Is Barker Worse than his Bite? Expert Dog Behaviorist Ami Moore Howls over Bob Barker’s Chicago Appearance
CHICAGO - As Chicago city leaders gear up for a vote which will determine whether a mandatory spay and neuter law will take effect there, local dog trainer Ami Moore has made it her goal to convince the city’s aldermen to vote against the proposal.
In late July, Moore attended a meeting at Chicago’s City Hall, expecting to be able to voice her opinion on the pending ordinance. She was surprised, however, to learn that longtime game show host and spay and neuter advocate Bob Barker was going to be given the floor instead.
“I canceled all of my appointments so that I could be at City Hall when the doors opened,” Moore said.
“I was so angry that Bob Barker – a man who is not a resident of Chicago and who, by his own admittance, has absolutely no knowledge of dogs – was allowed to be the first speaker. I live in Chicago, I work in Chicago, and I lost a day’s wages so that I could make my government work for me – and Bob Barker, a D-list celebrity, stole my chance to speak to my elected officials.”
Moore opposes the proposed ordinance for many reasons, but her main objection is that the law would infringe upon the rights of animal owners.
“These laws are unconstitutional,” she said. “The constitution forbids the passage of laws that limit one’s right to life, liberty and property.”
Moore believes a dog or cat can be considered to be a piece of property. Property-owning, she says, is an unalienable right referred to in the United States’ Constitution. Unalienable rights, she argues, can’t be sold or transferred.
“Therefore, any mandatory spay or neuter law is unconstitutional because it violates your unalienable right to keep your property as you wish,” Moore said.
Moore believes pet owners should be free to decide whether to have their pets spayed or neutered – and that veterinarians should not be responsible for enforcing an ordinance established by city government.
Supporters of the proposed law – which would require spaying or neutering of all pets over six months of age - claim that spaying and neutering dogs and cats will help reduce the number of animals euthanized at animal shelters.
“The only method that has reduced the killing of shelter animals is education of the dog and cat owner,” Moore said.
Her opponents are powerful and plentiful, and they include People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the United States Humane Society – but Moore also has plenty of powerful allies.
The Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association, for example, has recommended that the proposed ordinance be allowed to die – and has offered to help provide better alternatives for animal legislation in Chicago.
“This ordinance may seem like a quick fix for aldermen seeking solutions to challenging problems,” a statement from the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association reads.
“But the reality is that it will not fix the problems they are looking to resolve. This ordinance will, however, create a nightmare for those who have to abide by it – veterinarians, police officers, animal control officials, public health providers and honest law abiding taxpayers. Laws should be designed to solve problems, not create more.”
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Ami Moore is a Chicago-based dog behaviorist, dog coach, educator, speaker and author. Visit her Web site at www.dogwhispererchicago.com and www.chicagodogcoach.com. Ami Moore can be reached by calling 847-284-7760.
