Texas Action Alert! Oppose SB 405


From Responsible Pet Owners Alliance (TX-RPOA), the reasonable voice regarding animal issues in Texas. Responsible Pet Owners Alliance is an animal welfare organization, not “animal rights” and, yes, there is a difference. Permission granted to crosspost.

Oppose Senate Bill 405 by Wentworth relating to the regulation of dogs; creating an offense. Bill text may be found at: http://tinyurl.com/ywfz33 . First dog bite on or off your property — and the dog is killed! Please contact the legislators below and oppose this bill as written. Contact your own senator also who can be found (see search box) on the legislature’s website home page www.capitol.state.tx.us .

The existing Dangerous Dog Law should be strengthened but the three bills filed (if any passed in present form) would be the “death knell” not only for our Rescue Program; but also for dog adoptions from all animal controls and shelters in the state because of the extreme liability. Please contact us at rpoa@texas.net if you can provide helpful information or attend hearings. Our thanks to Jeff Shaver, Houston attorney and member of the American Rottweiler Club, for donating his time and expertise to RPOA during this legislative session.

The talking points below are from Zandra Anderson, www.TexasDogLawyer.com and may be recopied and/or forwarded as long as the author’s name is credited.

SB 405:

–Makes any injury caused by a person’s dog a crime including slight injury even if it is the first incident, and can occur anywhere including the person’s own property or house but is not breed specific.

–Makes it mandatory that any dog that causes injury no matter how slight and even if it is the first time will be destroyed.

–An offense is a Class C misdemeanor unless the attack causes serious bodily injury or death which is a Class A misdemeanor.

–Refers to attacks that are unprovoked, so makes an exception for the provoked dog.

–Does away with the definition of a dangerous dog that causes injury which is less than serious injury or death because there will not be any dangerous dog declarations since all dogs causing any injury would be destroyed.

–Requires dogs in incorporated areas to be leashed or in secure enclosures, so outlaws chaining.

–Has many contradictions with current law because it does not eliminate provisions in conflict with proposals (only addresses Subchapter D and does not address Subchapter A).

Please write, fax and/or phone the legislators below as email is easily deleted. Ask for the legislative aide in charge of the bill and simply register your “OPPOSITION. ” If emailing, put “OPPOSE SB 405” in the subject line.

Bill sponsor:
The Honorable Jeff Wentworth,
PO Box 12068, Capitol Station,
Austin, TX 78711; Phone (512) 463-0125;
Fax (512) 463-7794; E-mail
jeff.wentworth@ senate.state. tx.us .

Senate Criminal Justice Committee members
Address for all:
PO Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711

COMMITTEE CLERK: Mahala Price
PHONE: 512-463-0345
ROOM: SHB 470

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 Bob Deuell
Ph: (512) 463-0102
Fax: (512) 463-7202
don.forse@senate. state.tx. us

Senator Rodney Ellis
Ph: (512) 463-0113
Fax: (512) 463-0006
rodney.ellis@ senate.state. tx.us

Senator Glenn Hegar
Ph: (512) 463-0118
Fax: (512) 475-3736
District18.hegar@ senate.state. tx.us

Senator Juan Hinojosa
Ph: (512) 463-0120
Fax: (512) 463-0229
leslie.nadelman@ senate.state. tx.us

Responsible Pet Owners Alliance
Website: www. responsiblepetowner s. org
$15 Annual dues (January – December)
To share information, subscribe or unsubscribe,
send an e-mail message to rpoa @ texas.net.


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