HB 1046 has hearing monday – please call NOW

UPDATE: 3/20/2009 Thanks to Gary Hammonds and Tom Lundberg for representing our club and the EBA at the hearing in Austin on Monday. The committee has NOT voted yet. We need the committee to vote YES on HB1046 in order to move the bill forward. Please CALL AND/OR FAX the committee members below TODAY and ask them to SUPPORT HB 1046.

PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST

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

PETA has been spreading misinformation about this bill. It is critical that if you cannot attend the hearing in Austin, please call, fax or e-mail the committee members. Snail mail should be sent USPS Priority Mail to ensure that it arrives in time (you can send one envelope with copies letters to all members to the below address).

For more information on this bill please see:
http://lsspbc.com/blog/2009/03/08/support-hb-1046-protects-animals-from-wrongful-seizure/

Here is a sample letter, followed by contact info for individual committee members:
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Hon. Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
Jennifer Welch, Clerk
EXT E2.120
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, Texas 78768

RE: SUPPORT HB 1046 and protect the rights of people and animals

Dear Chairperson Hunter, Vice Chair Hughes and Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence:

As a concerned animal owner, I support HB 1046, which would allow appeals in animal cruelty seizure cases.  Currently, if a judge turns animals over to an animal shelter or orders euthanasia, there is a hearing but not a trial, and there is no appeal.
* Judges are human and therefore imperfect. There needs to be a safety net.
* Hard to place animals (such as large dogs, older animals) have a high probability of being euthanized after the hearing because people do not want to adopt them.
* If a cruelty case is strong and well-documented, we should not fear allowing the defendants a chance to appeal.

Since the owner must post an appeal bond, local governments should not avoid seizing cruelly treated animals due to expense. Adding a time limit to the bill would further reduce burdens on local governments.

Please support HB 1046 and restore the system of checks and balances to our judicial system.

Sincerely,

(your name)
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Please contact the members of the Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee to tell them to SUPPORT HB 1046:   Particularly if you live in their district, let them know. 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