Published in Quorum Report www.quorumreport.com:
May 16, 2011 6:14 PM
PUPPY MILL BILL APPEARS TO HAVE LEGS
Whitmire looking to clean up bill as it heads to Senate floor
The Senate sponsor of the so-called “puppy mill bill” is negotiating with interested parties, including an opposing senator, in the wake of a contentious hearing last week.
Sen. John Whitmire (D-Houston) convened a meeting this afternoon with Sen. Dan Patrick (R-Houston) and others to work on HB 1451 by Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston). The Senate Criminal Justice Committee reported the bill Friday 5-0, with Patrick and Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Southside Place) both absent, apparently due to scheduling conflicts.
Floor amendments reportedly may be forthcoming, and perhaps even a floor substitute, according to sources familiar with the legislation. Nevetheless, Whitmire, the committee chairman, has vowed to pass a bill to address the inhumane treatment of dogs and cats bred and hoarded for sale by unscrupulous, clandestine operators.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Competitive Place 3 campaign for Austin City Council
By attending the No Kill Coalition's candidates' forum on Sunday, May 1st, it was hard to discern a major difference in support for No Kill among the candidates for Place 3, the only competitive race in Austin's City Council election on Saturday, May 14. All three candidates for Place 3 pledged support for City Council's No Kill goal. The candidates' responses to the questionnaire sent out by FixAustin also showed that all three Place 3 contenders support No Kill.
Yet a number of Austin Pets Alive leaders are expressing personal support for Randi Shade. The Austin American Statesman endorsed incumbent Council Member Shade. Council Member Mike Martinez has also indicated his support for her. The Austin Chronicle, on the other hand, endorsed Kathie Tovo. The Sierra Club and environmental activists have also endorsed Ms. Tovo.
With the Austin community at large split on Place 3, it's possible that, if it turns out to be a close race, animal advocates may be able to make a difference...unless we split in the same manner as the rest of the community. It would be interesting to hear more from animal advocates on why they support one candidate or another. The fact that Austin Pets Alive leaders have endorsed Council Member Shade is likely to cause some APA followers, but not all, to vote with their leaders. But as we know, the Austin animal community is not just APA. Although APA has been more visible and active politically than other animal welfare organization, we have diverse views on a number of key issues that affect animals.
If you have not been paying attention to the Place 3 race, maybe you can take some time between now and next Saturday to look at the candidates' positions and make your opinions known. Whoever is elected in Place 3 will be sitting on City Council when the Council makes one of the most important decisions affecting the lives of homeless pets that will be made this decade - what to do about the current shelter facility once the shelter moves to Levander Loop. It deserves a little bit of your time and attention in the next 6 days.
Pat Valls-Trelles
Yet a number of Austin Pets Alive leaders are expressing personal support for Randi Shade. The Austin American Statesman endorsed incumbent Council Member Shade. Council Member Mike Martinez has also indicated his support for her. The Austin Chronicle, on the other hand, endorsed Kathie Tovo. The Sierra Club and environmental activists have also endorsed Ms. Tovo.
With the Austin community at large split on Place 3, it's possible that, if it turns out to be a close race, animal advocates may be able to make a difference...unless we split in the same manner as the rest of the community. It would be interesting to hear more from animal advocates on why they support one candidate or another. The fact that Austin Pets Alive leaders have endorsed Council Member Shade is likely to cause some APA followers, but not all, to vote with their leaders. But as we know, the Austin animal community is not just APA. Although APA has been more visible and active politically than other animal welfare organization, we have diverse views on a number of key issues that affect animals.
If you have not been paying attention to the Place 3 race, maybe you can take some time between now and next Saturday to look at the candidates' positions and make your opinions known. Whoever is elected in Place 3 will be sitting on City Council when the Council makes one of the most important decisions affecting the lives of homeless pets that will be made this decade - what to do about the current shelter facility once the shelter moves to Levander Loop. It deserves a little bit of your time and attention in the next 6 days.
Pat Valls-Trelles
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
House passes HB 1451, puppy mill bill
House Passes Puppy Mill Bill
By Jordan Smith, 4:01PM, Tue. Apr. 26, Austin Chronicle
http://www.austinchronicle.com/blogs/news/2011-04-26/house-passes-puppy-mill-bill/
After being held up twice by Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview, the Texas House finally voted this afternoon in favor of a bill that would outlaw puppy mills.
The bill, House Bill 1451, by Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, earned bipartisan support in an effort to outlaw the large-scale inhumane breeding of dogs and cats. The bill requires breeders keeping 11 or more intact females to be inspected and licensed; the measure would require animals to be kept in cages of sufficient size, to be given exercise, food and water. A modest proposal indeed.
Still, Simpson – whose Longview district is home to some egregious cases of animal abuse (and whose mayor has come out in support of Thompson's measure) – argued on the House floor today that this bill just represented an expansion of government along the lines of Washington, D.C. attempts to "regulate light bulbs." Simpson says he is "very much in support of our animal cruelty laws" and that those should be "vigorously" enforced, but that this law represents a burden on breeders who operate in an ethical and humane manner. The bill only "burdens those who are keeping the law, responsible breeders."
Of course, what Simpson fails to note is that animal cruelty laws only kick in once animals have been abused and suffering – and in the case of puppy mills, often after the sickly and abused animals have been sold to consumers. The idea here is simple: Keep abuse from happening and keep consumers from being injured. Indeed, Thompson noted that the cost to taxpayers to round up and care for sick animals born in puppy mills can be great – in Longview, the city spent roughly $150,000 on a recent raid where many animals ended up having to be euthanized because they were so sick.
Despite Simpson's ongoing attempts to defeat the bill – maneuvering to pull it from the Local & Consent Calendar earned him the ire of several lawmakers, some of whom pulled their names as co-sponsors from Simpson bills – the House passed the measure today on a vote of 95-44 with two members present not voting.
By Jordan Smith, 4:01PM, Tue. Apr. 26, Austin Chronicle
http://www.austinchronicle.com/blogs/news/2011-04-26/house-passes-puppy-mill-bill/
After being held up twice by Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview, the Texas House finally voted this afternoon in favor of a bill that would outlaw puppy mills.
The bill, House Bill 1451, by Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, earned bipartisan support in an effort to outlaw the large-scale inhumane breeding of dogs and cats. The bill requires breeders keeping 11 or more intact females to be inspected and licensed; the measure would require animals to be kept in cages of sufficient size, to be given exercise, food and water. A modest proposal indeed.
Still, Simpson – whose Longview district is home to some egregious cases of animal abuse (and whose mayor has come out in support of Thompson's measure) – argued on the House floor today that this bill just represented an expansion of government along the lines of Washington, D.C. attempts to "regulate light bulbs." Simpson says he is "very much in support of our animal cruelty laws" and that those should be "vigorously" enforced, but that this law represents a burden on breeders who operate in an ethical and humane manner. The bill only "burdens those who are keeping the law, responsible breeders."
Of course, what Simpson fails to note is that animal cruelty laws only kick in once animals have been abused and suffering – and in the case of puppy mills, often after the sickly and abused animals have been sold to consumers. The idea here is simple: Keep abuse from happening and keep consumers from being injured. Indeed, Thompson noted that the cost to taxpayers to round up and care for sick animals born in puppy mills can be great – in Longview, the city spent roughly $150,000 on a recent raid where many animals ended up having to be euthanized because they were so sick.
Despite Simpson's ongoing attempts to defeat the bill – maneuvering to pull it from the Local & Consent Calendar earned him the ire of several lawmakers, some of whom pulled their names as co-sponsors from Simpson bills – the House passed the measure today on a vote of 95-44 with two members present not voting.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
April 29 Animal Issues Forum
This coming Friday, April 29, we will have an Animal Issues Forum at
Terrazas Library on Cesar Chavez from 11:45 AM - 1:15 PM. Confirmed
speakers are Council Member Chris Riley, Austin Animal Center Chief
Abigail Smith and former Houston State Rep. Debra Danburg.
An important topic to discuss with Council Member Riley and all
Council Members and candidates running in the May election is what the
city is planning for the Adoption Center that is supposed to open at
the current animal shelter site when the city moves the main shelter
to East Austin. We have heard very little public discussion about
this and it's time to ask current Council Members and candidates what
is going on in this arena. Friday, April 29 Animal Issues forum will
be an opportunity to share information on this topic.
Also we'll hear from Abigail Smith about her first six weeks as the
Animal Center's Chief of Animal Services, about items on the agenda
for the next Animal Advisory Commission and any information she may be
able to share about the upcoming budget deliberations. (You may have
heard about the budget hearings the city has already scheduled.)
Also on the agenda for April 29 will be the status of current
legislation relating to animals in the Texas House and Senate. As I
write this, HB 1451, the large scale commercial breeder bill, has not
passed the House, but is on the calendar for Tuesday. Former state
representative Debra Danburg has agreed to speak and share some of her
insights about the workings of the Legislature as it relates to animal
issues. HB 3450, the Companion Animal Protection Act, has not yet
been scheduled for a hearing so it seems unlikely to pass, but we'll
have information on the status of that bill as well. There are
numerous other bills sponsored by THLN, by HSUS and by TFACS moving
forward and we'll have updates on those as well.
Please let me know if you plan to attend so I can plan for handouts,
if any, that need to be copied. And if you cannot attend but are
interested in what is going on with the Adoption Center, with the city
budget, or with state legislation, please let me know if there is a
question I can try to get answered.
Terrazas Library on Cesar Chavez from 11:45 AM - 1:15 PM. Confirmed
speakers are Council Member Chris Riley, Austin Animal Center Chief
Abigail Smith and former Houston State Rep. Debra Danburg.
An important topic to discuss with Council Member Riley and all
Council Members and candidates running in the May election is what the
city is planning for the Adoption Center that is supposed to open at
the current animal shelter site when the city moves the main shelter
to East Austin. We have heard very little public discussion about
this and it's time to ask current Council Members and candidates what
is going on in this arena. Friday, April 29 Animal Issues forum will
be an opportunity to share information on this topic.
Also we'll hear from Abigail Smith about her first six weeks as the
Animal Center's Chief of Animal Services, about items on the agenda
for the next Animal Advisory Commission and any information she may be
able to share about the upcoming budget deliberations. (You may have
heard about the budget hearings the city has already scheduled.)
Also on the agenda for April 29 will be the status of current
legislation relating to animals in the Texas House and Senate. As I
write this, HB 1451, the large scale commercial breeder bill, has not
passed the House, but is on the calendar for Tuesday. Former state
representative Debra Danburg has agreed to speak and share some of her
insights about the workings of the Legislature as it relates to animal
issues. HB 3450, the Companion Animal Protection Act, has not yet
been scheduled for a hearing so it seems unlikely to pass, but we'll
have information on the status of that bill as well. There are
numerous other bills sponsored by THLN, by HSUS and by TFACS moving
forward and we'll have updates on those as well.
Please let me know if you plan to attend so I can plan for handouts,
if any, that need to be copied. And if you cannot attend but are
interested in what is going on with the Adoption Center, with the city
budget, or with state legislation, please let me know if there is a
question I can try to get answered.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
HB 1451, large scale breeder bill, on House Local and Consent calendar
Thursday, April 14
HB 1451, the large scale commercial dog breeder bill, was on the House Local and Consent calendar today. The Quorum Report had lots of coverage about what happened. Check it out under "Daily Buzz" at
http://www.quorumreport.com
HB 1451, the large scale commercial dog breeder bill, was on the House Local and Consent calendar today. The Quorum Report had lots of coverage about what happened. Check it out under "Daily Buzz" at
http://www.quorumreport.com
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Tuesday, April 5: hearing on SB 939, cockfighting bill
The following information about today's hearing on SBB 939, the cockfighting bill is from the Texas Humane Legislation Network's Action Alert:
Hearing By the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
Scheduled for
SB 939 (Lucio)
Cockfighting Bill
To strengthen current cockfighting laws.
Companion Bill to HB 1043 (Christian)
Please attend the hearing and sign a card in SUPPORT of this bill. Please, no calls or emails to the committee at this time.
Hearing information:
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
1:30 pm
Capitol Extension
Room E1.016
About the Bill:
Cockfighting is a state jail felony and has been illegal in Texas since 1907. However, it is not illegal to own or operate a facility for cockfighting; possess birds with intent to fight; own cockfighting equipment; or attend a cockfight. These loopholes are exploited by cockfighters and hinder law enforcement's ability to crack down on these operations. This bill will eliminate these loopholes and providing law enforcement with the tools necessary to investigate and prosecute cockfighting activities.
The bill will make each of these supporting activities an offense and will categorize cockfighting as an organized criminal activity, allowing the seizure of cockfighting equipment as contraband. In particular, it will make the following activities a crime:
participating in the earnings of or operating a facility used for cockfighting;
using or permitting another to use property for cockfighting;
manufacturing, buying, selling, possessing cockfighting equipment;
owning, possessing or training a cock with the intent that it be used for cockfighting; or
attending as a spectator an exhibition of cockfighting.
Please sign a card in SUPPORT of SB 939 at the hearing. Thank you for your support!
TEXAS HUMANE LEGISLATION NETWORK
Promoting the humane treatment of animals through
legislation, education and advocacy.
Visit us at www.thln.org
Hearing By the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
Scheduled for
SB 939 (Lucio)
Cockfighting Bill
To strengthen current cockfighting laws.
Companion Bill to HB 1043 (Christian)
Please attend the hearing and sign a card in SUPPORT of this bill. Please, no calls or emails to the committee at this time.
Hearing information:
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
1:30 pm
Capitol Extension
Room E1.016
About the Bill:
Cockfighting is a state jail felony and has been illegal in Texas since 1907. However, it is not illegal to own or operate a facility for cockfighting; possess birds with intent to fight; own cockfighting equipment; or attend a cockfight. These loopholes are exploited by cockfighters and hinder law enforcement's ability to crack down on these operations. This bill will eliminate these loopholes and providing law enforcement with the tools necessary to investigate and prosecute cockfighting activities.
The bill will make each of these supporting activities an offense and will categorize cockfighting as an organized criminal activity, allowing the seizure of cockfighting equipment as contraband. In particular, it will make the following activities a crime:
participating in the earnings of or operating a facility used for cockfighting;
using or permitting another to use property for cockfighting;
manufacturing, buying, selling, possessing cockfighting equipment;
owning, possessing or training a cock with the intent that it be used for cockfighting; or
attending as a spectator an exhibition of cockfighting.
Please sign a card in SUPPORT of SB 939 at the hearing. Thank you for your support!
TEXAS HUMANE LEGISLATION NETWORK
Promoting the humane treatment of animals through
legislation, education and advocacy.
Visit us at www.thln.org
Friday, April 1, 2011
April 8 Aimal Issues Forum: State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez and City Council Member Randi Shade
The April 8 Animal Issues Forum will feature State Representative Eddie Rodriguez and City Council Member Randi Shade. In addition to these two speakers, Abigail Smith, the new Town Lake Animal Shelter Director, will also be in attendance and has agreed to say a few words and take questions.
The forum will be from 11:30 am - 1:15 pm at Terrazas Library on Cesar Chavez. The agenda is as follows:
11:30 - 11:45 Informal networking
11:45 - 12:15 State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez
12:15 - 12:45 City Council Member Randi Shade
12:45 - 12:50 Introduce and Welcome Abigail Smith, brief remarks
12:50 - 1:15 Open dialog, any topic
If you haven't done so already, please check out the Facebook page for Animal Issues Forum and RSVP there.
The forum will be from 11:30 am - 1:15 pm at Terrazas Library on Cesar Chavez. The agenda is as follows:
11:30 - 11:45 Informal networking
11:45 - 12:15 State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez
12:15 - 12:45 City Council Member Randi Shade
12:45 - 12:50 Introduce and Welcome Abigail Smith, brief remarks
12:50 - 1:15 Open dialog, any topic
If you haven't done so already, please check out the Facebook page for Animal Issues Forum and RSVP there.
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