There are quite a few proposed bills this year. Please take a look at the potential laws and contact your state rep and senator about them.
To find out who represents you, go to the capitol web site http://www.capitol.state.tx.us and look on lower right hand side for 'who represents me', type in information, and it will let you know state representative and senator. to read the specific bill content, use the same web site and type in the bill number where noted.
Senate Bill 279, co-sponsored by APA board president, State Representative Eddie Rodriguez, is similar to those laws in other states so the judge can order the animal to be included in the protective order in a domestic violence case. Often, the abuser is hurting the animal, too.
There are several other animal friendly bills filed thus far, including House Bill 1451 which would regulate commercial dog and cat breeders, and set standards of care, and House Bill 1043 to toughen the cock fighting law,House Bill 1102 which makes pet theft a crime, and House Bill 437 which requires a bittering agent to be placed in antifreeze, House Bill 963 which deals with criminally seized animals (the two sides have adjusted the bill and are now in agreement on support). House Bill 334 creates an advisory board on livestock care, House Bill 320 requires a heat sensor be placed in a K-9 Police unit. Please call your representatives and senators! It's time we brought Texas up to speed with other states which have stronger laws for the well being of their animals.
