HB 1451 was hastily amended, passed the Texas Legislature and is on its way to Governor Perry for signature. It is URGENT for all sportsmen, dog fanciers, and cat fanciers to email and fax his office asking for a veto. Fax is preferred. If you cannot fax and must email, please send a copy of your email to Martine Huslig
mhuslig@briardsbriards.com for printing and distribution to Governor Perry’s office and staff.
The HB 1451 Opposition List was sent to Governor Perry today. We will continue to add names to the list right up to the last minute. Have an organization officer send an email to:
saova@earthlink.net requesting to be added to the list. View the full Opposition list at the SAOVA website:
http://www.saova.org/TexasHB1451.Opposition.htmlA sample letter to fax/email is below and also on the SAOVA website.
PLEASE CROSS POST WIDELY
Susan Wolf
Sportsmen’s & Animal Owners’ Voting Alliance
Issue lobbying and working to identify and elect supportive legislators
The Honorable Rick Perry
Governor, State of Texas
PO Box 12428
Austin , TX 78711-2428
Re: Opposition to HB 1451, the misnamed “Puppy Mill Bill”
Dear Governor Perry,
Please VETO HB 1451, the HSUS Anti-Breeder Bill that is a national “animal rights” legislative agenda. It is not written to regulate Texas dog and cat breeders, but to eliminate them. Texas is not a “puppy mill” state and there’s no need for this legislation.
Personalize here – write a brief sentence or two about yourself and your specific animal interest. HB 1451 requires that kennel standards must at a minimum meet federal USDA regulations. The only breeders who can meet these standards are the existing 36 USDA licensed facilities in Texas . Owning 11 intact females and selling 20 puppies should not qualify anyone as a commercial breeder. Selling 20 puppies can easily be met with two litters from a large breed dog.
Last November's elections have shown that voters want an open transparent government and we definitely didn't witness that with this bill. HB 1451 was rammed through by Rep. Senfronia Thompson and Senator John Whitmire with no regard for House or Senate rules. The entire process was corrupted.
President Cile Holloway, Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN), has publicly stated they wanted to get "anything" passed this session and come back later. Senator Whitmire said the bill will be back next session. HB 1451 is only the beginning--not the end.
The exemptions hastily added to the bill at the last minute are meaningless and will have to be defined in the court system. Dogs "bred for hunting, herding, tracking, chasing, pointing, flushing, or retrieving game, competing in field trials, hunting tests, or similar organized performance events" is ambiguous and not defined anywhere. How will this be determined?
No exemptions were added for dog and cat show fanciers. HB 1451 punishes law abiding Texas citizens who care the most about their dogs and cats by charging them high fees to continue doing what they are already doing in compliance with the law.
Veto HB 1451 and save our pets.
Sincerely,
Your name
