then forward the complaint to law enforcement . I was never told to manipulate a situation , but it often happened through reports , press releases , etc ., in my opinion .
SA : What ’ s the most egregious thing you saw during your time ?
JB : The most egregious thing I witnessed was the manipulation of law enforcement professionals to do the bidding of these extremist organizations . The law enforcement agencies usually found themselves in a situation where they had signed MOUs or contracts with the ASPCA or had accepted grant money from them . This means the agencies were dependent on ASPCA instead of 100 percent objective . There were a few examples where the officers refused to take part . That was rare , but worth noting .
SA : Were you ever directed to target , investigate or harass someone you believed was innocent ?
JB : I was directed to target dog breeders who had violations listed by the USDA APHIS [ Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service ]. Specifically , the Amish breeders in my home state of Indiana . I believe in innocent until proven guilty in all cases . Unfortunately , the people I worked with at the ASPCA had a cult-like mentality and a true disdain and hatred for anyone that they perceived as being cruel to animals . It was creepy to hear them talk sometimes . Their perception of cruelty didn ’ t match reality . No organization with such a clear bias and agenda should be allowed to interpret law or influence legislation pertaining to animals . They came across as having a savior-type syndrome and believed that they were on a mission to “ save ” animals . That mentality , coupled with an aggressive push to locate and take down so-called puppy mills , made this a priority for investigators .
SA : Puppy mills are the poster child for animal cruelty . Tell us why you say , “ so-called puppy mills .”
JB : The term “ puppy mill ” is a creation of animal-rights extremists . They have used that language very effectively in convincing the public that anyone breeding dogs is either a puppy mill or one step away from becoming a puppy mill . They use the term when it best suits them and their agenda .
SA : What is their agenda ?
JB : To stop all animal ownership . To stop all sports , hunting and other activities involving animals . To stop the consumption of meat and to continue the flow of billions of dollars into their coffers .
SA : What can breeders , kennels and trainers do to combat this targeting by the ASPCA and other animal-rights groups ?
JB : My advice to anyone who could become a potential target of the animal-rights extremists is to get involved at the local level . Attend county and city meetings regularly , especially those pertaining to zoning and ordinances . Get to know your local sheriff . The local sheriff has the authority to keep the animal-rights extremists out of his county of jurisdiction . Ask your local sheriff , chief of police and town marshals if they have received or plan to receive training or grants from any of these organizations . Watch legislation being proposed at the state and federal levels .
COURTESY OF JOHN BOLIN ( 2 )
Bolin spent most of his time at ASPCA responding to animal rescues , participating in training events and supervising crews at shelters . He notes the group ’ s investigations into alleged animal cruelty are limited since it has no law-enforcement authority .
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