EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

TX-RPOA E-News
>From RPOA Texas Outreach and
Responsible Pet Owners Alliance
"Animal welfare, not animal 'rights'
and, yes, there is a difference."
Crossposting is encouraged.
April 24, 2011

Tuesday, April 26th, will be a busy day in Austin, Texas. You are invited!

We have two bills to kill; an AKC Lobby Day; and a Texas Humane
Legislation Network (THLN) attack launched on AKC and purebred dogs! If you
can't be there, call, fax and email your
elected representatives - even if you already have!

The THLN Action Alert publicly accuses AKC of being more concerned about the
breeders that pay them "licensing" fees than they are about the welfare of
the dogs that support their industry. THLN, Texas Veterinary Medical
Association, HSUS, Rep. Senfronia
Thompson and Rep. Garnet Coleman are desperate and will use any means to get
their "Pet Elimination Bills" passed. The bills can't pass on their own
merit. THLN members will be at the Capitol Tuesday walking the halls and
talking to legislators - just as RPOA members will be doing.

Rep. Thompson's HB 1451 has wormed it's way to the House Floor for a vote
Tuesday. If not for Rep. David Simpson pulling it from the Local & Consent
Calendar last week, it would likely have passed the House by now.

The Texas Veterinary Medical Association/HSUS/THLN backup bill HB 2116, a
skeleton of Thompson's bill and sponsored by Rep. Coleman, has survived
backroom
politics with rules suspended and no public hearings held, and is now
scheduled for the
Local & Consent Calendar Tuesday. All with NO opportunity for pet owners to
be heard. We hope that Rep. Simpson is brave enough to stand up for Texas
pet owners once again and get this bill withdrawn from the Consent Calendar!

E-mail your legislators this link to the Texas Animal Cruelty Statute which
covers the standards of care being promoted as the reason we "need" HB 1451
and HB 2116. They will duplicate existing state law.
http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stustx42_09.htm

Responsible Pet Owners Alliance is supporting the American Kennel Club Lobby
Day held Tuesday. Sarah Sprouse, AKC Government Relations
Department, is conducting a lobbying training session from 9:00 - 10:30 am
at the Austin Omni Hotel, 700 San Jacinto at 8th Street, Austin. Everyone
is invited to attend and should go meet with their legislators afterward.

Martin Kralik and Martine Huslig will be representing RPOA at the AKC Lobby
Day and have been meeting with all the members of the House on our behalf
for some time now distributing information. They will both be available if
you have any questions and will be distributing an RPOA Fact Sheet written
for the legislators that day. Be sure you get one!
Please email RPOA with any
feedback from your legislators.

Check our RPOA Texas Outreach website Home Page TONIGHT for the fantastic
full
page ad in the Longview News-Journal paper today (Sunday) opposing HB 1451;
exposing the "animal rights" groups; and thanking Rep. Simpson for his
courageous action, paid for by
his constituents Animal Owners Association of Texas, East Texas Dog Lovers,
and the Longview Kennel Club: www.rpoatexasoutreach.org
Our members are the greatest!
...............................................................

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