Some of the humane animal shelter regulations which THLN helped establish include: Humane regulations for non-quarantine animal shelters. Prior to 1989, most shelters across the state had no regulations addressing feeding, cleaning, veterinary care, or separation of animals during impoundment as to species, size, or whether an animal ...
THLN worked closely with the Texas Animal Control Association and the Humane Society of the United States in passing HB 1043 to strengthen the cockfighting laws in Texas. In addition to cockfighting itself, HB 1043 outlaws promoting a cockfight; allowing one's property to be used for a cockfight; training fighting birds; and attending...
THLN successfully opposed the proposed regulation of "dangerous" pets (SB 349, 2007). The subject bill was far too broad and gave no criteria for what is or is not a dangerous pet. The "dangerous" designation would have been left to the discretion of the county commissioners' court and could have lead to abuses of power and to breed ...
THLN was instrumental in getting dog fighting outlawed in the state as well as later strengthening the statute to increase penalties for various offenses.
Since 1949, Texas law has prohibited the sale, possession and transportation of horse meat for human consumption, yet for decades this law was ignored as two foreign-owned plants slaughtered thousands of Texas horses annually for horse meat consumption overseas. The plants operated in Fort Worth (Beltex) and Kaufman (Dallas Crown). A...
Horse tripping is the horrific practice of roping the front or hind legs of a full-on galloping horse and causing it to trip and come crashing to the ground, all for the purposes of entertainment or sport (www.ahdf.org). THLN successfully advocated for the addition of an amendment to the state Animal Cruelty Statute which effectively ...
The Pet Evacuation Bill (HB 88, passed in 2007) requires that all companion and service animals be included in evacuation plans in the event of a natural disaster. Previously, evacuees had to either abandon their pets or leave them at local emergency shelters during natural disasters. About the Legislation HB 88 The Pet Evacuati...
In 2011 the Texas Humane Legislation Network was instrumental in passing HB 1451, which licenses and regulates large scale commercial dog and cat breeders. The Dog and Cat Breeder Act provides basic protections for tens of thousands of dogs and cats confined and raised in large scale breeding facilities by requiring humane housing and...
THLN's work on this bill (SB 254, passed in 2007) helped tighten up regulations governing roadside sales of live animals. Prior to 2007, commissioners' courts in counties with a population of 2.2 million or more were authorized to regulate the sale of animals on a public highway or road, in the right-of-way of a public highway or road...
THLN BILL: SB 360 - Relating to methods used by an animal shelter to euthanize a dog or cat ("The Gassing Bill"). This bill prohibited the use of the gas chamber as a method of euthanasia in shelters, requiring euthanasia by injection on shelter dogs and cats. THIS BILL PASSED BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND WAS SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR ON...
