Please, if you are a member of this board, please read, comment, and try and help.

Please, if you are a member of this board, please read, comment, and try and help.

We have two very important issues going on right now.

This post will explain the first issue.

The other post by me titled: "what can you do" is about a child in our community in need of medical help, please read and try and help with even a small donation.

If you are a resident of TEXAS you MUST respond to this and immediatly take action!!!!!!!!

If you are not, please respond to this and try and send a donation.

Zandra is an attorney who has been helping our community and the breed. She has taken her time to attend many Bully events, and more importantly fight BSL's.

Please take the time to read this and respond to her.
Please try and help with a donation.
This can and may happen in your town as well, so do not look at it like just a Texas issue, it's an issue for all of us!

Remember, Zandra is helping for this and it is her own state, Help her help the breed please!!!! You may need her help one day, so take the time now to help her.

Thank you all

Please keep this at the top!
Please respond to this post!
Please contact Zandre!
If you are a TEXAS resident, please respond ASAP and post this everywhere you can!
Thank you

Here is the issue and Zandras contact info:

The Senate debated SB411 Thursday. Senator Duncan (Lubbock) spoke out against the bill. Apparently many of his constituents were worried that as small dog owners they could become felons. Then he indicated that if the bill targeted certain breeds, he might support it. Bad idea, and not what the author intended. See letter.

Please FAX & CALL your Texas Senators and let them know that YOU OPPOSED TO SB411 AS WRITTEN AND DO NOT WANT IT TO CONTAIN ANY LANGUAGE THAT IS BREED SPECIFIC.
Be sure to stress the part about NO BSL!
THANKS! Z

http://www.senate.state.tx.us<WBR>/75r/Senate/Members.htm#FYI

Dear Hon. Senator_________
FAX (512)

How Do You Prevent Owners of Little Dogs from Becoming Felons Under SB 411? Simple: Use the Correct Penal Code Definition of Serious Bodily Injury.

There has been an outcry from concerned Texans who own little dogs that they run the risk of becoming felons if their dogs bite. Under the civil definition contained in the Health and Safety Code (“severe bite wounds” and/or “ripping and tearing of muscle” that requires medical treatment and hospitalization) that could happen. I have represented small dog owners whose dogs have inflicted these kinds of wounds, even though they were not life threatening. If the correct Penal Code definition is used (“creates a substantial risk of death”), then owners of small dogs have nothing to fear.

Representative Gattis made a Statement of Legislative Intent (April 24, 2007) during the second reading of HB1355 stating he was intending those kinds of dog attacks that can “seriously maim or kill somebody” or cause them to “potentially face death.” His intent indicates the Penal Code definition which is the proper definition for crimes. Under this definition, only those dogs large enough to inflict bite wounds that “create a substantial risk of death” would be targeted. It is virtually impossible for a small dog to inflict life threatening injuries, so SB 411 would not put owners of little dogs at risk.



How Do You Make SB 411 Fairly Target Only Those Dogs Capable of Causing Life Threatening Injuries Without Singling Out Certain Breeds?

Simple: Use the Correct Penal Code Definition of Serious Bodily Injury.

Using the correct Penal Code definition of “serious bodily injury” targets only those dogs that indeed do cause life threatening injuries regardless of breed. All dogs are treated the same even though it is highly unlikely that a tiny dog would ever be capable of causing wounds that would potentially make the person face death. While larger dogs can be capable of inflicting such wounds, only the owners of dogs that actually are involved in such incidents would be affected. Owners of large dogs that have nice, human friendly dogs would not be unfairly targeted, ensuring fairness to all dogs and dog owners regardless of size of dog or breed of dog.



Once again, the legislative intent of this bill as stated by Representative Gattis was that HB 1355 /SB 411 would not be breed specific. On April 4, 2007, Representative Gattis testified at the Public Hearing on HB 1355 and explained that he is a hunter and has owned three Rhodesian Ridgebacks that are used to hunt lions in Africa and that if they are raised, trained and treated appropriately they are not a danger. Representative Gattis did not want any unintended consequences of his bill and testified as follows:



“This Bill is not Breed Specific for a purpose, for a purpose. There are owners of pit bull dogs, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Rottweilers and every other dog that is considered to be dangerous in a lot of people’s minds that are responsible in how they raise, how they train, how they treat and how they retain and keep those dogs and we should not put an extra burden on them. The burden should be on those not responsible.”




NEW EMAIL


I just wanted to let you know that I have set up an account for the Texas Dog Commission. Anyone who can donate any amount can make a check payable to either me or:

TEXAS DOG COMMISSION

It can be mailed to:

Texas Dog Commission
c/o Zandra Anderson
7941 Katy Freeway, No. 412
Houston, Texas 77024-1924

Every cent of every donation will be used to fight BSL and ensure that our laws are fair to dog owners of all kinds of dogs.

Thanks.
Zandra
www.TexasDogLawyer.com