OPPOSE SB634 & HB2001

SB 634 Author: Seliger and HB 2001 Author: McCall (Companion)
SB 634 is in the Criminal Justice committee
Caption:     Relating to the unlawful restraint of a dog.
OPPOSE: Would prohibit tethering or trolley runs under any condition, mandates 150 sf kennel size, does not allow dogs to be outside unattended at all even in a fenced yard (hunting dogs are not exempt). Requirements will result in more dogs at large and therefore dog bites, as well as more dogs being surrendered or impounded and destroyed.

TALKING POINTS:

• The state law passed in 2007 already requires safe and humane tethering practices.

• Some dogs are happier and safer when tethered correctly than when crated, kenneled or left alone in a fenced yard. Some dogs will injure themselves by chewing on or digging out of kennels and crates.
• This bill is detrimental to hunting kennels, which have always used tethers to safely confine their working dogs. These working dogs would be anxious and unhappy in kennels or crates.
• A 10 foot long tether provides 314 square feet of space, which is superior to the 150 square foot kennel specified in SB 634 and HB 2001.
• This law requires 150 square feet of kennel space for any dog over 6 months of age in Texas when the Texas prison system only requires 40 square feet for inmates.
• Each dog is an individual, and a few are escape artists. Most urban areas have a problem with dogs running at large, so why take away a method that can keep dogs safely confined?
• When we see 100 dogs or cats crammed into a filthy house, it doesn’t mean that most indoor pets are abused. Any confinement method can be abusive when taken to extremes. Let’s focus resources on people who are abusing animals instead of punishing people who properly care for their tethered dogs.
• The standard size for off-the-shelf kennels is 100 square feet, making 150 square foot kennels an unreasonable burden. Low income people and the elderly, who do not have the means build new fences and kennels, will be unfairly targeted by this law.
• How many dogs will be turned loose or left alone with inadequate fencing and allowed to escape? Owners who cannot pay the fines for violating the tethering ban will be forced to give up their dogs. The vast majority of the dogs surrendered or impounded under this law will be destroyed because there simply are not enough homes willing to adopt large-breed adult dogs.
• The popular opinion is that tethered dogs are more likely to bite people. Aggression is caused by many factors including genetics, lack of socialization and abuse, and these conditions can exist in a yard, a kennel or inside a home.

Please write your brief and respectful letters & faxes and call to the members of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee. If you are a constituent please say so!

SENATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE

Chair:    Sen. John Whitmire
Vice Chair:    Sen. Kel Seliger
Sen. John Carona
Sen. Rodney Ellis
Sen. Glenn Hegar
Sen. Juan Hinojosa
Sen. Dan Patrick

The Honorable Glenn Hegar
P.O. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711
(512) 463-0118
(512) 475-3736 (Fax)

The Honorable Dan Patrick
P.O. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711
(512) 463-0107
(512) 463-8810 (Fax

he Honorable Rodney G. Ellis
P.O. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711
(512) 463-0113
(512) 463-0006 (fax)

The Honorable Kel Seliger
P.O. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711
(512) 463-0131
(512) 475-3733 fax

The Honorable John Whitmire
P.O. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711
(512) 463-0115   FAX: (713) 864-5287

The Honorable John Carona
P.O. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711
(512) 463-0116
Fax: (512) 463-3135

The Honorable Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa
P.O. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711
(512) 463-0120
(512) 463-0229 Fax

HB 2001 is in the House County Affairs Committee: It is just as important to send your letters to these members:

HOUSE COUNTY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Clerk:  Revlynn Lawson
Phone: (512) 463-0760

Chair:    Rep. Garnet Coleman
Vice Chair:    Rep. Geanie Morrison
Members:
Rep. Leo Berman
Rep. Valinda Bolton
Rep. Joaquin Castro
Rep. John Davis
Rep. Marisa Marquez
Rep. Ralph Sheffield
Rep. Wayne Smith

Rep. Garnet Coleman (chair)
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist147/coleman.php
Capitol Office: CAP GW.17
Capitol Address:      P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0524 FAX: (512) 463-1260
District Address:      5445 Alameda, Suite 501
Houston, TX 77004
District Phone: (713) 520-5355

Rep. Geanie Morrison (Vice Chair)
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist30/morrison.php
Capitol Office: CAP GN.11
Capitol Address:      P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0456  FAX:  (512) 476-3933
District Address:      1501 East Mockingbird,, Suite 101
Victoria, TX 77903
District Phone: (361) 572-0196

Rep. Leo Berman
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist6/welcome.htm
Capitol Office: EXT E2.908
Capitol Address:      P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0584    FAX (512) 463-3217
District Address:      P.O. Box 6028
Tyler, TX 75711
District Phone: (903) 939-2400

Rep. Valinda Bolton
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist47/bolton.php
Capitol Office: EXT E2.716
Capitol Address:      P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0652   FAX (512) 463-0565
District Address:      P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78701
District Phone: (512) 463-0652

Rep. Joaquin Castro
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist125/castro.php
Capitol Office: EXT E1.302
Capitol Address:      P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0669   FAX (512) 463-5074
District Address:      6502 Bandera, Suite 106
San Antonio, TX 78238
District Phone: (210) 684-6896

Rep. John E. Davis
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist129/davis.php
Capitol Office: CAP 4S.4
Capitol Address:      P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0734   FAX (512) 479-6955
District Address:      1350 NASA Parkway,, Suite 212
Houston, TX 77058
District Phone: (281) 333-1350

Rep. Marisa Marquez
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist77/marquez.php
Capitol Office: EXT E2. 704
Capitol Address:      P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0638    FAX (512) 463-8908
District Address:      P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
District Phone:

Rep. Ralph Sheffield
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist55/sheffield.php
Capitol Office: EXT E1.422
Capitol Address:      P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0630  FAX (512)322-9054
District Address:      3000 S. 31st Street, Suite 505
Temple, TX 76502
District Phone: (254) 774-9888

Rep. Wayne Smith
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist128/smith.php
Capitol Office: EXT E2.214
Capitol Address:      P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0733   FAX  (512) 463-1323
District Address:      909 Decker Drive,, Suite 104
Baytown, TX 77520
District Phone: (832) 556-2002