Animal Owner Abuse

Even though we live in Georgia, our local animal shelter manager sent Jan an email on Texas Bill HB 1046 and since we read her mail (shhhh, don't tell!), we're going to share it with you. We know most of you don't live in Texas either but we can guess this type of animal owner abuse could happen in any state. And by extension, it is also a form of animal abuse. If you think otherwise, wait until this type of dishonorable animal confiscation affects you or someone you know. We are 100% against actual animal abuse -- and owner abuse!

John Stossel did a segment on the ABC News Documentary 20/20.

"Cruelty to Owners," Part 1


"Cruelty to Owners," Part 2



We hope you noted at the end a clear distinction was made between these independent SPCA groups and the ASPCA. The independents are not affliliated with the ASPCA, but whenever they make a highly publicized "raid," donations to the independent group go up.

HB 1046 allows for due process of the law and prohibits unscrupulous animal rights groups from denying the rights of animal owners in these cruelty cases. Many times these animal rights groups step way beyond the realm of cruelty as defined by Texas law in an effort to seize animals for their own financial gain or to satisfy their thirst for spiteful revenge. They prey on judges that are ill prepared to determine if cruelty has even been committed in an effort to get warrants for search and seizure. Unfortunately these animal rights groups portray themselves as experts in defining cruelty and convince the judges to go along with their suggested search and seizure.

There is currently no protection from the courts that allow the accused to prove his or her innocence. This is a shame and a disgrace for our judicial system. This leaves us with a one sided demon that opens the door for abuse at the highest level of our government.

Support HB 1046. Because as it stands right now in Texas, there is a hearing but not a trial.
1) If the judge turns animals over to an animal shelter or orders euthanasia, there is no appeal.
2) Judges are human and therefore imperfect. There needs to be a safety net.
3) The law requires an appeal bond to take care of the animals; therefore local governments will not be saddled with high appeal costs.
4) Hard to place animals (such as large dogs, older animals) have a high probability of being euthanized after the hearing.
5) If a cruelty case is strong and well documented, we should not fear allowing the defendants a chance to appeal.

HB 1046 is scheduled for a hearing in the Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee
2:00 PM or upon final adjourn./recess
Monday, March 16, 2009
PLACE: E2.010, State Capitol, Austin

If you can't attend the hearing, you can still call Monday before the meeting -- it's too late to write! -- and let the members of the Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee know you do not support animal abuse, but you do support this bill to help protect both animals and owners from a gestapo-type seizure and disposal of animals that are not being abused. And you want them to support HB 1046! Please be brief and respectful.

Representatives Email add area code 512- PHONE/FAX
Todd Hunter (Chair) todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us 463-0672/463-2101
Bryan Hughes (Vice-Chair) bryan.hughes@house.state.tx.us 463-0271/463-1515
Roberto Alonzo roberto.alonzo@house.state.tx.us 463-0408/463-1817
Dan Branch dan.branch@house.state.tx.us 463-0367/322-9935
Will Hartnett will.hartnett@house.state.tx.us 463-0576/463-7827
Jim Jackson jim.jackson@house.state.tx.us 463-0468/463-1044
David Leibowitz david.leibowitz@house.state.tx.us 463-0269/320-0555
Tryon Lewis tryon.lewis@house.state.tx.us 463-0546/463-8067
Jerry Madden jerry.madden@house.state.tx.us 463-0544/463-9974
Armando “Mando”Martinez mando.martinez@house.state.tx.us 463-0530/463-0849
Beverly Woolley beverly.woolley@house.state.tx.us 463-0696/463-9333