From Responsible Pet Owners Alliance. Responsible
Pet Owners Alliance is an animal welfare
organization, not "animal rights" and, yes, there is a
difference.
Nationwide Action Alert!
Texas HB 1096/ SB 1111 - BSL Threat
"One More Time!" We need your help to keep the
senate bill from being heard
in committee. May 1, 2005
HB 1096 passed the House before we could organize
opposition, but to date
there has been NO Senate hearing scheduled for the
companion bill SB 1111.
We were told by Committee Chair Senator Whitmire's
office that they have
been overwhelmed with phone calls in opposition to
SB 1111, but the calls
have slowed down. We appreciate your previous help
and ask if we could have
"one more round" of protests to help us kill this bill.
You may be very
brief. Just the large volume of calls and emails can
help us tremendously.
You may receive Senator Ellis's form letter saying
that his office is
working with Responsible Pet Owners Alliance and the
American Kennel Club
regarding this bill. Although RPOA was contacted
regarding our objections
and sent our objections to his office, we have heard
nothing from them. So
I wouldn't say we are negotiating. Rather it appears
they hope the
opposition will die down and the bill could slip through
committee with 24
hrs. notice.
HB 1096 / SB 1111 would exempt Houston from
existing state law prohibiting
Breed Specific Legislation and imposes excessively
harsh provisions on all
Houston dog owners.
Our legislature adjourns on May 31, so there will be
increased pressure to
schedule a hearing on this bill to move it out of
committee.
SB 1111 states that: "Subchapter D [in existing
state law] does not apply
to a municipality subject to this chapter." While not
naming breeds
specifically, it will allow Houston to do so in the
future.
Talking Points:
* SB 1111 will not stop dog attacks in Houston.
* Texas already has a very strong Dangerous Dog
Law.
* Texas, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Maine,
Minnesota, New
Jersey, New York, Oklahoma and Virginia all have a
provision prohibiting
municipalities from passing Breed Specific Legislation.
SB 1111 would be
taking a step backwards for Texas.
* Breed Specific Legislation is canine profiling and
discrimination against
certain breeds of dogs, regardless of temperament,
training or behavior.
Many so-called "pitbulls" are great family dogs and
pose no threat to the
community.
* Although SB 1111 doesn't name breeds of dogs,
the publicly stated intent
of Rep. Al Edwards is to regulate Rottweilers
and "pitbulls" in Houston.
* Rep. Edwards has stated on a Houston television
station that he wants the
bill to be amended to apply statewide.
PO Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711
Clerk: Carley Rose, Ph: (512) 463-0345
SB 1111
Bill Author: Senator Rodney Ellis
Ph: (512) 463-0113
Fax: (512) 463-0006
rodney.ellis@senate.state.tx.us
Senate Criminal Justice Committee members:
Chair: Senator John Whitmire
Ph: (512) 463-0115
Fax: (512) 475-3737
john.whitmire@senate.state.tx.us
Vice-Chair: Senator Kel Seliger
Ph: (512) 463-0131
Fax: (512) 475-3733
kel.seliger@senate.state.tx.us
Senator John Carona
Ph: (512) 463-0116
Fax: (512) 463-3135
john.carona@senate.state.tx.us
Senator Rodney Ellis
Ph: (512) 463-0113
Fax: (512) 463-0006
rodney.ellis@senate.state.tx.us
Senator Juan Hinojosa
Ph: (512) 463-0120
Fax: (512) 463-0229
juan.hinojosa@senate.state.tx.us
Senator Steve Ogden
Ph: (512) 463-0105
Fax: (512) 463-5713
steve.ogden@senate.state.tx.us
Senator Tommy Williams
Ph: (512) 463-0104
Fax: (512) 463-6373
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/d
ist4/dist4.htm
(E-mail can be sent from this URL.)
To share information, subscribe or unsubscribe,
please send an e-mail message to rpoa@texas.net.
Responsible Pet Owners Alliance
900 NE Loop 410 #205-D
San Antonio, TX 78209
Phone: (210) 822-6763
Fax: (210) 822-9038
E-mail: rpoa@texas.net
Website: http://www.responsiblepetowners.org
Due to formatting capabilities of this newsletter
GFN had to crunch all the info into a small area.
However all of the info is in this "Featured Article".
