USDA Fines Family 4 Million Dollars for selling bunnies

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moonwhim
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USDA Fines Family 4 Million Dollars for selling bunnies

Post by moonwhim »

USDA fines family four million dollars for selling bunny rabbits

Dear NaturalNews readers,

It's the latest outrage from a government gone wild: The USDA is now threatening to fine a Missouri family nearly four million dollars over their raising and selling roughly $500 worth of bunny rabbits out of their home.

It all started as an innocent rescue of two rabbits which then began breeding. As word spread about the rabbits for sale, the family eventually earned a whopping $200 in profit from the whole operation. But the tyrannical USDA says no one is allowed to sell any animals without paying homage to the King. They've slapped a $90,000 fine on the family that, if not paid by Monday, will multiply into a four million dollar fine.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/032476_rabbi ... z1N480QCXQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

(NaturalNews) When the Dollarhite family of Nixa, Mo., first started raising and selling bunnies as part of a lesson to teach their teenage son about responsibility and hard work, they had no idea they would eventually meet the heavy hand of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). According to a recent article covered in Breitbart's Big Government, the USDA recently ordered the Dollarhite family to pay more than $90,000 in fines because they sold more than $500 worth of rabbits in a year -- and if they fail to pay the fine by Monday, May 23, the fine will multiply to nearly $4 million.

It all started back in 2006 when John Dollarhite and his wife Judy rescued two rabbits that ended up breeding. The family cared for and raised the new rabbits, and eventually began to sell them to neighbors, friends, and others for $10 or $15 each. Having started by first selling the animals for meat, and later for show, the Dollarhites carefully and humanely raised the small creatures on their three-acre homestead, all while teaching their son honest values in a business environment similar to running a small lemonade stand.

Eventually, the Dollarhites developed such a highly-respected reputation across Missouri that the popular Branson, Mo., theme park Silver Dollar City, and even a local pet store, Petland, began purchasing bunnies from the family in 2009. And according to John, individuals from both Silver Dollar City and Petland, as well as a rabbit competition judge, told him that the family's bunnies were among the best they had ever seen -- healthy, beautiful, and very well-cared for.

All seemed well until a USDA inspector showed up at the family's home in the fall of 2009, and asked to do a "spot inspection" of the rabbitry. The inspector made no indication that anything was amiss, but only that she wished to see the facility. After meandering the premises, the inspector claimed that a few very insignificant aspects of the raising facility were in violation of USDA standards, even though the Dollarhites were not USDA certified, nor were they required to be. She then asked if the Dollarhites wished to be part of the voluntary USDA certification system, upon which they told her they would look into it.

After the inspector left, the Dollarhites heard nothing more from the USDA until January 2010 when a Kansas City-based USDA inspector called the family and said he needed to have a meeting with them because they sold more than $500 worth of rabbits in a single year. When the Dollarhites asked why this was a problem and what law this violated, the man refused to offer an explanation over the phone.

Upon meeting in person, the inspector said he was only there to investigate the rabbitry and take notes for a report, upon which he instructed the family to contact another USDA office if they failed to hear anything further from the USDA after six weeks. As the eighth week arrived without any communication, John called the office and was redirected to the Washington, DC, office where a lady shockingly and bluntly explained to him that she had his report, and that the USDA planned to prosecute him and his family "to the maximum that we can" in order to "make an example" out of him.

Shortly thereafter, the Dollarhites received a letter from the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) ordering them to pay a fine of $90,643 for supposedly violating a mystery law that prohibits the selling of more then $500 in rabbits within a year, even though the Dollarhites were in full accordance with Missouri state law, did not sell their rabbits across state lines, and raised their rabbits humanely and in excess of minimum requirements. The letter outlined that the Dollarhites had until May 23 to pay the exorbitant fine, or else face additional fines totaling nearly $4 million -- all for selling about $4,600 worth of rabbits that netted the family a mere $200 in profits.

The whole scenario proves, once again, that the USDA is nothing more than a tag-team terrorist duo with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Both agencies' insatiable lust for power and control over private affairs is never satisfied, as they continue to prowl around like bloodthirsty predators seeking whoever and whatever they can devour. When will Americans finally stand up to their tyranny and say enough is enough?

To read the full account of the Dollarhite saga, visit:
http://biggovernment.com/bmccarty/2.." onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

To contact the APHIS division of the USDA responsible for this mess and express your thoughts on the matter, write, call, or email:
USDA/APHIS/AC
4700 River Road, Unit 84
Riverdale, MD 20737-1234
ace@aphis.usda.gov
(301) 734-4978

You can also read a follow-up to the original story that includes a response from the USDA here:
http://bobmccarty.com/2011/05/19/us.." onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/032476_rabbi ... z1N470oOQQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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Elizabeth
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USDA Fines Family 4 Million Dollars for selling bunnies

Post by Elizabeth »

What a disgrace :( so much in this world makes little sense.

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kathyn
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Posts: 4156
Location: UT

Re: USDA Fines Family 4 Million Dollars for selling bunnies

Post by kathyn »

If anyone thinks we aren't on the cusp of a police state, they need to stop and look around them.

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LukeAir2008
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Posts: 2985
Location: Highland

Re: USDA Fines Family 4 Million Dollars for selling bunnies

Post by LukeAir2008 »

The land of the free is now the home of the slaves. Does anyone have the backbone to say enough is enough? :-s

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Jason
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Posts: 18296

Re: USDA Fines Family 4 Million Dollars for selling bunnies

Post by Jason »

Janadele wrote:What a disgrace :( so much in this world makes little sense.
Oh it makes sense all right....but only from a secret combination perspective!

tittiger
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Re: USDA Fines Family 4 Million Dollars for selling bunnies

Post by tittiger »

When in God's name is the pathetic good for nothing Missouri legislature going to get on the ball?

Everything is turned on it's head. The commerce clause is being used to shut down interstate commerce rather than enabling it. The USDA is making sure we can't earn a living farming in Missouri and that the food supply is unfit for human consumption rather than ensuring safely. This is the same USDA that allows Walmart to seel baby water with fluoride added for Gods sake!

The Legislature if it had a clue would be passing nullification laws for starters.
http://mises.org/media/1851/The-Principles-of-98" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I also think that a formal recognition and funding of the Missouri militia is in order.
These tyrants are not going to cease and desist until we make them do so.
http://www.tenthamendmentcenter.com/201 ... ermission/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A protest is shaping up:
http://bungalowbillscw.blogspot.com/201 ... up-in.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Rand
captain of 1,000
Posts: 2472

Re: USDA Fines Family 4 Million Dollars for selling bunnies

Post by Rand »

I wonder if the bureaucrats that further this kind of sham will have to repent or burn for this type of rape of our freedoms. All for our own protection, of course. How can someone who does this sleep at night or even in the day time.

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Jason
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Posts: 18296

Re: USDA Fines Family 4 Million Dollars for selling bunnies

Post by Jason »

Rand wrote:I wonder if the bureaucrats that further this kind of sham will have to repent or burn for this type of rape of our freedoms. All for our own protection, of course. How can someone who does this sleep at night or even in the day time.
Ask Mitt....he basically pulled it off on the healthcare end!

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