Coalition Opposing Texas “Puppy Mill” Bill Grows
Sportsmen Calls Needed Today!
Local, state, and national groups continue to sign on to an effort to defeat a Texas House Bill that could put many sporting dog and hobby breeders out of existence. Texas House Bill 1451 was introduced by Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D- Houston), and would classify many sporting dog owners as commercial dog breeders. Doing so would subject them to unnecessary new regulations and expensive new permit fees. It would also allow law enforcement to search the homes of dog owners without a search warrant—or probable cause. Despite the outpouring of opposition from sportsmen, hobby breeders and dog groups, this bill was pushed through the House of Representative as a “non-controversial measure.” The bill is now pending in the Senate. Anti-hunters are telling senators that this bill doesn’t apply to sportsmen or hobby breeders – that is an outright lie. If passed, this bill would force many sporting dog owners and kennels out of existence through overly restrictive new regulations and high license/permitting fees, in turn driving up the cost of a quality hunting dog. It will also have a direct impact on many shooting preserves and hunting clubs across Texas that keep sporting dogs. During the past few weeks, the coalition of opponents to HB 1451 has steadily grown as sportsmen have become aware of just how dangerous this bill is. As a result, many groups have joined together to protect the rights of sporting dog and hobby breeders: Opponents of Texas House Bill 1451
Amateur Field Trial Clubs of America - Region 7 American Brittany Club, Inc. American Cooner Magazine American Dog Breeders Association American Kennel Club Animal Owners Association of Texas East Texas Dog Lovers Club Endangered Breeds Association Full Cry Magazine German Shorthair Pointer Club of America, Inc. Jack Russell Terrier Clubs of America La-Tex Beagle Club Lone Star State American Pit Bull Terrier Club Masters of Foxhounds Association of North America National Animal Interest Alliance National Beagle Club of America National Cur & Feist Breeders Assoc. National Hunting Beagle Association National Wild Turkey Federation--Texas State Chapter Professional Canine Breeder's Assoc. Responsible Pet Owners Alliance Rose City Beagle Club South Texas Beagle Club Southeast Texas Beagle Club Sportsmen's and Animal Owners' Voting Alliance, Texas Dog Hunters Association, Texas Wildlife Association Texoma Beagle Club United Kennel Club USSA Sporting Dog Defense Coalition
Take Action! Sportsmen need to call their state senators TODAY and ask them to oppose House Bill 1451. To find your state senator’s contact information, visit the USSA Legislative Action Center at
www.ussportsmen.org/LAC <http://www.ussportsmen.org/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.ussportsmen.org%2fpage.redir%3ftarget%3dhttp%253a%252f%252fwww.ussportsmen.org%252fLAC%26srcid%3d5496%26srctid%3d1%26erid%3d8701095&srcid=5589&srctid=1&erid=8846488> . For more information, contact the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance at 614-888-4868 or email
info@ussportsmen.org
