Police officer-dog encounters sometimes go awry, especially when officers have too little training on ways to handle situations that keep both officers and pets safe. According to the Austin American-Statesman, after two controversial dog shootings in 2014, the Round Rock police department began to offer a new program called BARK (Be A...
In late October of 2016, San Antonio police were called to the home of a foster who was supposed to be taking care of a young lab mix named Trooper. Although THLN is still learning about this case, we know that Trooper was found deceased in the foster’s bathtub. We also know that the San Antonio Police Department stayed in the foster h...
Apart from a few Texas lawmakers most people agree tethering animals outdoors without basic protections from weather, and without adequate care and exercise, is inhumane. And while states around the country work to pass their own versions of inhumane tethering legislation, some animal protection groups are keeping it local.
LA’s City Attorney told reporters recently that charges, fines, and jail time were a possibility for people leaving their animals in a parked car in the heat. "The facts are so clear: It takes just 15 minutes for an animal to suffer brain damage when temperatures soar on a hot summer day in a parked vehicle," he said. "Cracking a windo...
Our state’s second-largest newspaper didn’t just write a wonderful article about the animal cruelty bill we passed in the Legislature this session. The Houston Chronicle named THLN in the second paragraph of this story as the organization whose work with DA offices across Texas resulted in the passage of the bill! “Senate Bill 762 is ...
“This was an outcome that no one wanted.” – Minneapolis Police Chief Janee Harteau on the shooting of two emotional support dogs. This past weekend in Minneapolis, a police officer responding to a home security alarm entered the backyard of the LeMay household and shot the family’s two dogs, Ciroc and Rocko.
It's summer and Texas is HOT.We love this tip for testing the pavement when walking your dogs, courtesy of the Moon Valley Canine Training Center in Sonoma, Calif.The five-second rulePlace the back of your hand on the pavement. If you can't keep it there for five seconds, it's too hot to walk your dog. If you didn't know about this r...
On July 7th (online) and July 9th the Fort Worth Star Telegram's Anna Tinsley blogged about our success this session for animals! As Anna shared: "Don’t mess with Texas animals. That’s the message state lawmakers sent when they passed — and Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law — a measure to crack down on anyone in this state who torture...
Sunday marked the last day Governor Abbott could sign or veto a bill, and as you may have heard, Senate Bill 762 - our bill to address violent animal cruelty - was signed!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Governor Signs Bill to Strengthen Animal Cruelty Laws: SB 762 Will Increase Punishment for Offenses Such as Torture, Killing and Poisoning Austin, TX (June 10, 2017) – Last night, Gov. Greg Abbott signed legislation that would increase the punishment for violent animal cruelty offenses and address loopholes that h...
