Go gettem Pam!!!!!
Think I need to shoot the Gov a letter monday myself, of course everyone does realize that it is Gov Perry that APPOINTS these guys to this agency right??? If you didnt you do now. Lets encourage the sunset or dismantaling of this agency. We have a Texas Agriculture Dept that can do this job and it is already getting done by the Texas Southwest Cattlemens Assoc and the Texas Veterinarians around the country at auction barns without them having to impose on our personal freedoms.
Dont believe the scare tactics that they are screaming about, if you will notice in Mr Hillmans latest comments in the last published statement the TAHC made concerning their "moving up the date of the next meeting", Mr Hillman brings forth the instance of the Disease, "EXOTIC NEWCASTLE DISEASE", now lets examine that.
1. This happened in California, not Texas
2. Exotic Newcastle disease (END) is a contagious and fatal viral disease affecting all species of birds. Previously known as velogenic viscerotropic Newcastle disease (VVND), END is probably one of the most infectious diseases of poultry in the world. END is so virulent that many birds die without showing any clinical signs. A death rate of almost 100 percent can occur in unvaccinated poultry flocks.
Exotic Newcastle can infect and cause death even in vaccinated poultry.
3. END affects the respiratory, nervous, and digestive systems. The incubation period for the disease ranges from 2 to 15 days.
a. How is TAHC going to implement this program? How are they going to enforce it? They dont have the capability to enforce a program that would stop an infectious disease of this magnitude without the lose of massive amounts of these poultry.
b. They arent capable of the job, they still havent eradicated Brussilosis, or TB after 50 years and they arent even enforcing all the EIA laws on the books because they cant!!!!!
4. END is spread primarily through direct contact between healthy birds and the bodily discharges of infected birds. The disease is transmitted through infected birds' droppings and secretions from the nose, mouth, and eyes. END spreads rapidly among birds kept in confinement, such as commercially raised chickens. High concentrations of the END virus are in birds' bodily discharges. Therefore, the disease can be spread easily by mechanical means. Virus-bearing material can be picked up on shoes and clothing and carried from an infected flock to a healthy one.
The disease is often spread by vaccination and debeaking crews, manure haulers, rendering truck drivers, feed delivery personnel, poultry buyers, egg service people, and poultry farm owners and employees.The TAHC is not capable of carrying out the Premises and Identification Program. If they arent capable of carrying it out, it DOESNT NEED TO BE ON THE BOOKS!!!!!
Now lets look at another side of this issue; the TAHC is already a year into its new budget, by law it must generate some revenue for itself. As of yet, they are sadly not meeting their quota. So what better way to generate funds than pass a regulation that they can charge fees for and generate some of their needed funds. Now, they did a fee hick on the certificates that the vets have to order from them so that got them a little bit of revenue. But it wont meet what is required for them to generate to stay in exsistence. They even at one time tried to make it so they would review all EIA certificates but that was put down. There were other things that they were proposing that was knocked down also. So, this clearly leans to the consense that they are seeking funding through a form of taxation of the public animal owners just so the commission can survive.
I for one dont feel like being taxed by another commission. The TAHC needs to be dismantled and let the TDA handle these types of issues, after all they have more employees that are already out in the field doing these jobs. What is the point of having a bureacratic branch doing what a state branch can handle and WE as consumers and animal owners would have a QUICKER voice instead of being ignored and run over by a bureacraic commission.
Let me tell you that this move is a clear indication that all they wanted to do was let us feel a sense of relief or gain confidence in our situation. So they could come back in and strong arm this through so they can get their funding and continue in the commission.
I am going to be contacting the associations and organizations that ebarrelracing.com is associated with and sending out petitions to be signed and returned to me. These are items we will be taking to Austin. We must stand together and regulate our government. Please take action and sign these petitions I will be sending out and make sure that you write Gov Rick Perry, your state rep, and the Texas Dept of Agriculture.
