Texas Mandatory Spay/Neuter Bills Introduced

[Monday, March 16, 2009]
Two mandatory spay/neuter bills have been filed in the Texas Legislature. House Bill 4277, sponsored by Representative Jose Menendez of San Antonio, and Senate Bill 1845, sponsored by Senator Leticia Van de Putte also of San Antonio, will require that all dogs over six months of age be sterilized. The American Kennel Club (AKC) and its Texas federation of owners, the Responsible Pet Owners Alliance (RPOA), believe that any attempt at restricting the rights and liberties of responsible breeders–especially via mandatory spay/neuter laws–must be defeated. If adopted, these bills will have a profound negative impact not only on responsible dog breeders in Texas, but also on all current and prospective dog owners. Therefore, it is vital that all responsible dog breeders and all concerned dog owners in Texas, as well as anyone worried about such radical policy, contact their elected state legislatives as well as the bills’ sponsors and respectfully let them know that these draconian measures are unreasonable, unenforceable, and unacceptable.

The American Kennel Club opposes the concepts of breeding permits, breeding bans, or the mandatory spay/neuter of purebred dogs. Instead, AKC supports reasonable and enforceable laws that protect the welfare and health of purebred dogs and do not restrict the rights of breeders and owners who take their responsibilities seriously. Additionally, we strongly support and actively promote a wide range of programs to educate the public about responsible breeding practices and the responsibilities of dog ownership.

As currently written, HB 4277 and SB 1845 would:

Require every person who owns a dog or cat at least six months of age to have the animal spayed or neutered.
Provide few exceptions, including one for owners of a dog or cat who purchase an intact animal permit at a cost of $300 per intact animal.
Make each violation of this law a class C misdemeanor, liable for fines up to $500 per violation.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:

All concerned responsible dog breeders and owners in Texas, as well as all other concerned Texas residents, are strongly encouraged to write their elected state legislators as well as the bills’ sponsors. Let them know that mandatory spay/neuter bills are radical and unacceptable and will have a profound negative impact upon the state of Texas.

To find out who represents you in the Texas House of Representatives, click here. For a customizable sample letter to send to your representative, click here.

To find out who represents you in the Texas State Senate, click here. For a customizable sample letter to send to your senator, click here.

House Bill 4277 Sponsor Representative Jose Menendez
Capitol Office: EXT E2.204
Capitol Address:
P.O. Box 2910
Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78768
PHONE: (512) 463-0634
FAX: (512) 463-7668
To write Representative Menendez via e-mail, click here for an e-mail form.

District Address:
7121 US Hwy. 90 West, Suite 240
San Antonio, TX 78227
PHONE: (210) 673-3579
FAX: (210) 673-3816

Senate Bill 1845 Sponsor Leticia Van De Putte
Capitol Office: EXT E1.704
Capitol Address:
P.O. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711
PHONE: (512) 463-0126
TOLL FREE: 1 (888) 279-0648
FAX: (512) 463-2114
To write Senator Van De Putte via e-mail, click here for an e-mail form.
District Address:
700 N. St. Mary’s Street, Suite 1725
San Antonio, TX 78205
PHONE: (210) 733-6604
FAX: (210) 733-6605

For a copy of the AKC’s Disagree Diplomatically brochure, please click here.

The AKC Government Relations Department will continue to monitor the consideration of HB 4277 and SB 1845 and will notify the purebred dog community when these bills are assigned to a committee. Contact information for committee members will be provided and purebred dog owners should express their strong opposition to these bills to their respective committee members at that time.

For more information, please contact AKC’s Government Relations Department at (919) 816-3720, or e-mail doglaw@akc.org; or contact the Responsible Pet Owners Alliance at (210) 822-6763, at www.responsiblepetowners.org, or at rpoa@texas.net.

This is the link to write letters and get other information! They already passed this in Dallas. It can happen!

http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=3769

Yes this is very bad. Any help you all can provide to make us stronger is much appreciated!!!

Thank you to RPOA for organizing this day. I look forward to seeing a huge number of Texans at the State Capitol on the 8th.

TX-RPOA E-News
From RPOA Texas Outreach and
Responsible Pet Owners Alliance
"Animal welfare, not animal 'rights'
and, yes, there is a difference."
Permission granted to crosspost.


March 14, 2009
Have you made appointments with your legislators for "Responsible Pet Owners
Lobby Day" Wednesday, April 8th in Austin?

If not, do so Monday! Your legislators can be found on the Texas State
Legislature website:
www.capitol.state.tx.us in a search box on the lower right side. Be sure to
ask them how much time you will have for the appointment. Email Jacque at
our office jacque15@att.net with your name and your legislator's name for
our records. We expect a great turnout!

Responsible Pet Owners Alliance has reserved Room 210 in the Sam Houston
Building adjacent to the Capitol Building from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm. Maps
for the Capitol Complex and other areas will be on our website soon.
www.rpoatexasoutreach.org

We'll have some opening remarks at 10:00 am from our lobbyists, attorneys
and other leaders. If you can't get there that early, it doesn't matter as
we'll have someone in the room until 2:00 pm distributing information.
Material to give your legislator is being developed and suggested dialogue
will be on our website soon if you don't know what to say. This is not a
"breeder" issue. It is a pet issue because of the radical "animal rights"
agenda to end all breeding and ownership of animals. It is anti-pet
legislation and should be addressed that way.

We're having some RPOA buttons made with our circle logo of red hearts in
the middle so we should stand out.

Plans are being finalized so mark your calendars, make your appointments and
spread the word! No animals allowed. More details later.

Arrangements are being made for "Uno," the personable Beagle that won Best
In Show at Westminster last year to participate in Lobby Day. Let's hope it
works out.
"Uno" met with Governor Rick Perry for two hours last year. The governor
owns a Dachshund and loves hounds, he said.
"Uno" and his "owner" (not guardian!) are RPOA members, we're proud to say.
"Uno" recently donated $2,500 from his Purina Pro money to match American
Dog Breeders Association's Challenge Donation of $2,500!
Our members are the greatest. See you in Austin!

RPOA Texas Outreach (501 C4)
Responsible Pet Owners Alliance (501 C3)
900 NE Loop 410 #311-D
San Antonio, TX 78209
Website: www.responsiblepetowners.org
$15 Annual dues (January - December)
To subscribe or unsubscribe,e-mail rpoa@texas.net.

If you'll write up a letter or statement of protest, or point me to a link for one, I'll happily send it to the legislators.

I am not good at writing these sort of things but please someone do write one so we all can sign it.

thank you

Copy and paste this link and the AKC has a link to a letter there.

http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=3769

If it can happen in Texas, it can happen anywhere. Grab your pens and write something in support of our hobby. Gina has done the hard part and given you links. PETA and HSUS are everywhere and they want to get rid of all of us.....permanently.