HB 1451 Anti-Breeding Bill Hearing Held Today

TX-RPOA E-News From RPOA Texas Outreach and Responsible Pet Owners Alliance

What a day!

The Public Hearing on Texas HB 1451, the Dog And Cat Anti-Breeder Bill, was held by the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice today! After all the months of hard work, it paid off. Our witnesses ran the gamut of animal interests and couldn't have been better. If you missed it, you must watch it tonight on the state's website. and scroll down to May 12, 2011 Senate Committee Criminal Justice. It's better than any movie or TV show. You may have to download the free Real Player to receive it.

We can't begin to tell you everything in this E-News. Our hero of the day was definitely Senator Dan Patrick who grilled our speakers and brought out the truth about this bill and the agenda behind it. He was especially concerned about coming into our homes without a Search Warrant, possible extinction of gene pools for rare breeds, Criminal Background Checks for all help - even his own daughter if she wanted to work there for minimum wage. And more. Senator Carona backed him up.

Overall it was made perfectly clear to the senators that there's no need for this bill; that the existing state Animal Cruelty Law works well with testimony from Van Zandt County Sheriff Pat Burnett; retired policeman David Tapley, and James Whorter, an animal control officer certified by Texas Animal Control Association. Tapley held up a thick book of USDA regulations required by the bill which cannot be met in a home environment. McWhorter pointed out that we aren't even required to take our children to the doctor once a year!

Senator John Whitmire laid out his bill and the fun began! Whitmire began with his committee substitute which includes an amendment to provide exemptions for dogs bred to be used exclusively for herding livestock, hunting, including pointing, flushing or retrieving game; or competing in field trials. He said there was no need for testimony from those interests today but that was ignored. Senator Carona felt "show dogs" should be added to the exemptions and said his Mother used to breed show dogs. Whitmire mentioned that Senators Carona and Patrick had questioned why we need more government?

Witnesses who supported the bill spoke first with the usual lineup: Houston SPCA, Texas Veterinary Medical Association, and Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN). Those who signed up to support but didn't speak included: HSUS' Nicole Paquette, a sundry of THLN members, and Patt Nordyke with Texas Assoc. of Animal Care Services.

Speaking for RPOA were Martine Huslig and Martin Kralik who have been doing a tremendous job working the halls at the Capitol for the past month educating our legislators and leaving them information to read later. This is what surely turned the tide for us because many times the legislators never see the emails, faxes and don't hear the phone calls which are only tallied for them. Personal contact is very important with all the rest to backup their visits and visits from our lobbyists.

It's perceived "votes" that count.

There's no way to cover everything here but Dale Martenson and Maura Phelan captured the attention of Senator Patrick who questioned both extensively.

Senator Patrick said: "This bill makes no sense whatsoever! Where is it coming from?"

Senator Whitmore was a little taken back and insisted he wasn't presenting the bill for "any group" but just himself after Dale Martenson brought up the financial contributions HSUS had made to Representative Thompson.

Dale Martenson laid it all out there for them, including the expose of Della Lindquist, attorney with TX Dept. of Licensing & Regulation, as being an "animal rights" activist who helped write the bill and would be enforcing it. Later Patrick questioned TDLR director William Koontz about Lindquist who responded that was her private life but admitted she did work on the bill. Koontz was unable to answer other questions from Patrick.

Maura Phelan, president of Travis County Kennel Club, former prosecutor for Travis, Harris, Williamson Counties, special prosecutor for Animal Cruelty in Burnet County, Golden Retriever Breeder and Rescuer (phew!) presented a whole new perspective from many angles and was questioned extensively by Senator Patrick who seemed impressed.

Phelan pointed out that the proposed bill rewards snitches which will only lead to harassment by "animal rights" activists. And added that the bill provides less punishment (a misdemeanor) than existing Penal Code 42, the Animal Cruelty Law, which has a fine and jail time. She stressed "probable cause" must be found to enter private property and told of her experience shutting down a bad facility.

The hearing just kept building on great testimony and ended with a big crescendo!

Thanks to all of you who attended today - whether you spoke orjust came to back up other speakers. It's always dangerous to start naming names and by no means is this all of the wonderful presentations made. You must go watch it yourself. See the URL above.