 |
|
THIS IS A ROTTWEILER ISSUE! The apparent focus of this legislation is to allow legislation that focuses on the ownership of Rottweilers specifically. Peter Piusz REMEMBER WHEN CONTACTING OFFICALS, A LETTER IS MORE POWERFUL THAN A FAX THAT IS MORE POWERFUL THAN EMAIL. SO PLEASE MAKE THE EXTRA EFFORT. This email is a blend of source material from Lew Olsen & Jeff Shaver in Texas and the AKC Legislative Department. From Lew & Jeff: "The house bill author, Rep Al Edwards has stated and been quoted in the newspapers that he wants to ban specifically Pit Bulls and Rottweilers. He carries witnesses to these meeting who have lost loved ones to both breeds in Texas. This is a cry of help, a desperate cry of help
and I hope the ARC will pull through for us. We have contacted
many of the Senators and I am corresponding with Senator
Ellis's senate aid. We have contacted the Houston Chronicle trying
to get a reporter (who is interested) in writing an exposé of
this bill's real intent. This bill will set a precedent if
passed, and it will come to your states next, so please, please
help us here in Texas!" From the AKC: Attention Texas dog owners! Rep. Al Edwards of Houston is sponsored HB1096, a bill which would exempt any cities with a population of over 1.9 million from the current state law prohibiting breed-specific legislation. (Currently this includes the City of Houston only, but rapid growth in Dallas and San Antonio means these cities would be included in the near future.) Passage of the bill would immediately permit eligible cities to enact dangerous dog laws that ban or restrict certain breeds. HB1096 passed through the House quickly and has now been referred in the Senate. Help is needed urgently to stop this legislation! Some dog owners (and indeed even some legislators) have been misled by HB1096 as it does not outrightedly state that populous cities will be allowed to pass BSL. Instead, the bill reads, "Subchapter D [in existing state law] does not apply to a municipality subject to [HB1096]." Subchapter D in Texas' current law prohibits cities from passing laws that deems dogs dangerous based on their breed. Therefore, HB1096 establishes that cities with populations over 1.9 million would be allowed to enact breed-specific legislation. That threshold could easily be lowered in the future to encompass more and more municipalities. The American Kennel Club understands legislators' desire to keep communities safe for both people and dogs, and we strongly support reasonable, enforceable dangerous dog laws designed to do just that. In fact, we support strong enforcement of Texas' current dangerous dog statute, which precludes labeling a dog dangerous based on breed alone. Clear guidelines to manage dangerous dogs, public education campaigns about responsible dog ownership, and strong enforcement of leash laws can all help prevent dog bites and other canine-related accidents from occurring. Conversely, banning or restricting certain breeds-as HB1096 permits-will do little to promote public safety. Texas' current dangerous dog law forces all dog owners to be responsible regardless of the breed they own. Residents will best be protected by stronger enforcement of this law, rather than by passage of the arbitrary, expensive new legislation outlined in HB1096. Please help oppose this misguided measure! What You Can Do: HB1096 will likely be assigned to the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, where a companion bill (SB1111) already resides. Dog owners should immediately contact the committee members below, as well as their own Senators and Representatives, and ask them to oppose both HB1096 and SB1111. Your voice is especially important if you are a constituent of a committee member! To find out who represents you, visit: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/fyi/fyi.htm. BE SURE EVERY DOG OWNER AND DOG-LOVER YOU KNOW IN TEXAS SHOULD KNOW THIS IS HAPPENING. THEY SHOULD BE WRITING LETTERS AND TALKING ABOUT IT. IF YOU ONE WRITE ONE LETTER, WRITE TO THE COMMITTEE CLERK, CARLEY ROSE. ASKED TO BE "REGISTERED IN OPPOSITION TO SB 1111". FOR POINTS TO MAKE IN YOUR LETTER, SEE BELOW.
Senate Criminal Justice Committee members: Vice-Chair: Senator Kel Seliger Senator John Carona Senator Rodney Ellis Senator Juan Hinojosa Senator Steve Ogden Senator Tommy Williams Texas dog owners should also contact Rep. Al
Edwards (sponsor of HB1096) and Senator Rodney Ellis (sponsor of
SB1111) immediately to express their concerns regarding these
bills. Senator Rodney Ellis Points to Consider When Writing:
AKC's Canine Legislation department |
|
Peter
Piusz, Delegate of the American Rottweiler Club
|