Registered: Jul 2003
Location: Texas
Posts: 4324

see note below in red
TX-RPOA E-News
>From RPOA Texas Outreach and
Responsible Pet Owners Alliance
"Animal welfare, not animal 'rights'
and, yes, there is a difference."
Crossposting is encouraged.
January 2, 2011

The next meeting of the new Licensed Breeder Committee of the Texas
Department of Licensing & Regulation (TDLR) is 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, January
4, 2012. All meeting information and agenda can be found at:
http://www.license.state.tx.us/bre/bre.htm

If there was ever any doubt as to the organizations and agenda behind the
misnamed Texas "Puppymill" Bill which passed last year, watch the December 7th archived meeting at the same link for HSUS and Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN) presence and input.

The Committee met to discuss and consider rules for the new licensed
dog and cat breeders program. During that meeting three documents were distributed and discussed including the initial draft of rules - all
available at the URL above, including a letter from the American Kennel
Club. As RPOA has reported earlier, TDLR had already written a draft for
the new committee which was presented to them at this meeting.

Texas HSUS state director Nicole Paquette was on hand to reiterate
emphatically that the USDA standards are the "floor" for HB 1451's rules
which can "far exceed" but "not be lower" than the federal regulations.

It doesn't bode well for Texas dog and cat breeders that some members of the Breeder Licensing Committee have strong ties to Texas Humane Legislation Network. To the uninitiated, THLN is the HSUS lapdog in Texas. Dr. Lori Teller, former president of Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) also serves on the committee. TVMA helped write, actively lobbied for and vocally supported the HSUS/THLN bill at all legislative hearings. Sherry Ferguson, committee member from the Houston Humane Society, wanted facility inspections to be unannounced because when HHS gives notice, she says animals can disappear.

TDLR General Counsel Charles Johnson informed the committee their input is recommendations only and non-binding. Johnson also said the "Intent" which is in the exemptions for breeding certain dogs will be defined on a case by case basis and falls back on enforcement since law has never been able to define "Intent." He said HB 1451 is not a criminal statute so it doesn't require a search warrant.

The Advisory Committee was divided into three work groups with four members in each group: Standards, Licensing and Compliance. Members could serve in more than one group. The work groups have been meeting via conference calls the past month without sharing their work.
So Wednesday will be the first meeting for all their recommendations to be put on the table.

Persons interested in these draft rules will have opportunity to submit
comments at the January meeting and after the rules are published in the
Texas Register.

Of special interest: TDLR Director Bill Kuntz said the legislature must
make some changes next session and Senator John Whitmire has publicly stated that he will bring the bill back if there are problems.

TDLR researched how Kansas, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Colorado and Oklahoma are enforcing their Breeder Licensing Programs and found that most states had their own inspectors on staff (not third party inspectors). TDLR has not made a decision yet on their RFP regarding same.

Colorado has a new board under Board of Veterinary Examiners, effective
2011, similar to Texas with more than 10 Intact Females but no offspring are included in the Breeder Definition. CO has 150 Licensed Breeders. TDLR
predicts between 500 and 700 future licensed breeders in Texas which is
preposterous. HB 1451 stipulates that fees to breeders must cover all costs of the bill. TDLR has been given a budget of $520,000 - $530,000 for starters.
..........................................................

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__________________
SKY
___________________
Author of the novel "Follow Jennifer"

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Registered: Jul 2003
Location: Texas
Posts: 4324

If PERRY becomes President, that will be the end of hounds & hunting.
Also -Obama supports the Federal PUPS Bill - also designed to eliminate the breeding of purebred dogs & cats, meaning INCREASED IMPORTATION of strays from Mexico and Puerto Rico to be sold at shelters.
YES - you are reading it correctly -Some Shelters are now selling $400 strays. Problem is that ASPCA/HSUS/PETA want you to believe there's a SURPLUS of dogs & cats so they can force spay/neuter on EVERYONE & eventually eliminate the breeding/ownership of all purebred animals.
Shelters are selling dogs not only from other STATES - but also those brought in from Puerto Rico and Mexico.
Could that be the reason there's been a recent case of Rabies on the east coast - where most of the strays from Puerto Rico are sold? Would YOU pay $400 for a stray from Puerto Rico? The general public DOES because of the false advertising pushed by HSUS and ASPCA.

__________________
SKY
___________________
Author of the novel "Follow Jennifer"

Last edited by skyblu on 01-03-2012 at 08:23 PM

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