Texas Gov. Rick Perry signs puppy mill bill and other animal welfare legislation

by Rebecca Poling of DFW Animal Rescue

HB 1451 ensures the humane care and treatment of dogs and cats in the custody of large-scale commercial breeders.

THLN

Left to right, Cile Holloway, THLN President, Nicole Paquette, HSUS Texas Senior State Director, Representative Senfronia Thompson, Monica Hardy, THLN Executive Director, and Skip Trimble, THLN Treasurer and Legislative Chair

Friday in Austin, Governor Rick Perry signed into law HB 1451 (The Large-Scale Commercial Dog and Cat Breeder Bill – aka The Puppy Mill Bill). The bill passed the Senate 22 to 9 on May 23, followed by a 100 to 40 victory in the House on May 25. The bill ensures the humane care and treatment of dogs and cats in the custody of large-scale commercial breeders by requiring breeders provide wholesome food and clean water, enough space to sit, stand, turn around, and lie down, protection from the weather, ventilation, adequate lighting, and veterinary care. Hard to imagine why anyone would have objected to that, but Responsible Pet Owners Alliance, American Sporting Dog Alliance, The Lone Star State American Pit Bull Terrier Club, the American Kennel Club (AKC), and the Sportsmen’s & Animal Owners Voting Alliance did. If you’ve never heard of these groups, take the time to check out their websites and familiarize yourself with them now. They describe themselves as animal welfare organizations, and are often presumed to have the animal’s best interest at heart.

Also approved by Texas Legislators this year and signed into law by Governor Perry yesterday:

HB 963, a bill requiring bonds in amounts sufficient to ensure that animal welfare organizations get fully reimbursed for the costs they incur in housing and caring for cruelly seized animals
HB 1043, a bill that strengthens existing cockfighting laws in Texas and makes it illegal to own or operate a facility for cockfighting; possess birds with the intent to fight; own cockfighting equipment; or attend a cockfight
HB 2471, also known as the “Good Samaritan bill” because it limits the civil liability of people who obtain or provide medical care and treatment for lost and abandoned animals
HB1103, which will require those guilty of animal cruelty pay a fee for community supervision which would go to local animal shelters
SB 279, which includes pets in protective orders in cases of domestic violence was signed back in May and takes effect September 1

The next legislative session in Texas will not be until 2013, but preparations are already under way. To support legislation that is truly animal-friendly, visit the THLN website and sign up for “Action Alerts” – or consider attending THLN’s 2011 conference, September 23 and 24 in Houston, where you can learn about the latest legislative issues affecting animals in Texas, network with animal welfare advocates from across the state, and find out how to help your organization be more effective in your efforts to promote animal protection.

For more information on these bills, visit the THLN website.