During the legislative session, those profiting off puppy mills fought hard to lift the pet store bans, but failed, and the Houston pet store ordinance remains intact. In addition, the roadside sales ban on animals in Houston and Harris County was also in jeopardy, but it was also saved. So how is Petland Bellaire still selling puppie...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE House Bill 2127 Updates for Texas Cities & Municipalities LEGISLATION UPDATE, August 31, 2023: HB 2127 was deemed unconstitutional on August 31, 2023. Texas Cities challenged this new law in court, and the Judge ordered that the motion for summary judgment by the cities is granted and declared that HB 2127...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Four New Bills Promoting Animal Welfare Pass into Law AUSTIN, Texas – On June 18, four historic animal welfare bills passed into law. During this legislative session, the Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN) pushed for all four bills: SB 876, HB 4164, HB 3660, and HB 598. “As the only Texas-based, Texas-fund...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Texas Legislature Puts the Bite on Fake Service Dogs AUSTIN, Texas – During the 88th Regular Session, the Texas Legislature passed HB 4164, authored by Representative Phillip Cortez (D-San Antonio) and sponsored by Senator John Whitmire (D-Houston). HB 4164 increases the fines for individuals attempting to masq...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE T-N-R programs control outdoor cat populations in a safe and humane way. AUSTIN, Texas – Today, May 19, HB 3660, by Representative Cody Vasut and Senator Judith Zaffirini, officially heads to Governor Abbott's desk after passing the Senate 31-0 this week and passing in the House in late April. Currently, there is ...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE After passing the House and Senate, HB 598 now heads to the Governor’s Desk. AUSTIN, Texas – HB 598 by Representative Matt Shaheen (R-Plano) passed the Texas House and Senate and is on its way to Governor Abbott’s desk to be signed into law. The bill prevents previous perpetrators of animal cruelty from possessin...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SB 876 would strengthen the Texas Licensed Breeders Program and improve conditions for commercially-bred dogs and cats. AUSTIN, TX – This week, SB 876 by Senator Pete Flores (R-Pleasanton) passed out of the Senate on a vote of 22 to 8. The legislation now moves to the House. “We are so grateful to our bill author...
Editorial: A Houston pet store relies on inhumanely sourced puppies. Can Texas law stop them? Mention the name Jared Patterson, the Republican state representative from Frisco, and a dog’s well-being does not immediately Jack Russell to mind. The third-term lawmaker is most often associated with some of the more extreme proposals that...
The bill that would target "puppy mill" sales in Texas pet stores died in the 2021 legislative session. So the bill author is trying again. AUSTIN — Dogs and cats bred in so-called puppy or kitten mills could not be sold in retail pet stores in Texas' 24 largest counties under pending legislation that has united a conservative Republ...
T-N-R programs control the outdoor cat population without the unnecessary killing of the animals. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AUSTIN, Texas – On March 6, Senator Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) filed SB 1682 and Representative Cody Vasut (R-Angleton) filed HB 3660 to clarify that T-N-R programs in Texas are not considered abandonment under the T...
