On Apr 6, 2021, at 6:51 AM, AKC Government Relations <doglaw@xxxxxxx> wrote:
April 6, 2021
https://www.akc.org/legislative-alerts/tx-hb-1818-alert-call-email-facebook-message-tweet-take-action-harmful-bill-today/
<https://www.akc.org/legislative-alerts/tx-hb-1818-alert-call-email-facebook-message-tweet-take-action-harmful-bill-today/>
Please share with all concerned Texas residents.
As previously reported
<https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/fVuHol5fQkacZQK0gx7nqw>, Texas House
Bill 1818 <https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/Mg23xCaA74OnQbmkNYRIUQ>,
which seeks to limit most Texas pet stores from selling purpose-bred dogs, has
been assigned to the House Calendars Committee.
It is crucial that committee members hear from you about the harm HB 1818 would
do to responsible dog ownership if it is enacted as currently worded.
SAMPLE EMAIL TEXT:
Representative _____,
I am a proud Texas resident and urge you to hold HB 1818 in committee. As
currently worded, HB 1818:
Violates the values of liberty, freedom, protecting business, and small
government that Texas prides itself in.
Requires pet stores to showcase pets that come only from unregulated and random
sources. This would not only remove the most regulated and vetted source of
pets from the market, it will exacerbate existing sourcing problems by
incentivizing the sales of pets from unregulated sources not subject to animal
welfare regulations or the health tests and reporting requirements associated
with those regulations.
Is not about a Texas-specific issue. In fact, Texas is just one of 14 states
where animal rights‐driven, onerous pet store legislation has been introduced
in 2021. HB 1818 and others introduced this year are modeled after a troubled
California law that was enacted 2017 and resulted in harmful consequences
there.
Will do nothing to prevent animal cruelty, and will cause harm to Texans who
want a quality purpose‐bred pet but don’t have access to a local breeder or do
not want to be put on a long puppy waiting list.
Would disparately impact small players in the pet sales market. Currently, only
4% of Americans obtain pets from a traditional retail pet shop, while
approximately 44% of Americans obtain their pet from a retail rescue,
traditional breed rescue, shelter, or similar source. The U.S. currently has a
large market for “rescue pets”, and with it, significant economic incentive for
individuals or organizations who can avoid regulatory oversight by
irresponsibly breeding or “flipping” pets directly to meet this demand.
Will likely prove fatal to all targeted Texas pet stores that sell purpose-bred
dogs. HB 1818 will force small businesses to change their business models and
compete directly against large‐scale online retailers and big‐box pet supply
chains, which can more easily realize economies of scale in the pricing of
products. When small, independent stores cannot operate with the same economies
of scale, they often are forced to shut down. The number of stores that would
be impacted should HB 1818 be enacted is not known by the Texas Legislature,
allied groups, or AKC.
Should be amended, as recommended by the American Kennel Club and other allied
organizations, to require pet shops adhere to appropriate care standards and to
prohibit them from purchasing animals from any breeder that has been found to
have committed a direct violation of USDA animal welfare regulations or three
or more indirect violations of USDA regulations related to the health or
welfare of an animal in the last two years and/or violations of Texas’ Dog or
Cat Breeders Act. This would continue to support the quality of purpose-bred
dogs and cats sold by pet stores, do more to improve pets’ welfare than closing
down retail pet sellers – and avoid destroying small businesses.
Thank you for your consideration. Please hold HB 1818 in committee.
[Name]
[City]
[Phone & email]
What You Can Do:
All concerned Texas residents are strongly urged to contact the members of the
House Calendars Committee to urge them to hold HB 1818 in committee. Using the
sample text above, please call, email, send a Facebook message, or tweet your
opposition to HB 1818.
Representative Dustin Burrows, Chair (Dist. 83 – Lubbock)
(806) 795-0635
Dustin.Burrows@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Dustin.Burrows@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
https://twitter.com/Burrows4TX ;<https://twitter.com/Burrows4TX>
https://www.facebook.com/Burrows4TX ;<https://www.facebook.com/Burrows4TX>
Representative Joe Moody, Vice Chair (Dist. 78 – El Paso)
915-751-2700
Joe.Moody@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Joe.Moody@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
https://www.facebook.com/moodyforelpaso/ ;
<https://www.facebook.com/moodyforelpaso/>
https://twitter.com/moodyforelpaso ;<https://twitter.com/moodyforelpaso>
Representative Tom Craddick (Dist. 82 – Midland)
(432) 682-3000
Tom.Craddick@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Tom.Craddick@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Representative-Tom-Craddick/476565212527872 ;
<https://www.facebook.com/pages/Representative-Tom-Craddick/476565212527872>
https://twitter.com/TomCraddick2 ;<https://twitter.com/TomCraddick2>
Representative Cody Harris (Dist. 8 – Palestine)
(254) 582-4081
cody.harris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:cody.harris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
https://www.facebook.com/CodyforTexas/ ;<https://www.facebook.com/CodyforTexas/>
https://twitter.com/CodyforTexas ;<https://twitter.com/CodyforTexas>
Representative Cole Hefner (Dist. 5 – Mt. Pleasant)
(903) 717-8238
cole.hefner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:cole.hefner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
https://www.facebook.com/votecolehefner ;
<https://www.facebook.com/votecolehefner>
https://twitter.com/colehefnertx ;<https://twitter.com/colehefnertx>
Representative Ana Hernandez (Dist. 143 – Houston)
(713) 675-8596
ana.hernandez@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ana.hernandez@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
https://www.facebook.com/AnaForTexas/ ;<https://www.facebook.com/AnaForTexas/>
https://twitter.com/anahdztx ;<https://twitter.com/anahdztx>
Representative Ben Leman (Dist. 13 – Anderson)
979-836-1238
ben.leman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ben.leman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
https://www.facebook.com/BenLemanTX/ ;<https://www.facebook.com/BenLemanTX/>
https://twitter.com/benlemantx ;<https://twitter.com/benlemantx>
Representative Jared Patterson (Dist. 106 – Frisco) – HB 1818 Primary Sponsor
(214) 494-6498
jared.patterson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:jared.patterson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
https://www.facebook.com/jpattersontx/ ;<https://www.facebook.com/jpattersontx/>
https://twitter.com/JaredLPatterson ;<https://twitter.com/JaredLPatterson>
Representative Toni Rose (Dist. 110 – Dallas)
(214) 371-3300
Toni.Rose@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Toni.Rose@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
https://www.facebook.com/State-Representative-Toni-Rose-Texas-341166615893555/ ;
<https://www.facebook.com/State-Representative-Toni-Rose-Texas-341166615893555/>
https://twitter.com/reptonirosetx ;<https://twitter.com/reptonirosetx>
Representative Shelby Slawson (Dist. 59 – Stephenville)
254-592-4909
shelby.slawson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:shelby.slawson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
https://www.facebook.com/SlawsonForTexas/ ;
<https://www.facebook.com/SlawsonForTexas/>
https://twitter.com/ShelbySlawson ;<https://twitter.com/ShelbySlawson>
Representative James Talarico (Dist. 52 – Round Rock)
512-463-0670
james.talarico@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:james.talarico@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
https://www.facebook.com/RepTalarico/ ;<https://www.facebook.com/RepTalarico/>
https://twitter.com/jamestalarico ;<https://twitter.com/jamestalarico>
AKC Government Relations will continue to provide updates and action alerts on
House Bill 1818. For more information, contact doglaw@xxxxxxx
<mailto:doglaw@xxxxxxx>.
Take Action Now!
<https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/bq2tZzIbMMkxGpeoKs1U2w>
<https://www.votervoice.net/>
Stormy Hope
LLARTC
NAIATrust, Trustee
NAIATrust-CA on Facebook!
GSDCA Legislative Liaison to AKC
California Responsible Pet Owners
