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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Animal rescue is a noble cause well worth the investment rescuers make. Learn how to keep your rescue focused on that mission by avoiding the most common legal "pitfalls" that cost money and damage an organization's brand.

While there are no national or Texas State laws specifically regulating rescues, other state laws and municipal ordinances do apply to rescue groups. Randy Turner will present what every rescuer needs to know about ownership issues, avoiding litigation, complying with laws regarding non-profit organizations and generally staying out of legal hot water.

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Animal Law Expert and Animal Lawyer Randy Turner provides an update to changes to laws and service animals and emotional support animals.  

Under Texas law and the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), people with disabilities may bring their service animals to all public accommodations, such as government buildings, hotels, restaurants, stadiums, and stores. These laws also require those who operate transportation services to allow service animals. But recent trends show confusion with emotional support animals and the varying definitions.

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Under Texas law and the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), people with disabilities may bring their service animals to all public accommodations, such as government buildings, hotels, restaurants, stadiums, and stores. These laws also require those who operate transportation services to allow service animals. But recent trends show confusion with emotional support animals and the varying definitions.

Animal Law Expert and Animal Lawyer Randy Turner will present on service animals and emotional support animals as defined by federal laws and supporting state laws. This one hour webinar will examine how cities and municipalities can follow federal and state laws in accordance with handling these animals and how to avoid the pitfalls in applying these laws in their own cities.

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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. 

Special guest, Lauren Loney, Texas State Director for the Humane Society of the United States, discusses how to keep people and their pets together as the COVID crisis deepens.

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Check out this webinar 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. In this webinar, 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. 

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Do you want your child to know more about the legislative process while teaching kindness and empathy? THLN is proud to host this FREE webinar entitled, "How Kids Can Get Political for Animals!" This webinar will discuss laws that protect animals in Texas including local ordinances, how a bill becomes a law and the current bill we are working to pass that gives basic shelter to dogs that live outside.  If you are interested in teaching your child advocacy, how to use his or her voice for others who have none and raising a humane child in challenging times, this is the perfect webinar. 

The lesson is one hour designed specifically for kids ages 9-13. 

We use a cross-discipline approach that combines social studies, politics, writing, and advocacy.  Children trained to extend justice, kindness and mercy to animals become more just, kind and considerate in their relations to each other. Character training along these lines will result in more humane and law abiding men and women of broader sympathies.  We'll conclude by asking your child to write a letter to their State Representative and/or State Senator.  These letters will be shared on our social media so your child's compassion and advocacy can be seen and appreciated by animal advocates across the state. 

Please note:  We will talk about animal cruelty.  Please trust your own judgement as to how your child will manage this.  We seek to teach and discuss, and certainly not to traumatize.

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THLN has been inundated with questions surrounding COVD-19 so we decided to bring the experts to you.  We are proud to host this FREE webinar entitled, "How COVID-19 is Affecting Texas Animals". This webinar is a Q & A styled informal discussion with the following representatives: past President and President-elect of the Texas Animal Control Association (both of whom are urban and rural shelter directors), a shelter veterinarian, a non-profit humane society and an animal emergency and response team.

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Incidents of interpersonal violence are reportedly rising as a disturbing consequence of stay-at home orders and recommendations to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. In this "Introduction to the Link" webinar, special guest Felicia Kerney, Chief of the Community Prosecution Unit, Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, will be discussing the Link and understanding of the dynamic connection between animal abuse and the cycle of family and societal violence while looking at real Texas cases.  We will also dissect how animal abuse interfaces with child, domestic and elder abuse. 

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THLN Executive Director, Shelby Bobosky, along with special guests Jaime Olin, THLN Legislative Chair, Monica Ailey, AIR President, and Lauren Loney, HSUS Texas State Director discuss navigating the legal landscape of large-scale breeding facilities in Texas. This webinar will include basic information on puppy mills, what led to the passage of the Texas Dog & Cat Breeder Act, and how you can help preserve it. 

Whether you simply want to educate yourself on puppy mills or understand the Breeders Program better, THLN needs your help to achieve justice for dogs and cats in large-scale breeding facilities!

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You can help make Texas a safer place for animals by spending just a few minutes of your time during the legislative session. By signing up for THLN's Action Alerts and responding to them with calls and emails to your legislators, you can help pass humane legislation that makes a huge difference to animals in the state of Texas. Every phone call and email help!

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