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.
Showing posts with label HSUS anti-hunting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HSUS anti-hunting. Show all posts
Friday, May 13, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Public Hearing Set For Bill Treating Sporting Dog Owners As “Puppy Mills”
USSA Alert: Sportsmen and sporting dog owners should plan to attend and voice their opposition!
A public hearing has been set for House Bill 1451 which would treat many sporting dog and hobby breeders the same as so-called “puppy mills” and could put many sporting dog and hobby breeders out of existence. Sportsmen and sporting dog owners should plan on attending to voice their opposition to House Bill 1451.
The hearing will take place this Thursday, May 12th at 1:30 p.m. and will be held in Room 2E.20 (Betty King Committee Room) at the Capitol in Austin.
House Bill 1451 would:
•Classify sporting dog kennels or hobby breeders who have 11 female dogs that have not been spayed to be classified the same as a huge commercial dealer if they sell just two dogs.
•Charge kennel license fees likely to be at least $1,300 per kennel even for hobby breeders who hardly ever sell dogs.
•Create an unelected commission to create kennel construction requirements, record keeping requirements and other expensive red tape items that hobby breeders cannot afford because their primary purpose is not to sell dogs.
•Allow for unannounced inspections of kennels and the homes of their owners if they keep their kennel records on a computer inside their house.
•Allow for the inspection of records within a home without any suspicion of wrong doing or even a search warrant.
•Threaten to drive sporting dog kennels and hobby breeders out of business because they do not have the commercial revenue to offset high fees, and expensive regulations.
•Disclose personal information about dog breeders to the public by creating a public directory containing information on all registered breeders.
Take Action! Sportsmen and sporting dog owners should plan on attending Thursday’s hearing and testify in opposition to House Bill 1451. Those unable to attend should call their state senator and ask them to vote no on House Bill 1451. To contact your senator, visit the
U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Legislative Action Center
For more information, contact the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance at 614-888-4868 or email info@ussportsmen.org
U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance
801 Kingsmill Parkway
Columbus, Ohio 43229
614-888-4868
A public hearing has been set for House Bill 1451 which would treat many sporting dog and hobby breeders the same as so-called “puppy mills” and could put many sporting dog and hobby breeders out of existence. Sportsmen and sporting dog owners should plan on attending to voice their opposition to House Bill 1451.
The hearing will take place this Thursday, May 12th at 1:30 p.m. and will be held in Room 2E.20 (Betty King Committee Room) at the Capitol in Austin.
House Bill 1451 would:
•Classify sporting dog kennels or hobby breeders who have 11 female dogs that have not been spayed to be classified the same as a huge commercial dealer if they sell just two dogs.
•Charge kennel license fees likely to be at least $1,300 per kennel even for hobby breeders who hardly ever sell dogs.
•Create an unelected commission to create kennel construction requirements, record keeping requirements and other expensive red tape items that hobby breeders cannot afford because their primary purpose is not to sell dogs.
•Allow for unannounced inspections of kennels and the homes of their owners if they keep their kennel records on a computer inside their house.
•Allow for the inspection of records within a home without any suspicion of wrong doing or even a search warrant.
•Threaten to drive sporting dog kennels and hobby breeders out of business because they do not have the commercial revenue to offset high fees, and expensive regulations.
•Disclose personal information about dog breeders to the public by creating a public directory containing information on all registered breeders.
Take Action! Sportsmen and sporting dog owners should plan on attending Thursday’s hearing and testify in opposition to House Bill 1451. Those unable to attend should call their state senator and ask them to vote no on House Bill 1451. To contact your senator, visit the
U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Legislative Action Center
For more information, contact the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance at 614-888-4868 or email info@ussportsmen.org
U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance
801 Kingsmill Parkway
Columbus, Ohio 43229
614-888-4868
Friday, April 29, 2011
Texas House Passes Bill That Treats Sporting Dog Kennels like Puppy Mills
U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance 4/27/11
A bill that could put many sporting dog owners out of existence has been passed by the Texas House of Representatives and is moving to the Senate.
The bill, House Bill 1451, introduced by Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D- Houston), would classify many sporting dog owners as commercial dog breeders and subject them to costly new regulations, warrantless home inspections, and expensive new permit fees.
Click here to see the list of how Texas Representatives voted.
The bill will now move to the Senate. All sportsmen need to immediately contact their state senators and ask that they oppose House Bill 1451.
Some of the many harmful provisions in the bill include:
•Classifying anyone who possesses 11 or more intact female dogs and sells only one dog as a “breeder.” So-called breeders are then subject to unnecessary new regulations and costly fees.
•Allowing unannounced warrantless searches of all areas where a breeder keeps dogs or maintains records related to their dogs. Even homes are included in this.
•Allowing a commission to set permit fees for breeders that are necessary to pay for administrative costs and enforcement of the bill. The fiscal note attached to the bill estimates that this will amount to nearly $1.3 million. Based on this estimate, fees for sporting dog owners could be in the thousands of dollars per year.
•Requiring a commission to establish new, unnecessary standards of care for sporting dog breeders including new enclosure, veterinary, and exercise requirements. These new requirements are not needed and would cause a financial burden on responsible sporting dog breeders.
Unlike Commercial operations, sporting dog kennels and hobby breeders do not typically have a revenue stream to shoulder the cost of high fees, and dramatic costs associated with complying with a bill intended for large scale facilities that exist primarily for the purpose of commerce. More important there have been no findings that justify treating sporting dog kennels and hobby breeders the same as commercial kennels.
Take Action! Texas sportsmen should contact their state senators today and ask them to oppose HB 1451. Tell them the bill unjustly treats sporting dog and hobby breeders as large commercial breeders, allows for warrantless searches of homes, and creates unnecessary, costly new regulations that could put many of these breeders out of existence.
To find your state senator’s contact information, visit the USSA Legislative Action Center at www.ussportsmen.org/LAC.
http://www.ussportsmen.org/
A bill that could put many sporting dog owners out of existence has been passed by the Texas House of Representatives and is moving to the Senate.
The bill, House Bill 1451, introduced by Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D- Houston), would classify many sporting dog owners as commercial dog breeders and subject them to costly new regulations, warrantless home inspections, and expensive new permit fees.
Click here to see the list of how Texas Representatives voted.
The bill will now move to the Senate. All sportsmen need to immediately contact their state senators and ask that they oppose House Bill 1451.
Some of the many harmful provisions in the bill include:
•Classifying anyone who possesses 11 or more intact female dogs and sells only one dog as a “breeder.” So-called breeders are then subject to unnecessary new regulations and costly fees.
•Allowing unannounced warrantless searches of all areas where a breeder keeps dogs or maintains records related to their dogs. Even homes are included in this.
•Allowing a commission to set permit fees for breeders that are necessary to pay for administrative costs and enforcement of the bill. The fiscal note attached to the bill estimates that this will amount to nearly $1.3 million. Based on this estimate, fees for sporting dog owners could be in the thousands of dollars per year.
•Requiring a commission to establish new, unnecessary standards of care for sporting dog breeders including new enclosure, veterinary, and exercise requirements. These new requirements are not needed and would cause a financial burden on responsible sporting dog breeders.
Unlike Commercial operations, sporting dog kennels and hobby breeders do not typically have a revenue stream to shoulder the cost of high fees, and dramatic costs associated with complying with a bill intended for large scale facilities that exist primarily for the purpose of commerce. More important there have been no findings that justify treating sporting dog kennels and hobby breeders the same as commercial kennels.
Take Action! Texas sportsmen should contact their state senators today and ask them to oppose HB 1451. Tell them the bill unjustly treats sporting dog and hobby breeders as large commercial breeders, allows for warrantless searches of homes, and creates unnecessary, costly new regulations that could put many of these breeders out of existence.
To find your state senator’s contact information, visit the USSA Legislative Action Center at www.ussportsmen.org/LAC.
http://www.ussportsmen.org/
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