To the Members:

Right now, there are several opportunities for members to get involved in working for the Club! I've said several times that this is our club - - that is, it belongs to each and every one of us members. Opportunities are always there for members to get involved, but right now there is a very special opportunity for a Chair amd committee members for a JCCA Legislative Action Committee. .

There is so much going on at this time all over the country where the so-called "animal rights" and PETA crowd is working, slowly but surely, to take away the rights of Americans to own, show, breed, and otherwise enjoy life with our animals. Make no mistake - - The animals "rights" crowd has absolutely no interest in Animal Welfare - - or anything to do with "The Greater Good." Unless we - - as responsible owners, exhibitors, hobby breeders who are interested in the future of our own breed, and enthusiasts for companion animals in general - - stay informed about what's going on and do what we can, when we can, to fight back and work with others who feel the same, we play right into the "Animal Rights" crowd's game plan.

JCCA is presently without a person who is keeping up with the latest mischief the animals rights outfit is up to, working with the AKC legislative staff and the legislative advocates of other clubs (parent clubs, all-breed clubs, sometimes with fanciers of other species, such as purebred cats), and making sure the membership is informed. We need someone who can and will spearhead our efforts to be part of the solution to this very real problem.

I hope we have people who want to take on this job. It won't be easy, but it's about the future of our beloved purebred dogs and our right to enjoy them. In 2006 we've seen various prohibitive breed-specific legislation pop up all over the country, as well as breeding bans and/or very high "kennel" and "breeding animal" registration fees. Louisville, KY, is in the middle of trying to pass prohibitive breeding laws and other punitive measures against responsible dog owners. there's a lot going on, and JCCA needs to get involved and stay informed so as to help find solutions to problems. Municipalities/states/etc. may not be after our Japanese Chin right now, but they will be unless we get involved. It's not too much of a stretch to say that if we don't get involved and work with others of like mind, we could wake up in a few years and discover that only the puppy millers have the wherewithall to breed dogs. The time to get involved was yesterday - - and now is better than tomorrow.

Anyone interested? The Board will support your efforts. Let's get on the front lines of this fight before it gets worse.

Call me at 618-372-8309 any evening or email me at ajackson@japanesechinonline.org or shootingpanther@yahoo.com. Thanks so much for reading and considering this.

Ann Jackson
President