What is it that drives us on? In spite of sorrow, loss, and all the battles of life, how do we keep going no matter what?
  Those of us with animals know the answer. It's heart that keeps us going - passion; love. Isn't that what having animals is all about? But, as life becomes more political, with laws and public opinion telling us what we can and can't do - how we should think, how we should feel - what else are animals showing us? Let's talk about how our love for animals, and doing right by them, could be the very thing taking them away from us. And how it's not too late to turn the tide.
  Lots of us contributed to groups claiming to have great compassion for animals over the years. We all wanted to do the right thing and it felt good being told how nice we were for donating to their "cause." We were doing something for animals and we all slept well because of it. The trouble is, it's about twenty years later now. Those little groups on the lunatic fringe became organizations, the organizations became publicity mongers and the whole bunch of them became full-scale corporations with payrolls, lawyers and presidents. It all morphed into something totally different from what we wanted and all of a sudden, their idea of compassion is turning out to be quite different from ours.
  In recent days, the Associated Press has been reporting some interesting - and significant - developments affecting all of us with animals. At a standing-room-only hearing in the U.S. Senate, the Center for Consumer Freedom gave testimony blasting "the most visible animal rights groups" for hypocrisy and support of national terrorism. Yes, that's correct: terrorism. And, for the first time, these familiar organizations are being forced to defend themselves instead of attacking others.
  The tide is turning. Besides this Senate hearing, the state of Florida took action against what we all know as HSUS (Humane Society of the United States) just a few days ago. What could the Humane Society do wrong, you ask? How about stealing an identity for starters? Lots of us are too busy taking care of our dogs to figure it out. But, "HSUS" isn't the local "humane shelter" in town. It isn't a humane shelter at all. It's a business name. Did you know you can register the name of a legitimate business in another state and nobody can stop you? How many of us gave money to "HSUS" thinking we were giving money to the humane society in our local county?
  Florida lawmakers are just like the rest of us. They were busy making laws and confused about who this "HSUS" organization really is. Trying to do a good thing, they allowed this company to benefit from a lucrative state program. But, when they realized their mistake - to the tune of millions - Florida surprised everybody and fixed it. Of course, Florida is also the state that let HSUS get constitutional rights for pregnant pigs.
  Sometimes, editors think my comments are bitter. I don't think they are bitter at all. I grew up loving animals and always will. But, along the way, I figured out something important, maybe even revolutionary: it's people that animals depend on. They cannot survive in this culture without us. They cannot buy their food. They cannot pay their vet bills (and perish the thought of any animal ever being able to pay thousands of dollars for the kind of care mentioned in a recent column of mine). When an organization pushes for laws that inhibit us from breeding animals, racing them, showing them, or having as many as we can care for - they are threatening the well-being of those animals and their many generations to come.
  That isn't compassion. It isn't anything close to what animals stand for or how they inspire us to be. A horse named Afleet Alex bravely making his way around the far turn, past the corner pole and into the home stretch is the sight to behold. Before the eyes of millions, he drives his way forward - trying, doing his best, giving his all - and, suddenly, he stumbles. Like you - like me - out there, working day after day, giving all we've got to make a life for ourselves and our kids, buying a car, a house, paying our bills and getting ahead. And, just when you're getting somewhere, something trips you up. But that horse never takes his eyes off the finish line, the goal he's determined to reach - that horse keeps going. He keeps going and he pulls away from the pack! He keeps going, and he wins that race not by a nose, not by a neck. He wins it by four and three quarter lengths!
  If anyone watching The Preakness could see that great horse and not be thrilled by what he showed us with his body, his heart and his mind, then they don't understand what animals and people are all about.
  Sucking the air out of a record crowd of 115,318 and millions watching on NBC, a horse showed us what no high school, no Sunday school and no college ever could. That horse inspired us. He showed us never to give up. And people felt it.
  The governor of Maryland felt it, too. As he presented the most valuable trophy in American sports to the team of people that brought the bay colt to glory, his law makers were dangerously close to losing one of the greatest sporting events on television. Accused of making "some kind of political statement" by refusing to approve measures that would increase the growth of Maryland's horse racing industry, they risked losing respect around the world and ripping the hope right out of people. The governor had seen for himself what animals mean to us and how we need them in ways that no law should touch - or ever take away. "We'll work it out," he told reporters. "The Preakness will never leave Maryland."