TEXAS: WE WON THE FIRST ROUND ON HB 3180

From: Responsible Pet Owners Alliance Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 8:32 PM To: TX-RPOA@LISTSERV. TAMU.EDU Subject: TX HB 3180 Hearing held today TX-RPOA E-News From RPOA Texas Outreach and Responsible Pet Owners Alliance "Animal welfare, not animal 'rights' and, yes, there is a difference." April 1, 2009 It's no April Fool joke! We did good! Word just in from Martin Kralik (Lone Star Fox Terrier Club) who represented RPOA at the Committee Hearing in Austin today on HB 3180, the so-called "puppymill" bill, a misnomer if there ever was one. There was standing room only and it was mostly "our side." Thanks to all of you who took off work and went to Austin to stand up for your animals today! Four speakers were up first who supported the bill including Jay Sabatucci, HSUS state director and Robert "Skip" Trimble with Texas Humane Legislation Network. Skip Trimble set the lies in motion by saying 25% of dogs and cats in shelters are purebreds - that old HSUS line. Since RPOA has a statewide Rescue Program and we're in animal control facilities all the time we know that isn't true. Our side spoke for approximately two hours in opposition to the bill. Jeff Shaver, our commander-in-chief, was superb as usual and told the committee they were being lied to -- pointing the lies out individually. He hit 'em hard. Many of you couldn't go because of work but have been faxing, calling and emailing. So thanks to all of you. We WILL kill this bill. Any legislator that votes for it will commit political suicide in Texas. The bill is fundamentally flawed and can't be fixed with amendments. Keep telling them that! Now gear up for "Responsible Pet Owners Lobby Day" next Wednesday, April 8th. Information is on our website: www.rpoatexasoutreach.org Call your representative and senator for an appointment with them in their office. Then email Jacque at our office to give her your information: jacque15@att.net. RPOA Texas Outreach (501C4 Nonprofit) Responsible Pet Owners Alliance (501C3 Nonprofit) 900 NE Loop 410 #311-D San Antonio, TX 78209 $15 Annual dues (January - December) Click to subscribe or unsubscribe.