EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

Crossposting is encouraged.
Saturday, June 18, 2011

A sad day for Texas animal owners and it's only the beginning. Governor
Rick Perry signed the HSUS HB 1451 "Pet Elimination Bill" yesterday, handing
over our state to the radical "animal rights" extremists. It will be very
difficult to put the Genie back in the bottle. The enrolled version of HB
1451 can be found at:

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/82R/billtext/html/HB01451F.htm

Forget the eloquent language Gov. Perry's been spewing on TV about Texas in
his quest to become president -- our freedoms, love of the Constitution,
less government interference in the private sector, lower taxes and less
regulation in general. It's all about money at the Texas State Capitol now.
House Speaker Joe Straus and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst are also to be held
accountable for allowing all the irregularities that occurred. The most
powerful senior legislators carried the bill for HSUS and THLN: Senator
John Whitmire and Rep. Senfronia Thompson. Rep. Thompson threatened every
legislator that they'd never get a bill through her Local & Consent Calendar
Committee for a Floor Vote if they didn't support her bill. Senator
Whitmire hurriedly called his committee meeting at his desk on the Senate
Floor one time, suspending all rules. Rep. Thompson actively worked the
Senate Floor to get the votes she needed. It was and still is an
embarrassment to see this bill passed in Texas. It couldn't pass on its
merits.

It's only fitting that Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN) was the first
to announce the governor's action on their website. (www.thln.com) After
all THLN "owns" the Texas Legislature at the present time. THLN's website
proclaims "this session is the most successful in the history of this
organization!" Check it out. THLN is the HSUS lapdog in Texas.

We commented earlier on the division among those from our own ranks this
session and can only reiterate that if we are to take back Texas animal
issues, it will take a concerted effort to work together for the animals we
love. It serves no useful purpose at this time to dwell on the negative but
the divisiveness was very harmful to our efforts. As an "Alliance" of many
other groups, we must become the reasonable voice for animals in our state
instead of the radical animal groups. Who has more animal expertise than
RPOA and our membership?

RPOA has the organization (two organizations, in fact), the office, a
salaried Pet Education, Assistance & Rescue Program director, programs and
all that entails. THLN does nothing but promote legislation, mostly "animal
rights" legislative agenda items. Now that this legislative session is
drawing to a close, we'll get back to organizing our RPOA Area Advisory
Committees. We have chairmen lined up for 16 Committees - only lacking
several areas on the perimeter of this very large state. Hopefully we can
network the entire state better and coordinate our efforts.

Let's hope we can build up a war chest and be ready before enforcement of HB
1451 begins in 2012 or whenever. The way things have been going, those
rules may be suspended also. The only recourse we have now is in the courts
and court cases are expensive. The harassment of breeders has been going on
for some time. Please contact RPOA if you are a victim of any harassment so
we can document your experiences.

RPOA Board of Directors thanks all of you for your hard work this Session
but we know you did it for your animals - just as we did. Remember this is
a war . in the truest sense of the word ... and we've lost a battle but we
haven't lost the war.

Crossposting is encouraged.
June 20, 2011

Check out the letter to Governor Rick Perry at the link below where you can
also address a letter to him with your opinion. Subscription required but
free. There are other letters on the left of the home page regarding HB
1451.
About the website: "The heart of Congress.org is an award-winning software
program that makes it easy for citizens to write their elected officials.
Our software assures that your letter will be delivered directly to the
decision-makers whose
opinions you hope to influence.
Congress.org is a project of the CQ-Roll Call Group, the largest news
organization on Capitol Hill."
__________________________

Subject: Animal Rights
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/bio/userletter/?letter_id=7045422816&content_dir=politicsol
OR
http://tinyurl.com/3nvlt2h

To:
Governor Rick Perry
June 20, 2011

As a long time conservative Rebuplican I was so excited at the possiblity of
you running for president. I have been talking you up, following your ideas
and looking for ways to work in a compaign with you for our nations future.
I felt you had freedom and rights at your very heart and that you would look
out for us... until you signed the latest legislation into law. Why would
you sign an all sweeping animal rights backed act on the backs of the very
people you have pledged to protect... opening our homes up to inspections
and placing a value on the rights of animals over the rights of people? I am
just confused and appalled at the broad and open interpretation of this
bill. If you do not have the fortitude to stand up to pressure from the
heavily monied and lawyerd up animals rights groups, how would you ever
protect us as President? I don't own a ton of animals. In fact, according to
the bill I probabably would be just fine with only two non spayed show dogs
and two spayed cats at my house, but... the bottom line is this-- they are
animals,,, Not people with souls. It is a sad day for Texans, and with your
setting a precedent, it is a sad sad day for our country and loss of another
right as humans. I will now need to find another canditate to support. I
wish you health and happiness but, I DO hope that a possible bid for
president will fail, since caving to pressure over the rights of people and
conservative values... is what we already have in our white house.
Negotiating with the fundamental rights of the people you are elected to
protect reveals character that exposes them to risk, and we cannot know
where the limit will be reached.
Joppa , AL