HB 2833 has made it to the AG Committee

[Silverton Boar Dogs]

HB 2833 has been sent to the agriculture committee. Thats good news. Anyone from LSWDA have an offical report with any inside info?

[zachW]

i would really like to see the draft of the bill, i am having trouble finding it

[slimpickins]

From Lance Falzone.....

There ya go.

By: White H.B. No. 2833
 
 
   A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
   AN ACT
   relating to the classification and care of working dogs.
          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
          SECTION 1.  DEFINITION.  In this Act a "working dog" means:
                (1)  A dog used primarily for the purpose of driving, 
   tending, locating, working, or protecting stock to include domestic 
   and feral stock, swine and exotics;
                (2)  A dog used for police, military, substance 
   detection, protection, search, rescue or recovery purposes;
                (3)  A dog used as a service, assistance or therapy 
   animal;
                (4)  A dog used to locate, retrieve, or capture an 
   animal, or used in the recovery of wounded or dead animals;
                (5)  A dog that is in training for any of the above 
   purposes;
                (6)  The definition does not rely upon where the dog 
   lives, or its breed, but its primary use;
          SECTION 2.  A dog that is defined as a "working dog" is not 
   considered a pet and will be exempt from laws intended to apply to 
   pets.
                (2)  A working dog will not be subject to laws:
          (a)  Requiring mandatory spay or neuter;
          (b)  Restricting or requiring permits for the number of 
   animals an owner may possess, regardless of reproductive status;
          (c)  Restricting how the dog may be housed;
          (d)  Requiring additional insurance due to weight, breed, 
   sex, or reproductive status of the dog;
          (e)  Restricting breeds that may be kept by the owner.
          SECTION 3.  Section 42.09, Penal Code applies to the care of 
   working dogs.
          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.

[Pitman01]

does this bill mean that the animal control in the city i live in won't be able to tell me how many dogs i can have?

[catchrcall]

Yes and no.  It would exempt your working dogs from that number.  Let's say I have four curs and a bulldog that I hunt hogs with, and I also have a lap dog that is just a pet.  The curs and bulldog are working dogs and would be exempt from the number your animal control says you can have.  The lap dog would still count against you. 

[Pitman01]

thats what i thought i currently have a bulldog and two pits but my animal control officer keeps tellin me i cant have anymore dogs no matter what even if they are workin dogs

[catchrcall]

If this bill passes you should be good to go if they work, right now though he may be right.  You just never know.  Animal control in my area is notorious for not knowing laws. 

[Pitman01]

yeah thats how they are in my neighborhood. he keeps tellin me that even when it does pass he still isn't goin to allow it

[slimpickins]

Don't care who he is, he has a boss. Even his boss has a boss.
If this all turns out like we hope, I'd get him on video or voice recording hasstling you and go straight to the top. 

Side note: Be prepared to prove that they are qualified to meet the "working dog" standards.

[Pitman01]

yeah i hope this bill gets passed so i can set him straight

[zachW]

What would the "proof" be permits or what?

[catchrcall]

Right now there is no provision for permits or certificates, so it's pretty much going to run on what you say is a working dog.  

[zachW]

That could turn in to a neat circus trick, crack head jimmy down the road is going to be a pig hunter now i bet lol

[uglydog]

Well I can tell you if the law is asking me to prove my dog as a hunting dog, I can call up references and pictures, in a heartbeat.
Jimmy Jo crackheads pitbull is only going to rely on what proof? his word?

I can have testimony from land owners that my dogs work for, that is notorized and put before judge in a few days and if this bill passes, I will have that kind of info and portfolios on all my dogs to be prepared in case of.
I keep a photo album of all my dogs pictures on hogs, and take pictures of my dogs with their first strikes and catches for myself anyway, so now make it will have some use. Maybe I will have to keep logs of dates I hunted and where and what dogs were on that hunt, not that big of deal to keep up with.

[Silverton Boar Dogs]

Any up-date from LSWDA on 2833.

The committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill left pending.

Is there a re-write going on to address the concerns of the committee regarding city and county laws being over stepped by 2833. There is also no mechanism for certifying a "working Dog". Seams the committee was all for this bill applying to rural areas.

We would like to help be can't tell whats going on.

[jls41]

It is being worked on right now with the rewrites.  Should have an update on Tuesday morning.

[Purebreedcolt]

When u say rewrites does this meab they wernt happy and yall are having to rewrite it?

[jls41]

Purebreed,
There were just 2 areas that we are working out with one of the Representatives on the committee.  They were pretty minor but they are getting them lined out so that he will be good with the bill.

[Purebreedcolt]

Cool beans