TX HB 2833- Please Support, working dogs!

[uglydog]

LSWDA Working Dog Preservation Bill Proposal
.by LonestarWorking DogAssociation on Monday, February 21, 2011 at 1:57pm.

Permission is granted to crosspost:

Hello everyone,

Lance Falzone, LSWDA Charter Member, has been doing a lot of research on bill writing as well as bills that were brought forward in the last legislative session that will be brought forward again, more than likely, in this legislative session. After seeing all of this transpire, Lance and LSWDA thought it would benefit the working dogs of our great state better to be more pro-active than re-active, therefore, trying to get a Bill on the floor that exempts working dogs and their owners from all the crazy pet Bills the antis are trying to get put in place. This Bill proposal is geared more toward the performance basis of working dogs than the breed to encompass all dogs that work. Lance and LSWDA have put together a Bill proposal and Lance has been in contact with Representative Aycock's Chief of Staff. We are hoping that they pick it up and sponsor it and get it on the floor for this session. We feel that the more people that get behind this Bill proposal and push it to their own Representatives as well as passing the word to other working dog organizations and owners, the more noise and pressure we can apply, the more likely we can get it looked at and a possibility of getting it sponsored or co-sponsored and hopefully pushed through. We need your help to get this ball rolling. As of today, this Bill proposal is being looked at by 3 seperate State Representatives. We have high hopes of this making it into this legislative session!!




LSWDA is making it very easy for you all to help us with this. Everything you will need to submit this Bill proposal to your State Representative is on the main page of our website

http://www.lswda.org/

There is a link to find your representative, a copy of the Bill proposal for you to send, as well as a form letter that each of you can adjust to fit you....we also included the AKC PDF on "How to Contact Your State Representative". All of this can be found in one area and is just a click away!!We need all working dog owners to help, so PLEASE check it out!!!



If the Bill is picked up and sponsored, we will let all of you know who the sponsor or co-sponsors are as well as the Bill #.



LSWDA, Lance, and myself extend our thanks in advance for your help with this. We feel that all working dog owners can benefit from this proposal. Let's be pro-active for once and not re-active!!





The Form Letter:

The Honorable (legislator's name)

His/her address

City, State, Zip



Dear Sen/Rep Name:



Recently, a bill was submitted by Army SSgt. Lance Falzone of Copperas Cove, TX, who is currently on deployment in Iraq to Texas House Representative Jimmie Don Aycock (District 54) relating to the classification and care of working dogs (Please see attached proposed bill).



There are many working dog owners, including those who own dogs that provide an unselfish beneficial service for the public; such as dogs used for police, military, search and rescue, service assistance animals, wounded game recovery, tending, locating, working, or protecting stock that would be positively impacted by this legislation.

I feel that this proposed bill would unshackle selflessness working dog owners from legislation meant to restrict pet dog breeders whose primary initiative is monetary gain. Furthermore, I believe this proposed bill would lift unnecessary restrictions from working dogs owners so that they may continue raising and training working animals used to fill needed, critical, and vital positions that are proven to provide an essential valuable service to and for the general public.

I am urging you to please support this proposed bill.



Thank you for your consideration.



Sincerely,

You’re Name

Your Address

Your Phone Number

Working Dog Preservation Bill



By:___________White____ ____.B. NO. _____2833___

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT

relating to the classification and care of working dogs



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:



SECTION 1.

DEFINITION. In this Act a “working dog” means:

(1) A dog used primarily for the purpose of driving, tending, locating,

working, or protecting stock to include domestic and feral stock, swine and exotics;

(2) A dog used for police, military, substance detection, protection, search, rescue or recovery purposes;

(3) A dog used as a service, assistance or therapy animal;

(4) A dog used to locate, retrieve, or capture an animal, or used in the

recovery of wounded or dead animals;

(5) A dog that is in training for any of the above purposes;

(6) The definition does not rely upon where the dog lives, or it’s breed,

but its primary use;



SECTION 2.

A dog that is defined as a “working dog” is not considered a

pet and will be exempt from laws intended to apply to pets.



(2) A working dog will not be subject to laws:

(a) Requiring mandatory spay or neuter;

(b) Restricting or requiring permits for the number of animals an owner

may possess, regardless of reproductive status;

(c) Restricting how the dog may be housed;

(d) Requiring additional insurance due to weight, breed, sex, or

reproductive status is of the dog;

(e) Restricting breeds that may be kept by the owner.

SECTION 3. Section 42.09, Penal Code applies to the care of working dogs.

SECTION 4. This act takes effect September 1, 2011.

[uglydog]

HB 2833
FRIENDS THis is Awesome news! Our Voices have been heard, and we now have an actuall BILL before legislation, THANKS TO YOU ALL WHO HAVE HELPED get HB 2833 to where it is now!

Lonestar Working Dog Association has also retained a lobbyist also supporting this, anybody want to help make donations to the lobbying of this bill can be done at www.lswda.org
for updates and responses from the lobbyist can be veiwed on the forum at http://lswda.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=18

Next Step is to keep at it and contact Your Senators and get this in the Senate as well!

Permission to Cross Post Granted!

[uglydog]

More Good News! HB 2833 also known as the Falzon/LSWDA working Dog Preservation Bill has made it over to the Agriculture and Livestock Comittee, Thats what LSWDA lobbyist wanted to happen. Your Support and contacts are still very important.

Texas has a pile of anti hunting working dog legislation starting to pile up here are a few of the highlights:
HB 998 will require $100,000.00 worth in surance for anybody owning a Male dog over 20lbs if not neutered along with many other things.

Legislation that would devastate the sporting dog community in Texas continues to pile up.

House Bills 998, 1451, and 2116 would enact severe restrictions on sporting dog owners and could force many respectable sporting dog kennels and breeders out of existence.

House Bill 998: Texas dog owners, and sportsmen nationwide, are already aware that this is a very dangerous bill. In fact, the bill received such a strong outpouring of opposition following its introduction that Fox News and many local news outlets all carried the story. The measure, introduced by Rep. Ruth McClendon (D- San Antonio), would require owners of unneutered male dogs weighing 20 or more pounds, that are not restrained at all times, to carry a minimum $100,000 insurance liability policy. It was recently assigned to the House Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence. Click here for more information.

House Bill 2116: This bill, introduced Rep. Garnet Coleman (D- Houston), would severely restrict an owner’s ability to keep their dog outdoors. The bill would prohibit all tethering of dogs while unattended. In addition, the bill would require all outdoor housing enclosures to have a minimum of 150 square feet of space for each dog.

It would also classify many sporting dog owners as “commercial breeders,” subjecting them to costly new regulations including housing, exercise, veterinary care, grooming, transportation, and more.

House Bill 1451: This legislation, introduced by Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D- Houston), would create a “commercial breeder” definition identical to that in HB 2116.

It would require “commercial breeders” (you are automatically a commercial breeder if you own over 11 females) to be licensed, inspected, and regulated by the Commission of Licensing and Regulation. The bill would require this Commission to enact costly new regulations for dog owners including strict housing guidelines, exercise requirements, mandatory veterinary exams, and many other requirements.

HB 1451 will be heard before the House Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee this coming Tuesday, March 15th. Click here for more information on the hearing.

[uglydog]

Lone Star Working Dog Assoc. reps will be testifying before the House Agriculture & Livestock Committee in favor of HB 2833 (Falzone/LSWDA Working Dog Preservation Bill) on Tuesday, April 12th, beginning at 8am. You can show your support of this bill by contacting the members of this committee by phone or fax and ask them to SUPPORT HB 2833. I have included a copy of the HB 2833 as well as a copy of the committee members. It only takes a few minutes, but the outcome can last a lifetime! Please share this with others.

By: White H.B. No. 2833

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the classification and care of working dogs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act a "working dog" means:
(1) A dog used primarily for the purpose of driving,
tending, locating, working, or protecting stock to include domestic
and feral stock, swine and exotics;
(2) A dog used for police, military, substance
detection, protection, search, rescue or recovery purposes;
(3) A dog used as a service, assistance or therapy
animal;
(4) A dog used to locate, retrieve, or capture an
animal, or used in the recovery of wounded or dead animals;
(5) A dog that is in training for any of the above
purposes;
(6) The definition does not rely upon where the dog
lives, or its breed, but its primary use;
SECTION 2. A dog that is defined as a "working dog" is not
considered a pet and will be exempt from laws intended to apply to
pets.
(2) A working dog will not be subject to laws:
(a) Requiring mandatory spay or neuter;
(b) Restricting or requiring permits for the number of
animals an owner may possess, regardless of reproductive status;
(c) Restricting how the dog may be housed;
(d) Requiring additional insurance due to weight, breed,
sex, or reproductive status of the dog;
(e) Restricting breeds that may be kept by the owner.
SECTION 3. Section 42.09, Penal Code applies to the care of
working dogs.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.

Webpage link & Committee Member:

http://www.house.state.tx.us/committees ... session=81


Rep. Rick Hardcastle (Chair)
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
(512) 463-0526
(512) 463-6003 Fax


Rep. Charles Anderson (Vice Chair)
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
(512) 463-0135
(512) 463-0642 Fax


Rep. Charlie Howard
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
(512) 463-0710
(512) 463-0711 Fax


Rep. Bryan Hughes
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
(512) 463-0271
(512) 463-1515 Fax


Rep. Jason Isaac
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
(512) 463-0647
(512) 463-3573 Fax


Rep. Tim Kleinschmidt
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
(512) 463-0682
(512) 463-9955 Fax


Rep. Jim Landtroop
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
(512) 463-0604
(512) 463-5244 Fax


Rep. Jose Manuel Lozano
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
(512) 463-0463
(512) 463-1765 Fax


Rep. Borris Miles
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
(512) 463-0518
(512) 463-0941 Fax