July/August 2010 - Dogs Naturally Magazine

I’d like to tell you about a major campaign
that’s taking place over here in the UK. I use
the word ‘major’ – but this is more hope than
reality at the moment, since it relies upon the
support and action of those of us who know
what vaccines are doing to our dogs.
So … why the campaign? Although we have
bodies such as the WSAVA and AAHA saying
we don’t need to vaccinate every year, most
vets in practice – in the UK at least - are still
vaccinating against all the diseases on an annual
basis. Even though there are vaccines
licensed for boosting 3 to 4 years later, they
are still using the one-year shots. And of
course we all know that even the 3-4 year
shots are unnecessary.
There are some dog lovers who have wised-up
and who won’t allow their vets to vaccinate
their friends every year; there are even some
ethical vets. But there are still too many people
who are taking it all on trust, and then
getting shocked, angry and catapulted into
grief when their dogs (and cats, horses, rabbits..)
get a vaccine-associated illness or die.
So back in February, we wrote to the British
licensing authority, the Veterinary Medicines
Directorate, calling for them to take one-year
MLV core vaccines off the market. At the same
time, Canine Health Concern members wrote
to their political representatives to exert pressure
on the VMD.
The VMD responded the DAY BEFORE a general
election was called in the UK, a minute
before everyone went home for the day. Parliament
was dissolved, and we were without
an acting government until the election was
over. Essentially, we were in a position of having
to start again with regards to our political
system.
The VMD’s response was a ‘position paper on
canine vaccination schedules’. It was literally a
position paper: “This is how it is, now naff
off.” They had totally ignored our call. Therefore,
with government blessing, annual vaccination
continues in the UK (and all over the
world, of course).
There is some background to this which may
interest you. The head of the VMD is a vet
called Steve Dean. If you’ve read my book,
‘What Vets Don’t Tell You About Vaccines’,
you’ll know that the book starts with a column
written by Steve Dean in one of the UK dog
papers. This was back in the early 90s, and
Steve was mocking the people who spoke of
vaccine reactions in their dogs, and mocking
anyone who said we don’t need to vaccinate
every year. Then they made him the head of
the government vaccine licensing body.
Not only that, but it turns out that Steve Dean
spent 17 years as a marketing man within the
pharmaceutical industry, and then went on to
be a pharmaceutical industry consultant. The
government knew about his background when
they made him head of the official body in the
UK that monitors vaccine reactions, licenses
vaccine products, and advises government on
these matters.
Further digging revealed that Steve Dean doesn’t
have a hands off approach with the multibillion
industry he legislates. Rather, he speaks
at pharmaceutical company seminars and
helps them with their press launches. He’s an
industry man. On top of this, half of the people
at the VMD have consultancy, research grants
and shares with the pharmaceutical industry.
Turns out that the Veterinary Medicines Directorate
was set up following recommendations
from the chief executive if ICI Pharmaceuticals.
It reflected government policy under Margaret
Thatcher to effectively deregulate the pharmaceutical
industry and help it to get wealthier.
This policy has been continued ever since.
And this explains why the British government
has successively ignored our calls to halt overvaccination.
I’m pretty sure that the same
scenario applies in most countries of the world.
For example, in Denmark, dog owners are
forced by law to vaccinate their dogs against
everything EVERY SIX MONTHS. This isn’t
about the science of vaccination – it must be
because they can get away with it, or else they
are experimenting on our dogs. Apparently
the WHO passed a resolution to experiment
with vaccines on dogs some years ago.
So it seems to me that you and I can keep plugging
on, year after year, mopping up the casualties
and hugging the people who grieve the
death of their dogs, but nothing much will
change – unless we make the whole corrupt
system more visible.
People need to know that they are being manipulated
by governments that don’t care
about them and their dogs, but do care about
industry, commerce, profits and power. We
need to make the REASON why our dogs are
being over-vaccinated more visible.
People need to know that their vets are also
being manipulated. They are educated in col-
leges that take money from pharmaceutical
companies. They are stalked by the pharmaceutical
industry both in college and out of
college. The pharmaceutical industry is throwing
money everywhere. Pet charities, veterinary
further education, vet seminars, political
parties …. Everywhere that helps them sell
more unnecessary product.
There will be many on this list who understand
that apathy is our greatest enemy. You will
talk to dog owners and tell them the truth
about vaccines and pet food, and their eyes
will glaze over and they won’t hear you. We
need to somehow find a way to turn apathy
into action.
I need you to go up to this website –
www.petvaccine.weebly.com – and download
the 369-page report I’ve written. Read it. It
explains the science of vaccine damage, and it
explains why annual vaccination continues.
This is, in effect, a free book. Use the knowledge
in the two-part report to open up the
minds of dog lovers whose minds are currently
closed.
Importantly, if you are in the UK, please write
to your MP. If you are outside the UK, please
write to the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer. We
have put letter templates on the site, plus the
addresses of the people you need to write to.
Make it clear to the British government that
the world is watching, and the world knows
what is happening. Let them know that we
don’t appreciate them selling our pets out.
So – please go to the site and help expose the
truth. I for one am fed up banging the drum
day after day, year after year, with very little
changing. It’s time to nail this one for good.
Maybe if we are successful in the UK, then the
light of truth will shine around the world.
Typically, in any appeal, one person in a hundred
will act. Let’s change this. Do something.
Share this information with every dog lover
you know, and on every list you are on.
(There is a 10-page summary of the report that
you can forward on to your dog-loving friends
– it’s up on www.petvaccine.weebly.com. You
can also forward the actual report, or the link,
to your vets, dog-loving friends and anyone
else you think might be interested. There’s a
press release up there, too – so if you have
contacts with any of the dog magazines,
please feel free to send it on.)
Lots of love...Catherine O’Driscoll
Dogs...Naturally! July/August 2010