[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: TX Action Alert! HB 326 & SB 172 Animal Cruelty
- From: RihadinK9@xxxxxxx
- To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, sheltieoldlines@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, SheltieBreeders@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2005 19:09:17 EST
From Responsible Pet Owners Alliance,
the reasonable voice regarding animal issues.
Responsible Pet Owners Alliance is an animal welfare organization,
not "animal rights" and, yes, there is a difference.
Permission is granted to crosspost with
credit given to the TX-RPOA List.
All animal owners should be concerned about these two bills as
"intentionally and knowingly" are amended to add "or recklessly" committing
a cruel act, which negates the "intent."
****************************************
From the American Kennel Club
http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=2414
Fanciers, Hunters Concerned About Texas Cruelty Bill
[Thursday, February 03, 2005]
Hunters and dog fanciers in Texas are extremely concerned about HB326 and
its companion, SB172. The identical bills would amend the state's cruelty
law in several ways. First, the measures make it a crime to cause bodily
injury to an animal, with "animal" being defined as any "nonhuman mammal,
bird or captive amphibian or reptile." The exemption for wild creatures
(those that are often hunted) has been removed. Furthermore, while the
existing cruelty law includes a straightforward exemption for those who
hunt, fish or trap, HB326/SB172 changes that language to say that hunting
"may be used as a defense" if you are prosecuted for animal cruelty. These
changes mean that hunters could more easily be charged with cruelty and
consequently be forced to defend themselves in court.
HB326/SB172 would also criminalize "training or conditioning" one animal to
fight with another. While Texas dog owners strongly oppose dog fighting,
they worry that training for field trials and hunt or coonhound tests could
be included in this definition. Those who use treadmills and similar devices
to keep their dogs in shape for competition also worry that under
HB326/S172, mere evidence of this equipment would create a presumption that
owners are training dogs to fight.
Texas fanciers and sportsmen strongly support proper care and humane
treatment of all animals through enforcement of the state's existing cruelty
statute. They firmly believe in dog owners' responsibility to provide
adequate and nutritious diet, clean water, clean living conditions, regular
veterinary care, kind and responsive human companionship, and training in
appropriate behavior. Although they strongly support preventing cruelty to
animals, they believe that HB326/SB172 includes vague definitions that could
not only criminalize hunting, but would also eliminate an owner's intent,
thereby subjecting innocent individuals to the full force of a felony
conviction.
What You Can Do:
H326 has been referred to the House Committee on State Cultural and
Recreational Resources, while S172 was referred to the Senate Committee on
Criminal Justice. Contact the members of those committees to express your
concerns!
House Committee on State Cultural and Recreational Resources
Capitol Bldg #E2.134
Austin, TX 78711
Phone:512/463-1974
Chair: Rep. Harvey Hilderbran
(512) 463-0536
Vice-Chair: Rep. Edmund Kuempel
(512) 463-0602
Members:
Rep. Todd Baxter (512) 463-0631
Rep. Dawnna Dukes (512) 463-0506
Rep. Jim Dunnam (512) 463-0508
Rep. Pete Gallego (512) 463-0566
Rep. Larry Phillips (512) 463-0297
Senate Criminal Justice
Sam Houston Bldg #335
Austin, TX 78711
Phone:512/463-0345
Chair: Sen. John Whitmire
(512) 463-0115
Vice-Chair: Sen. Kel Seliger
(512) 463-0131
Members:
Sen. John Carona (512) 463-0116
Sen. Rodney Ellis (512) 463-0113
Sen. Juan Hinojosa 512) 463-0120
Sen. Steve Ogden (512) 463-0105
Sen. Tommy Williams (512) 463-0104
For additional information, contact:
Responsible Pet Owners Alliance
http://www.responsiblepetowners.org
Mary Beth Duerler
rpoa@xxxxxxxxx
(210) 822-6763
Ginger Cleary, Dallas, GA_ http://www.rihadin.com _
(http://www.rihadin.com/) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pet-law/) You can't
dance if you don't go
to the party.
_http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GA-pet-law/_
(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pet-law/)
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