Tackling Tigers: Why the Big Cat Public Safety Act is Critical to Protecting Communities, Big Cats, and Ending Wildlife Trafficking in the U.S.

Texas is a hot spot for the private possession, breeding, and trafficking of big cats such as lions, tigers, and cheetahs. The problems flowing from private possession are myriad, including the threat to public safety, a lack of information about the number and location of big cats, and the attendant cruelty that results when big cats are owned by individuals who lack the expertise and resources to care for them properly. 

Outside of Texas, some states ban private ownership altogether, some regulate in part, and others have no regulation. In short, this regulatory patchwork fails to protect public safety and big cats. The problem requires a federal solution and the time to do it is NOW.

Please join us as Carney Anne Nasser-Garcia, an expert on big cat ownership, will explain how HR 263 - the Big Cat Public Safety Act - will protect the public, first responders, and big cats by prohibiting private ownership.

Carney Anne is the "go-to person in the country for laws about big cat ownership.” She became the second full-time animal law professor in the world when Michigan State University hired her to be the founding director of the law school’s animal law clinic. She is the attorney who pitched the wildlife trafficking case against notorious "Tiger King" Joe Exotic to federal prosecutors and investigators.

Nasser-Garcia is a frequent contributor to media outlets like National Geographic, Al Jazeera, Dr. Oz, The New York Times, and global wildlife meetings like the CITES treaty meetings. After over a decade working in academia and the nonprofit animal protection community, she now serves as an independent expert consultant for NGOs, government agencies, investigative journalists, and lawmakers and is about to embark on a one-year research fellowship in animal law and policy at Harvard University. She hosts a podcast called Tiger Talk which she takes listeners behind the scenes of the big cat trade through discussions with other experts in the protection and conservation of big cats.

Nasser-Garcia lives in New Orleans with her husband, three sons, and two grumpy rescued Shih Tzus.

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Pets are part of our families but they also are part of our divorces! Join Shelby Bobosky, Executive Director for the Texas Humane Legislation Network, and family law specialist Kathy Kinser Bates for an important discussion of pet issues that family lawyers have to recognize. This includes ensuring pets are included in protective orders, pet custodial issues once a marriage or relationship has dissolved and a look at the recent bills involving pets at the Texas Capitol.

Katherine A. Kinser, Kinser & Bates, LLP 

Equally adept in the courtroom and at the negotiation table, Katherine A. Kinser focuses her practice in the areas of complex marital property, child custody, and other family law matters. Whether in her trial practice or serving as a mediator, Ms. Kinser brings three decades of experience to bear addressing the intricacies and challenges of family law cases. Honored as the 2014 recipient of the prestigious Judge Sam Emison Award for outstanding contributions in the field of family law, Ms. Kinser has actively served in the family law community on local, state, and national levels. She is a frequent author and lecturer in continuing legal education seminars and works in a variety of capabilities regarding legislation affecting Texas children and families. Ms. Kinser is also known for her expertise regarding matrimonial law issues that impact professional athletes and their spouses.

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Calling all THLN volunteers and supporters in the Houston area! The time is finally here to start coming together *safely* in preparation for the 87th legislative session!

We invite you for a socially-distanced meet and greet with craft beer and cocktails at NettBar located at 4504 Nett St. (a few blocks west of Heights Blvd.) in Houston. Bring your dog (and mask) to meet the Chapter Presidents and Ambassadors! Come get some THLN merchandise and a chance to win some raffle prizes!

PRESENTER: Jaime Olin

With so many bills filed each session, it can be difficult to know which ones really matter, and how they will impact Texas animals if passed. This webinar will explore several key pieces of legislation that will be at the Capitol in 2021, including the Safe Outdoor Dogs bill, the Licensed Breeders Program, the Working Animals bill, and the Possession Ban bill. We’ll talk about the details and importance of each bill, the implications to animals, and answer any of your questions so you’ll be armed with all the relevant information as we make our way into the Session.

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Join Assistant City Attorney Jonathan Koury from Bryan, Texas as he reviews the Texas Dangerous Dog statutes from a local government's point of view. He will discuss the statutes, the evidence, the hearing, and common pitfalls to avoid when preparing and prosecuting a dangerous dog case.

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK AT 12 P.M.

As the country continues to suffer the effects of COVID-19, the animal welfare field is evolving the way we respond to crises and offer community support. Housing insecurity, although not new, has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Learn about how the animal welfare community is responding to the eviction crisis and how you can get involved to help keep people and their pets together. 

Join THLN and Texas State Director for the Humane Society of the United States Lauren Loney for a webinar on how to keep people and their pets together as the COVID crisis deepens.

Please join us live to hear from Mindi Callison, Executive Director, of Bailing Out Benji. Mindi will discuss all things puppy mills and focus on the ABCs of puppy mills, why regulating puppy mills is important, and why Texas is unique in terms of selling puppies from puppy mills in other states. Learn what we need to do now as advocates to help protect dogs currently in large-scale breeding facilities in Texas.

Mindi Callison is the Founder and Executive Director of the National nonprofit organization, Bailing Out Benji which focuses on the grassroots effort to combat the puppy mill industry. Mindi founded Bailing Out Benji at 21 years old after falling victim to the puppy mill industry by way of a local pet store, which offered her a credit card with high interest. Upon learning about the pet store/puppy mill connection and learning about the predatory lending practices that these stores utilize to take advantage of low-income families, Mindi knew that she needed to act. Bailing Out Benji and its research has been instrumental in passing humane ordinances across the country, they have also been one of the driving forces behind exposing the national puppy laundering scheme that is currently happening in numerous states.

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Under Texas law, animals seized as evidence under the Texas Penal Code may be held for long periods of time while the arrested violator’s criminal trial makes its way through the justice system. Many don't know about the civil seizure law wherein abused animals can be seized under the Texas Health and Safety Code, which carries less of a burden of proof, no arrest, and allows the animals' disposition within a ten-day period, pending any appeals. Learn all about the Texas civil seizure law, when to use it and how it is a great alternative in removing cruelly treated animals.

Animal lawyer and animal law expert Lara Tomlin is an appellate attorney at the Denton County District Attorney's office. She is board certified in Criminal Appellate Law and handles animal-related cases, including seizure hearings for cruelly treated animals. She has also served on the Denton Animal Support Foundation board of directors, an organization that supports the Denton Animal Shelter. 

Let's raise a glass to you for surviving the toughest election we can recall! Join us for a virtual Post-Election Happy Hour. We'll do a short recap of how endorsed candidates fared, thank y'all for all your hard work, and shift our focus to the upcoming session.

RSVP with the form below. You will receive an auto-response email with a link to a Zoom meeting.