a plan for all the dogs

No such powers need to exist and they should be considered harmful and to be avoided.

Vote No! This "Trojan Horse" is the "camel's nose under the tent"

Industry spokespersons claim that greyhound racing doesn't belong in the constitution, but they fails to acknowledge that the authority for greyhound racing is already in the constitution. In fact, it was the racing industry itself that pressed the state to amend the constitution to allow gambling on greyhound racing. All the racing industry scaremongering about the hidden consequences of Amendment 13 was thoroughly debunked by the Florida Supreme Court, which said, "If Amendment 13 is adopted, therefore, the only activities which will change in a material way are dog racing in Florida and wagering thereon, which will cease." This is a dying industry, and it costs the state more money to regulate it than the amount of tax revenue it receives from dog racing. It would have died a natural death years ago, simply from market forces, if it were not for the fact that state legislation actually requires dog racing to continue, albeit on a money-losing basis, as a condition for the tracks to offer other more lucrative forms of gambling. The proceeds from those other forms of gambling actually subsidize the dog racing, at most of the tracks. As a result, thousands of dogs are made to run around dangerous oval tracks at breakneck speed in front of empty grandstands, because nobody watches anymore. The people are all inside, gambling at the casinos. Vote Yes on 13!

Well said!!! #yeson13

Excellent comment Jeff!

If dog racing is not worth the money it brings into the state as revenue, is a basis of the argument, then why be one of the few states without an income tax? A state with income tax has an incentive to protect the workforce.

This entire comment above by Jeff White and radical animal rights terrorists is entirely false. They always do this by increments with laws that sound at first harmless but are designed to allow them to file false charges, take your animals, and sue you again and again without any cause other than to destroy your desire to care for your animals. These people are anti-human and they do not recognize science either. They do not admit that human beings require ACTIVE Vitamine B12 to keep the human brain rationale for without it the brain does not receive the proper nutrition. The vast majority of plants do not produce nor use B12 they have no need since they have no brain. Without active VB 12 infants, small children, pregnant women suffer. 12 million people around the world die each year from lack of proper nutrition and that is lack of VB12. This causes irrational thinking and in children eventually death. Don't risk your child's life by being vegan.

What on gods green earth does that have to do w dog racing? Yeson13

Doctor HR. I must say your post is the most embarrassing and inaccurate post out of everyone's. Going vegan is the most healthiest lifestyle a person could have. I sincerely hope you're not a doctor giving this kind of advice out to the public.

And you are a moron

Please voters realize that the activists are opening a flood gate with this amendment that will allow for the seizing of your family pets down the road. This is there agenda. Read the material they openly provide regarding their end game to take away ownership of all animals. You will be your pet's guardian, not the owner. Anyone not happy with the way you raise your pet could seize it from you. Wake up. PLease, please vote no on 13 Protect your pets.

Family pets? Ending greyhound racing has nothing to do with family pets. I have 7 rescues greys and am voting yes

Your comment by far is the most ridiculous thing I have ever read!!! Caring about abused greyhound racing dogs and trying to falsely tell the public their pets will be taken from them!?! Are you kidding me grow a brain!!!

What activists. Who are they and where are they based. What have they said or done to take your pets away. Any time a political measure is presented, those opposed begin declaring that"activists" are "taking away our rights." This is another slippery slope argument and it's stupid on the face of it. And by the way, the word is "their," not "there."

PETA, HSUS, and Grey2k, SPCA full of Veagans that believe pet ownership is wrong, calling dog owners slave owners, and pets should be on vegan diets, Take money form gullible people saying they are helping groups but actually pocketing the money and killing healthy animals, SPCA said they killed 11,000 healthy animals out of 18,000 that came in and that is n just 1 county in florida, is that protecting animal rights, HSUS doesn't have any shelters and only 1% goes to help shelters, PETA kills 995 of the animals they take in the first 24 hours they have them, they are the ones pushing this amendment and all out of state, say they are grassroots but are professional lying lobbyist

How dare these individuals condemn a trained, educated and licensed veterinarian! They don’t have the where with all to become veterinarians themselves; or even work on a farm or train in agriculture. They’ll be spoon fed anti-racing propaganda and swallow every deceitful lie though. How about the logic of associating a cattlemen’s Association with something wrong? Vote no aemendment 13.

"Dr." Steele's crystal ball is no more accurate at predicting the future than anyone else's. What we do know, however, is that all the racing industry's hysterical scaremongering about Amendment 13 was debunked by the State Supreme Court. Here are some of the "radical animal rights activists" supporting the amendment: Mike Huckabee; the editorial boards of the Miami Herald, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Naples Daily News, Florida Today, and Fort Myers News-Press; Lara Trump; the Florida League of Women Voters; the Florida Federation of Republican Women, the Animal Law Section of the Florida Bar; former Senate president Don Gaetz; Attorney general Pam Bondi; and the municipal governments of Tallahassee, Margate, Venice, and Hallandale Beach. Vote YES on 13!

VOTE YES!!! Excellent reply Jeff!

And here are just some of the many groups opposed to the amendment: 95 greyhound-specific adoption groups throughout the US & Canada including 16 groups in Florida, American Kennel Club, FL AFL-CIO, FL Chamber of Commerce, FL Libertarian Party, FL Republican Party, FL Tax Watch, National Rifle Association, United Kennel Club, United Sportsmen of FL, & the editorial boards of The Sarasota Observer, Sunday News Press Fort Myers, & Tampa Bay Times. BTW, I'm surprised you even included Lara Trump whose husband is a big game trophy hunter. As someone who loves animals, I surely don't want her on my resume! VOTE NO ON 13!

And here are just some of the many groups endorsing VOTE NO ON 13: 95 greyhound-specific adoption groups throughout the US & Canada including 16 groups in Florida, American Kennel Club, FL AFL-CIO, FL Chamber of Commerce, FL Libertarian Party, FL Republican Party, FL Tax Watch, National Rifle Association, United Kennel Club, United Sportsmen of FL, & the editorial boards of The Sarasota Observer, Sunday News Press Fort Myers, & Tampa Bay Times. BTW, I'm surprised you even included Lara Trump whose husband is a big game trophy hunter. As someone who loves animals, I surely don't want her on my resume! VOTE NO ON 13!

This does not belong in the Florida Constitution. Vote no on all amendments.

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