HB 3180, the so-called “Puppy Mill” bill has passed the House and is now in the Senate Criminal Justice Committee.
HB 3180 now has two amendments that are good, which the opposition has vowed to get rid of. We need to ensure that if the bill passes that we do not lose these amendments. These amendments will keep most dog show people and hunting kennels from being classified as commercial breeders. Unfortunately, even people who sell only one litter a year — if that — are still classified as “Dealers.”
Please write your brief and respectful letters & faxes and call the members of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee. If you are a constituent please say so! Check to see if you live in their districts here: http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/
Also call your own State Senator (even if he or she is not on the committee) and ask that he or she oppose HB 3180.
HB 3180 Talking Points:
- The people pushing this bill claim that it will not affect hobby breeders. It will impact anyone who is required to collect sales taxes (this means everyone) on the sale of their animals by classifying them as a Dealer.
- Brokers and Commercial Breeders who sell to pet shops are already governed by USDA regulations, and all pet owners in Texas are already governed by state animal cruelty laws.
- Who is going to pay to set up a new state commission and hire registered breeder inspectors during this severe economic downturn?
- This bill is fundamentally flawed and cannot be fixed with amendments.
SENATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE
The Honorable John Whitmire, Chair
P.O. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711
(512) 463-0115 FAX: 512-475-3737
DISTRICT: HOUSTON
The Honorable Kel Seliger, Vice Chair
P.O. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711
(512) 463-0131
(512) 475-3733 fax
DISTRICT: AMARILLO
The Honorable Glenn Hegar
P.O. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711
(512) 463-0118
(512) 475-3736 (Fax)
DISTRICT: KATY
The Honorable Dan Patrick
P.O. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711
(512) 463-0107
(512) 463-8810 FAX
DISTRICT: HOUSTON
he Honorable Rodney G. Ellis
P.O. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711
(512) 463-0113
(512) 463-0006 (fax)
DISTRICT: HOUSTON
The Honorable John Carona
P.O. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711
(512) 463-0116
Fax: (512) 463-3135
DISTRICT: DALLAS
The Honorable Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa
P.O. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711
(512) 463-0120
(512) 463-0229 Fax
DISTRICT: MCALLEN
on May 21st, 2009 at 11:32 pm
This is a really bad bill. Most breeders I know take excellant care of their animals. It’s just a bad one here and there that has everyone in an uproar. Put the bad ones in jail like they do in East Texas and all the others will shape up or get out of the business.