Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN) - Promoting the humane treatment of animals through legislation, education and advocacy

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HB 1046 will change that and allow the owner to appeal the Municipal or Justice Court's decision and get an entirely new trial.  If this bill passes, city and county attorneys will have to try these cruelty cases twice, which will be very costly to the cities and counties and will make the seizure and disposition of cruelly treated animals by law enforcement officers much more difficult and much more expensive.  Many small towns and lesser populated counties (where starving horses and puppy mills most often are) will not have the resources to pursue these types of cases. 

Action Needed

This bill has been referred to the Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee in the House of Representatives.  We need to contact each member of that Committee and ask that they oppose HB 1046.

Talking Points

HB 1046 will make the seizure and disposition of cruelly treated animals by law enforcement officers much more difficult and much more expensive.

If this bill passes, many small towns and lesser populated counties (where starving horses and puppy mills most often are) will not have the resources to pursue these types of cases. 

Allowing appeals will cause additional expense to the cities and counties to keep and care for the animals during the appeal process which could last for months or even years.  Also during this time, the seized animals (which often total in the hundreds and are almost always malnourished and sick) will suffer longer and cannot be adopted or, when necessary, be euthanized.

Contact Information

The members of the Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee and their contact information is as follows:

Representatives                     Email                                       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

PLEASE CALL, WRITE/FAX OR EMAIL THEM AND ASK THAT THEY OPPOSE THE BILL.  ALSO ASK YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS TO DO THE SAME.  AS ALWAYS, PLEASE BE COURTEOUS AND POLITE WHEN COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR REPRESENTATIVES.

Issue Links: Animal Cruelty